THOMAS SAVAGE, Vice Consul General to William H. Seward, March 27, 1864

Mr. Savage to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have just returned from an interview had with the captain general by his request, the object of which was to ascertain if the United States authorities can return to this island the person of an officer of the. Spanish army named Don José Agustin, Arguelles, who is believed to be in New York. This officer was, in November last, the lieutenant governor of the district of Colon, in this island, that effected the capture of the large expedition of African negroes reported by me to the department on the 20th of November last, despatch No. 107. The government was highly pleased with his zeal, and paid him fifteen thousand dollars for his share of the prize money usually allowed to captors of such expeditions. The officer subsequently obtained a leave of absence of twenty days, upon his representation that the object of his journey to New York was to purchase the Spanish journal there published, called La Croniea, has not returned, and since his departure it has been discovered that he and other officers of the district of Colon retained and sold into slavery one hundred and forty-one of the negroes captured by them. Some of these negroes were sold at seven hundred dollars, and others at seven hundred and fifty dollars, each.

The superior court of the island, having exclusive jurisdiction over such causes, has taken cognizance of this case, and requires the presentation of Don Jose Agustin Arguelles before it, to insure the prompt liberation of these one hundred and forty-one victims. The captain general gave me to understand that without Arguelles’s presence it would be very difficult, and at all events it would require a long time, to attain that humane object. His excellency pronounced Arguelles to be a scoundrel, worse than a thief or highwayman, inasmuch as he took advantage of his position as the local authority to commit that outrage, with little risk to himself.

I told the captain general that in the absence of an extradition treaty between the two governments, or of any law, public or municipal, authorizing the rendition, our government could not grant the request, but promised to lay the matter in this confidential way before you, which he desired me to do by the earliest opportunity.

I beg of you to consider the subject, and to advise me at an early day of your views thereupon.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,