The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-02
OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

RHODE ISLAND AFFAIR.
OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
We have had permission to make public the
following extracts Of letters received by the
Government from the commanding officer of
the squadron on the Brazil station.
They serve to show the advantage 10 our coun-
try and its citizens, of the navy, and that when
under the command Of efficient officers and of
sufficient force, it compels the attention of dis
tant States aud people to our just demands In
a manner much more prompt and satisfactory
than the tardy intricacies of diplomacy.
Such squadron as that now off Brazil, and
such an officer as Commodore Morris, this Gov
eminent should have in every important station,
| if it mean TO perform fully the first and highest
duty of every nation, and that is TO protect its
| citizens.
To be able from any distant quarter of the
globe to appeal to home for protection or redress
with certainty of our appeal being heard, in
spires one with confidence and courage, fills the
breast with patriotism, and teaches the Wanderer
to regard his home with the warmest feelings
of love and pride, such as none can know, but
he who in foreign land has felt his full reliance
upon the strong and long arm ofhis country.
| u. S. SHIP DELAWARE,
| Rio DE JANEIao 9Th April, 1912.
| Sir; It was not until my return to this place, on
the LIST instant from the river La Plata that had the
honor receive your letter Of the Both September
| last which enclosed copy of communication to the
| Department of State from tho Consul of the United
States at Montevdeo in relation to George Johnson,
| who represented himself American citizen, and
which prescribed the measures which to be taken
| in his
This subject received attention during my last visit
to the La Plata, and have the honor to report
| the course which pursued by the Consul and
myself and the arrangements which were made be-
tween the Consul and the Government of Uruguay.
| The Consul having informed me that no answer
had been given by the Government to his letter ofthe
10th February, lS4l sent for and questioned George
| Johnson. From his answers and manner, there APP
peared to be no reason doubt the general correct
ness of the statement which he had formerly made to
the Consul. Some few additional facts were, how
ever, elected, which seemed of some Importance in
forming fair estimate of the conduct of the officers
| OF uruguay hiiH' LAO 10 n'"u VI S""Aj VI
very decent appearance, about 33 years ofage, was
born in Delaware; first came to this country when
about Is years Of age, and has generally been en-
ployed since in places the La Plata or its
| tributaries. When he impressed at the village
of San Salvador he had nothing to show that he was
an American citizen nor until after he escaped from
the fort on Rat Island and just before he appre
hended and punished. Since he made the complaint
! to the Consul, which was forwarded to the Depart
ment, he has not been nerered with, in any manner
| by the officers of Uruguay
| When asked to name sum which he would cons-
der an ample compensation for all his losses of proper
ty and Time and for the cruelties which had been in
Aicted upon him, he named 800 patagones, equal to
| about 1886.
| As | had not received any special instructions on
| the subject took OCCASION in conversation to bring
it to the notice of Mr. Suarez the acting President in
the absence of Gen. Rivera and to impress upon him
the Importance of an early attention to it, he must
he aware, from history, that upon no subject
were tie Government of the United States more
prompt require full redress than upon Unauthorized
interference with the persons of its citizens. lie
stated that it had never before been brought to his
notice. but that he would call for report, and that if
wrongs should be found to have been committed by
then officers immediate redress should be made.
At nv suggestion, the Consul renewed his cores
pondence with the Minister of Foreign Affairs dur
ing nv absence at Buenos Ayres. By the copies Of
this correspondence, which forward herewith, the
| Department will perceive that the Government of
Uruguay readily agreed to allow Johnson for his loss
Of property at his own valuation, for his time high
daily rate and to pay the sum which named by
| the Consul compensation for the outrages which
had been inflicted upon him.
| In the conversations with Mr.. Suarez the acting
President and with Mr.. Vidal the Minister for foreign
| affairs, those gentlemen expressed the desire of the
Government Of Uruguay to preserve the most friend
" relations with that of the United Slater, not only
from the advantages of commercial intercourse, but
from similarity of political institutions, and from re-
collection of the early recognition of their indepen-
dence by the United States. In adverng to the case
of Johnson, the day before left Montcv dco, Mr..
Vidal stated that under all governments, cases might
occur, as in this instance when subordinate officers
would commit acts of improperly, and for which the
Government bou nd to give redress, and from the
course adopted by the Government of Uruguay in
this case Of Johnsons he hoped the Government Of
the United States would find to be satisfied Of
its disposo, to be guided by spirit Of just ce and
hberslity.