The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-23
The Mini.ter from Guatemala.


On Monday last Senior Don FELIPE MoLI
Ma, who has for some time past been accredited
TO this Government as Charge d'Aliaires of the
! Republic of Guatemala, presented his creden-
tials TO the PRESIDENT, and was received as
! Minister Plenipotentiary of that Republic. He
made the following remarks upon the occasion:
"Mr. PaEsiDsST: perform agreeable duty
in presenting 10 your excellency the letter of the
! President of Guatemala that accredits me to the
Government of the United States in the character
OF Minister Plenipotentary, instead OF that OF
Charge d'Ahares of that Republic, with which |
have hitherto been invested. General Carer trusts
that you will kindly receive this act proof of
the friendly feelings that he himself and all the
Guatemalians entertain for the American nation,
and Of their high regard for your e1csllency's
person.
The President Of Guatemala has instructed me,
likewise, 10 express to your excellency his conn
dent hope that the good understanding and friendly
intercourse now 70 tunateiy existing between the
two Governments and their respective citizens WI:
become every day more and more intimate and inn
portant; assuring your excecncy that. on his part
he will do all in his power to strengthen those re
lations
''lt affords me the most cordial qualification to
call to mind at the present moment that the
clcnt relations OF Guatomaa with the United States
are now placed upon solid footing, by the
change of the Treaty of Commerce and Naviga.
ton concluded in lS49, that the Hon. Mr.. Kerr,
representative Of this Government, must have
Gently accomplished in the city Of Guatemala and
which unforeseen circumstances had for long
time prevented Let me indulge in the belief that
this bond Of aInity has fair prospect Of duration,
since there exist conflicting interests OF any
Kind to endanger its stability
'Guatefnoa, cir, commcnds herself to the notice
OF the American people for the efforts she has made
to initiate the institutions and laws of this country.
Those ezertions, it is true, were not always at
tended with success which could not fail to happen
on unprepared soil. Sill, the amount OF pro-
gress accomplished has not been uncomfortable;
and the republic with reason be proud of hay
ing embraced and Of actually following those pin
clples that most conducive to national great
ness and prosperity. mean liberal commercial
policy, the complete freedom Of worship, and an
easy access to naturalization, open to every alien
who cbooscs to settle in tho land, whatever may be
the place of his nativity
IL have vcntured to allude to these circum
stances, deviatng from the routine OF diplomacy
because I know, MIR. President, the interest you
take in the welfare Of my country.
"The geographical position of uacmala, com.
bned with the fertility of her soil promise for The
future tourishing traffic between her territories
and the territories of these United Sta,cs when the
enjoyment of peace shall have developed the great
and now almost virgin, natura! resources of the
former. With ports both oceans, at Gig ht days
distance, respectively. from San Francisco and
New York, We are called upon to supply both
OF those markets with many valuable comuodi-
ties that are the growth of our climate; thus af-
iording employment to a considerable amount OF
American shipping
BE pleased TO accept, Mr.. President, the good
wishes Of Guatemala for the prosperity OF this
great Republic and of it's worthy rulers; among
whom your excellency has already done so much
to earn the esteem and respect of The civilized
world, by the exercise Of the noblcst qualities that
can adorn magistrate."
To which the PRESIDENT replied as follows:
d" ] am gratified, sir, that your government ap.
precintcs your faithful services the representa-
tive Of Guatemala in the United States, and ex-
presses its appreciation Of your mcnt 10y promoting
you to higher grade. reciprocatc, most cordi.
ally, the kind fcelings which you have been rloased
to express behalf of President Carrcra, and IN
duge with him the hope that the friendly inter
course now existing between the two governments
and their respective citizens may become every
day more and more intimate; that our commercial
a"lNiia may DC siren liftcu Tue treaty WhlCn
his recently been concluded, and that it may prove
mutually beneficial.
~ ana also happy TO perceive that your govern
ment takes just view Of some Of the cardinal
prn-ipcs Of free institutions, aud that the cousti
tuuIn Of Guatemala, recently adopted, allows free
tocrauou to all religious worship, and invites i'm.
migration by holding out 70 the immigrant an
easy proce.s OF naturalization. and permitting him
10 become a holder Of real csislo IN the country
zee reason why the friendship existing between
Guatemala and the United States should not be
pcrpctuated. The exchange Of their fcspcctivc
products will be mutually advanpgcous. We
have no ponts Of collision or causes Tor Jealousy;
aud lean assure you that It viii alEays be source
Of pleasure aud qualification u me, and doubt not
to all our citizens, 20 see your rising republic pros
porous and happy"