The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-06
TROUBLE IN PARAGUAY.
The q. s. Consul and the Secretary
Of State.
SPICY CHARGES AND RETORTs COURTEOUS
WILL WE HAVE WAR?


Sucton Of certain letters and documents which have
passed between our Consul at Asunoion, PasaguAy-
Mr.. Edward A. Hopkins-and tho Minister Of that re
public. The correspondence, though msnsclsg In
its tome is actually amusing in detail, particularly
In view Of the petty Circumstance on which the
diplomatic notes are founded. Il concerns an -
sault committed by dragon en- tho person oil
Mr.. Clement e. Hopkins-brother and private Sec.
rotary Of the Corsul-n the presence Of lacy, the
wife Of the French Charge d'Afaires. It seems that
Mr.. Hopkins and Madame Guillemot were riding as
full gallop the high road near the suburbs OF As.
uncion, when they coming in the opposite drec-
tou nerd Of cattle in charge Of drsgoou and two
soldies They did not get OUT of tho way or Aacke
their pace in time enough TO prevent the herd being
scattered and the dragon, inconsed at the trouble
caused him by the cattle scampering OF In ell direc.
ions. cavaliery administered rebuke TO Mr.. Hop
kins, ir the shape Of stroke with the fiat Of his
sabre the shoulder Of that gentleman, in the pre-
sence Of his fair companion. A formal complain
was laid before the United States Consul, and recla
nations were immediately made by him to the 60
,enment for satisfaction for this outrage on an
American citizen. Accompanying the demand for
edless were the afidavts Of Mr.. G. q. Hopkn, and
Mac anne Guillemot. That Of the former is a. FOL.
lows:--
ME-. HOPKINS AFFIDAVIT.
Clement L. Hopkins, being duly sworn, deposet tn
and saith, that on Saturday, the 22d inst, DULY
about four and hat o'clock p NJ, he left tho office
OF the United States and Paraguay Steam Navige-
ton Company in San Antonio, in company with
Madame Guillemot, wife of the French Charge
d'AAiyes to this republic for tho purpose Of coming
to the capital On nearing tho rvulet Of San Antonio
and two foot soldiers As tho cattle appeared to be
wild, / said to Madame Guiliemot, Let US 60
aside, lest these cattle may gore your horse" We
therefore left the high road and entered on little
ing with my shoulders turned towards the cattle,
the colder In care OF them came behind mo, asd
drawing his sabre, struck me . blow with his full
force on the shoulder the mark Of which was visible
the next morning. The first idtimati0n had Of his
presence was the stroke, as he did not say single
word to me. Immediately tn, ned and asked him
the cause Of bis CONDUCT 70 which ho replied to me
In Guaxsni, an id,On which do not understand.
asked him TO find out his name, he replied in Gaa.
rani, and consider that his answers mnst have
been insulting, to Judge BY the immoderate laughter
Of his companions We then threatened him with
the police Il Which he and his oompanions laus he'd
Being unaImed and having no other remedy, We
gallopped back to the house occupied by the Com.
pany In San Antonio, and informed the Ame-
rican Consul Of what had occurred, and he
weat ont on horseback, accompanied BY some
men on foot, and believe obtained his name.
The nsmo Of the soldier in question Is Agustin
Silgero. Hs had put the cattle at full gAlop, and
was riding before them ~ fast as he could.
Madame Jeanne E. Guillemot read the foregoing
deposition, and confirmed the statement in every
particular.
These dispositions were forwarded by the United
States Consul to the Secretary Of State Of Paraguay
with tho following note, demanding satisfaction:-
US CONSULATE, AsuNsroN, 25th July, 1854.
To TEN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE Re.
PUBLIC OF PARAGuAG-
The undersigned regrets very much the neces
sity Of directing to your Excellency this nots
By the annexed declaration, marked "A.v taken
Yesterday in the Consulate, it will be seen
rican vceConsul IN this republic ut present private
secretary Of the consulate, brother and member Of
the family OF the unde signed, but, more than ali,
an American citizen, has been assaulted In open day
ON tho high road by soldier Of the army ofthis re.
public, Who being service made use Of his sabre
against an unaImed man, leaving marks Of the wea.
pon on his person. There was no provoca.on to
ms AZ ana y as even more ais
Hopkins was accompanied by bis relative; Madame
Guillemot, wife Of the French Charge dAffaires
In this republic. The undersigned Is forced to do
clare thas this act becomes the moro fragrant. IS
hsiag OF long series Of insults of secret and vile
ostufe dire az Dst all American cizsnsiu this
country for some mvcths bsck-such a. thr0wing,
stones at them In the streets; breaking the open
windows Of the general agency Of the United States
tails city; throwing sand and other dangerous sub.
ances endaDgerae the life Of the general treasurer
Of said company and Of his family insulting and con-
slant cries every time that an American citizen ap-
pears from which not even the pers'a Of the under
As the grave injuries in question have almost
Always taken place at night. or In teachcrous
manner, it has been impossible hitherto TO take cog
nizanoe Of the cuprit. Recent acts, well known TO
your Excellency, but which did net fall under the
juris6 icton Of the undersigned, permit him to make
some observations in this note, because you will
readily admit that conduct such as tends to pro.
scribe whole nation, having some OF her sons In
this land for the purpose OF employing therein their
energies, their timc and their capital to deyelo2e
her hidden treasures, can no longer be tolerated 10
silence. They (Americsn citzens) have been out
ragged while occupied in their business, under the
protection Of the laws and usages universally Iecog
nized among civilized nations, and which they
Themselves car not violate with impunity This con-
tinua violation Of the laws and usages Of order and
Of morality which bind nations In relations OF friend
ship directed sganst eigners, who In all geBer
Gus countries are especially protected is An unsc-
ceptable gift for q just and friendly nation.
But the undersigned pleased 70 pen s INA.
can citizens resident in Paraguay as lily roprescus
the dispositions of tie government 81 Trey are IN
compatible with order, with peace, win respect,
and with these friendly relations which the under
sgned trusts will never cease to ubsist between tho
two nations.
Il therefore only remains for the undersigned to
demand prompt and severe punishment, satis-
factory In Its nature, and to be afterwards pub
lshed in the only journal Of the country, existing,
as Is web known, nader the exclusive authority OF
the Parsguaysn government
The undersigned demands this pun'shmeut, first
with the object Of giving satisfaction to the United
States onended in u person Of ore OF her citizens
who has been attacked violently and without PROVO
cstiop, while accompanied by lady, by common
soldier, armed and On duty; second to yindicate
tho law Of nations; and 1t will be permitted tue
undersigned to say without meaning TO offer advcs
third to yindicate the reputation Of the republic OF
Paraguay which the undersigned has defended and
sustained for such long time and with 80 much
success In the world. For you win admit that
the government OF Paraguay, ~ that OF all civilized
nations, In obliged TO render satisfacton for the VIC
national laws confer upon foreign ministers and
consuls, and their families, and which are conse'
Grated By the practice Of the civilized world.
The publication Of the put khmcnt IN the Soma
mario (wee kly) Ia demanded because Its columns
have all The authority Of government decrees. :