The New York herald., 1870-05-14
TIE PARAGuAYAH INVESTIGATION.
Report Of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Of
the House Of Representatives on the Bliss
and Masterman imprisonment

s>>S ~AS~oo Va xs0P1okouL&tlV0o Vu tuu oAsS
and Masterman imprisonment
The following are extracts from the report OF the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. TO whom were re-
1orred "the memorial Of Porter O. Bliss and George
r. 1asterman IN relation to their imprisonment III
Paraguay by the President OF that republic; and
subsequently on the United States gunboat Wasp
and the nagship Guerriere, Of the South Atlantic
squadron, by United States oficers." The committee
commenced its labors on the S0th of March, 1869,
and continued to take evidence at various times
until all that was thought necessary to make fair
report was collected. We give substantially the In.
vestigation ana the result arrived at:--
In the month Of June, 1851, Charles A. Washburn
was appointed by the United States It's minister resi-
Asuncion, the capital Of Paraguay, dtschargng his
duties TO the entire satisfaction OF both governments
nsnoe 1SgS When n Of leave q
ne retunred to the United States. On the expiration
OF MS leave OF absence, early in September Of the
by MIS- vile, to return to his post at Asuncion. Some
time IN March or April 1865, and afie ier Mr. WASH
tween Paraguay on the one hand and Brazil,
uruguay ana tho Argentine coniederation
Mr. washburn's arrival at Rio early in October 1865
ne ascertaned that IN consequence OF such war, and
the blockade Of the a'les IN ,ns Plata all ordinary
Asunslon @ 4, witlous the aid Of some vessel
squadron. On the 2ist Of June 1865, Admiral Godon
assumed command Of this squadron, consisting
Il was inc duty Of Mr. washburn 70 pre- proceed to his
duty was not rendered less imperative by the fact
that the nation TO which he was accredited was en-
government might have interests requiring his at
tentlcn; Fully apprec ating this. he lost no time
after his arrival IN Rio in calling upon Admiral
n n HIM 0f ANNA
SCI OF his squadron TO enable him TO Asuncion
Tlc committee have no doubt as to the propriety Of
this request.
Tho evidence discloses that this request was re-
cefsed and treated with marked Indifference by Ad.
miral Godon and that this Indifference continued
for considerable portion Of the time. and finally re-
suited In excuses which soon became as numerous
as they were frivolous Among the reasons assigned
by the Admiral for not complying with the reques
might be detailed on this service and the inability to
procure ~ ana the blockade Of the river BY the
Watson Webb has the folIowing:- .''' '-1 :
Mr. Webb, IN despatch to the State Department
OF date June TO- 1857, uses this language
Ams Iasn ags .n t9 9 HS g IN s between
myself express either Of them an approval or dissp
sass a
~ M to h post Of duty shortly After bis arrival
:s: Sa q mas sss
asa;i s1s With nss sf of
%sshtnn pnd dnXy1 Xso that & . With Ministers Kirk
hs sna an az s ss g add @ he friend:
shut
SSs,; Sssiv tno Of the e State which
%an nssaus S%F s0Sa, %S ws. E
w az T. me .
xen conception of his rights and duties In reply my
sa aSsh 4:s sssg
had no right 70 says e.. @ that Mr.
Of she state Department said that true but The
s II: e s:$.nss Il
dd not such eaSos
"'c''sw WIN waseourn which was quite UNNECESSARY"
os Ss a e.
wrong and in Judgment without any excuse whatever
On Mr. Washburn's return to Asuncion he soon
found that during his absence Of nearly TWO years
great G changes IAN had taken place IN Paraguay AT the
mnt me 2, o. ms the country was In the enjoy
their usual avOcatOns; on his return he found the
county involved IN disastrous war; terror, alarm
an0 dislrust prevailed on every side; Industry nara.
Hzed the citizens denied their most precious rights
and al! the resources and energies OF the country
'Marshal President OF Paraguay was entering upon
that era OF blood SO indelibly impressed upon his
and governed by his fnrestrained viii q country
whose history presents continued series OF tyranni.
@ aD on the n part na Of Us rulers and OF sub
Mr.. Washburn fell that he could no longer be use
IA! TO his government in the position he then
pied that sel(respect and the duty he owed TO his
government required that he should as soon as prac
stcable, close all further official intercourse with
President Lopez, who had thus wantonly assailed
him, and through him the government of the
United States. In view Of this state OF
prehensons in reference TO the future safety of him
self and family, while at the mercy Of who had
given such abundant evidence Of his capacity for the
commission OF crime, he wisely concluded to close
his official relations and retire from the country In
doing 30 he was. however, prevented, by the inter-
thority Of Lopez from bringing with him two OF the
members Of his personal suite, Messrs. Bliss and
Congress, and Is the bass Of this investigation.
Por.er Cornelius Bliss. one Of the mem0rIalists,
is native Of the State tat Of New York, and went to
Watson Webb, Minister OF the United States at Bra
Iii, In 1861. He remained at chat point in this ca
TO Buenos Ayres and entered the service the Ar
gentne government for the purpose Of "obtaining
Information. concerning the character, languages,
wants manners and cnstons habits and mode OF
life OF the lndlans In the valley OF the Vermejo. In
purpose Of making cassificauion Of the Indians Of
that region, as Indicated by the languages dialects
spoken M ny saem While I IN Paraguay he was en.
ernment to write pamphlet upon the subject OF the
boundaries between Paraguay and Brazil. While
against the Argentine government and by order OF
President Lopez no fore gn subject was permitted
c,mpeed to remain in the Country for ne scHe CHed time
he proposed TO Lopez to write the history Of the re-
pubic OF Paraguay, commencing at the date OF the
settlement OF that country, which proposition was
accepted by Lopez and o stipulated price agreed
upon.
George F. Masterman, the other memorIalist, Is an
Engllshnan by birth, anu subject Of her Majesty
government. In Oc Ober, 1851, In pursuance Of an
agreement with agents OF the Paraguayan govern
ment he entered It's service as professor OF gadteraa
me1tca, and subsequently as assistant surgeon at
the general military hospital at Asuncon. In No
vember, 1896, he was arrested and imprisoned by
that government as is alleged, for not 0beying a.
teegraphc order which arrived too late for execu.
Inn uvld Vo hn1 oo a fNpth
about year, and until released through the inter-
cessr0n OF Mr. Washburn.
Alter the evacuation Of Asunclon had been de.
Clared, the government Of Paraguay estab ishcd It's
capital at Luque. Mr.. Washburn, in the meantime,
very properly declined to change his residence in
accordance with the wishes OF that government but
remained at Asuncon. the former capital, until his
departure from the country, on the 10th OF Septem-
ber, 1868, Bliss and Masterman remaining as in
mates OF the legation, and performing their respec.
tive duties
During the summer Of 1883 Mr.. Washburn com.
menccd making his preparations to withdraw from