Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: Your despatches Nos. 478, 479, 480, and 481, have been received.
I yesterday called the attention of Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys to the case of Mr. Mansfield, United States consul at Tabasco, imprisoned by orders of the French authorities at that place. I asked that he should be discharged from imprisonment and be permitted to return to the United States, and for explanations of the conduct of their authorities. I told Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys, furthermore, that our government had been so much surprised by the statement of the treatment their consul had received that they had sent a ship-of-war to the port of Tobasco, not to use any force, but to inquire on the spot as to the facts; that it was naturally felt that it would have been but just to the United States that they should have been notified of any complaint against their consul, and they would certainly have dealt properly with him. Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys said that such a notice to us would have been the usual form of proceeding in an ordinary case, but there was nothing in the official position of a consul which exempted him from the ordinary liability to answer like any other citizen, and that he did not know, nor had he yet been able to learn, what were the facts in the case of Mr. Mansfield. He assured me that he had already written to Mexico, and would give an answer at the earliest moment after receiving a reply. I suggested that it would seem to me as probable that the facts of such a case had already been reported; he said it was possible, though he knew of no such report, but he would inquire of the department of marine. At all events he assured me no unnecessary delay should occur in acting on the subject.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.