Mr. Pruyn to Mr.
Seward.
No. 7.]
Legation of the United States,
Caracas,
July 8, 1868.
Sir: I herewith transmit a copy of a dispatch
(marked inclosure No. 1,) and a translation thereof, (marked inclosure
No. 2,) which I received on the 4th instant from the minister of the
interior and justice of the Bruzual government at Puerto Cabello; as
also copies of four several decrees, together with the translations
thereof, which came as inclosures in dispatch, which are respectively
numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
I have not replied, as all mail communications between Puerto Gabello and
Caracas have ceased for the present.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA, DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR AND JUSTICE, SECTION No. 6.
[Circular.]
Puerto Cabello,
June 29, 1868.
Fifth year of the law, and tenth of the
federation.
Citizens ! I have the honor to address you,
and of informing you that the city of Caracas being invaded by
factions commanded by General José Tadeo Monagas, to
[Page 949]
overthrow the constitutional
government, the incumbent of the national executive of the Union, in
conformity to No. 16 of the 72d article of the fundamental chart,
decided on the removal of the federal district from the expressed
city to this of Puerto Cabello, where it finds itself established,
performing the functions and discharging the duties which the
constitution and laws of the republic assign it.
By the accompanying official bulletin you will be apprised of the
appointment of the ministry, and with the other resolutions and
decrees issued by this government, that emanate from the events
above expressed.
The national executive hopes that you will be pleased to transmit the
corresponding notification to the government that you so worthily
represent.
I avail myself of the opportunity to reiterate to you the assurance
of my distinguished consideration.
God and federation!
Hon. Colonel Stilwell,
Minister of the United States of North
America.
[Translation.]
I, Manuel E. Bruzual, in charge of the presidency of the United
States of Venezuela, considering—
1. That the city of Caracas, appointed as the federal district, has
been invaded by the factions commanded by General José Tadeo
Monagas;
2. That, by the number 16 of the 72d article of the constitution of
the Union, the national executive is authorized to remove
transitorily, in such emergency, to the place he may designate;
and,
3. That the President of the State of Carabobo has given his assent
for the general government to continue exercising its functions in
the city of Puerto Cabello—
Do decree:
Article 1. That, while the city of Caracas
finds itself occupied by the mentioned factions, the city of Puerto
Cabello shall be appointed as the residence of the national
executive.
Art. 2. That the employés of the district
invaded by the factions shall proceed to occupy their respective
posts in the city of Puerto Cabello, and on not doing so shall be
substituted without debarring any other proceeding which may have to
be pursued against them, if they have incurred treason.
Art. 3. Let it be published and
circulated.
Given in the dispatch hall of the
national executive, in Puerto Cabello, on
the 27th of
June, 1868.
M. E. BRUZUAL.
[Translation.]
I, Manuel E. Bruzual, in charge of the presidency of the United
States of Venezuela, do decree:
Article 1. I appoint as minister of war and
navy, citizen General José Loreto Arismendi; as minister of the
interior and justice, citizen Doctor Gregorio Paz; for the treasury
department, citizen Doctor Pedro Bermudez; for public credit,
citizen General Bartolomé Mila de
la Roca y Valenzuela; for foreign affaires citizen General José
Gabriel Ochoa; and for public works, citizen General Juan Tomas
Perez.
Art. 2. Let it be communicated and
published.
Given in the dispatch hall of the
national executive, in Puerto Cabello, on
the 27th of
June, 1868.
M. E. BRUZUAL.
[Translation.]
I, Manuel E. Bruzual, in charge of the presidency of the United
States of Venezuela, do decree:
Article 1. I appoint as first chief of the
constitutional army, citizen General Pedro Manuel Rojas; and as
second chief, citizen General Leon Colina.
Art. 2. That, while the absence of General
Leon Colina lasts, citizen General Miguel Gil shall discharge his
functions.
Art. 3. That in decrees and resolutions
that will be issued separately the other appointments shall be made
that may suit the better organizations of the army.
Art. 4. The minister of war is left in
charge of the fulfillment of this decree.
Given in the dispatch hall of the
national executive, in Puerto Cabello, on
the 27th of
June, 1868.
M. E. BRUZUAL.
[Page 950]
[Translation.]
I, Manuel E. Bruzual, in charge of the presidency of the United
States of Venezuela. In consideration that the port of La Guayra
finds itself occupied by the faction that General José Tadeo Monagas
commands, it being obligatory for this reason to impede all maritime
commerce with said port, do decree:
Article 1. The blockade of the port of La
Guayra is declared in all the extent embraced between the port of
Colombia and Cape Cordera.
Art. 2. The chief of the national squadron
remains charged to carry into effect said blockade, preventing with
all the forces found under his orders the arrival of national or
foreign vessels on the expressed coast.
Art. 3. The same chief of the national
squadron shall make the corresponding notification to the captains
of vessels that are bound to La Guayra; and in case that,
notwithstanding the notification, they should pretend to violate the
blockade, he shall seize them, taking them to Puerto Cabello, in
order to be tried according to the laws of the matter.
Art. 4. If, on making the notification and
visit to the vessels that attempt to violate the blockade,
contraband of war should be found in them, notwithstanding that, by
the documents presented, the procedure of the captains should appear
justified, because they had not had in the port of their departure,
nor in any other point of their transit, any knowledge of the
present decree, they shall be in like manner seized and tried
according to law.
Art. 5. Let it be communicated to whom it
may correspond; let it be published and circulated.
Given in the dispatch hall of the
national executive, in Puerto Cabello, on
the 27th of
June, 1868.
M. E. BRUZUAL.
J. L. Arismendi,
The Minister of War and Navy.
