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Document 15449

JAMES BUCHANAN
Twenty-six years after the U.S. brig Macedonia was forcibly taken at Sitana, Peru and its cargo of silver seized, a law suit against Peru continues.
Manuscript LS: "James Buchanan" as Polk's Secretary of State, 2p, 8x10, front and verso. Department of State, Washington, 1847 May 26. To S.D. Sohier, Esquire, Boston. In full: "Mr. J.S. Pendleton, the Attorney of the claimants on Peru in the case of the brig Macedonia and cargo, has applied to this Department for a copy of the record in that case which had been received from the Minister of Chile with other papers relating to a claim on the Chilean Government. Mr. Pendleton stated that his object was to use the records in prosecuting the claim before the United States Attorney General who is the Commissioner under the Convention with Peru. He was informed that he might have the copy at the rate usually charged by the Department. It is now ready for delivery upon the payment of the fees which will amount to thirty five dollars for the copy, and twenty five cents for the certificate of authentication, should that be required. Mr. Pendleton has referred the Department to you as representing the estate of the late J.S. Ellery, for whom he acts." Twenty-six years earlier, in 1821, the U.S. brig Macedonia was forcibly taken by Chilean officers at Sitana, Peru. Its cargo of silver in coin and bars belonging to U.S. citizens was seized by Chile. This letter is written to the lawyer representing the estate of the late J.S. Ellery, one of the U.S. citizens whose silver was seized by Chile. The case dragged on for another eleven years, until Buchanan was President. By the convention with Chile of November 10, 1858 Leopold, King of the Belgians, was selected to act as arbiter in the case against Chile. On May 15, 1863, King Leopold rendered his decision, awarding the U.S. citizens $42,400. President Abraham Lincoln on June 13, 1863 wrote a letter of thanks to King Leopold in part: "Great and Good Friend: I have received through the minister of the United States accredited to Your Majesty, the award in the case of the claim of certain citizens of the United States upon the Government of the Republic of Chili (sic), which by agreement between this Government and the Government of that Republic, was submitted to Your Majesty's arbitrament...I cannot omit to add an expression of my thanks for the pains which Your majesty must have taken to reach a correct conclusion in so arduous a business...." (Published in The Collected Writings of Abraham Lincoln, Vol VI, Roy Basler, Editor, 1953, p.272). Folds. Lightly creased, one touches the "c" in Buchanan.

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