brutally struck in the face with a sword, took refuge, not in my dwelling, but ill the grocery store of Don Pio Quinlo Amillo. He made no attempt al the time to enter my house, as stated; nor is there any evidence of preparation 011 his part for the supposed journey. lf any such had actually existed, it could not have escaped my observation. With regard to Mr. Hallell, the other individual in question, who is an invalid, having partially losl the use ·of his left side, it is notorious that he publicly repeated a desire to go lo the United States by land, for the benefit of his health, provided he couid obtain the necessary permission from the local au thoritics; and actually procured a passport for that purpose, which he had in his possession when he was arrested. If the present slate of affairs in this country requires an extraordinary vigilance 011 the part of the local authorities, it is confidently expected that it will be exercised with so much circumspection as not lo confou11d the innocent with the guilty, or justify arbitrary u11co11slil11tio11al proceedings. Suspicion may easily fall upo11 the head of the unoffending; it is a dangerous weapon in the hands of a licentious soldiery, and, if not properly directed, may lead lo consequences as unpleasant as they are irreparable. It should be borne in mind that the unprovoked outrage committed yesterday morning upon my dwelling and private properly, as stated in my last note, occurred subsequent lo the arrest of Mr. Hallett and my son, and, consequently, could not have been, as alleged, the result of a necessary precau Lion lo prevent their escape. Such unwarra11lable proceedings, without the shadow of a pretext, can be viewed in no other light than that of a gross insult offered to my person, and a flagrant infraction of the rights and immunities which pertain to my official station. 1t therefore becomes my imperative duly to repeat the reasonable demand contained in my note of yesterday, and to add, Lhat ·if exemplary punishment be not inflicted upon Lhose who authorized or perpetrated this unprecedented aggression, l will then be under the painfi.11 necessity of communicali11g the occurrence to my Government, to which I shall look with confidence for the protection and support due to my official character, and the dignity of the-nation which I have the honor lo represent.
380
Powered by FlippingBook