AVES ISLAND. 81' 



I should make some proposition as to what Mr. Shelton wanted to be 

 done. Mr. Shelton' s letter on file and the printed pamphlet I handed 

 you, also on file in the State Department, contain express propositions 

 of what he wanted, sustained hy argument and citations from author- 

 ities, and he and his friends feel the present condition of his case to be 

 a great hardship and grievance. 



I have confidence that the Administration when fully acquainted 

 with this case will not consent to do anything or to omit doing any- ■ 

 thing whereby the just claim of an American citizen for indemnity for 

 wrong, outrage, and injury by a foreign government is sacrificed ta' 

 further the schemes of speculators, who, without merit, seek to avail 

 themselves of the beneficial results of the enterprise. As a question 

 of honor, Mr. Shelton' s case is one demanding the attention of the 

 government, and as a question of interest the agricultural community 

 are deeply interested in seeing that his enterprise and industry, preg- 

 nant with such advantageous results to them, should be encouraged 

 and protected against the insidious efforts of an unscrupulous and 

 selfish corporate monopoly. 



I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, 



H. S. SANFORD. 



Tlie President. 



3/r, San/urd to 3Ir, Marcy. 



38 Clinton Place, New York, . 

 January 3, 1856. 

 D^arSir: The unfortunate condition of the case of Mr. Philo S. 

 Shelton in relation to the outrage committed by the Venezuelan gov- 

 ernment at Shelton' s Isle, and of his claim for indemnity from that 

 government, has constrained the parties interested to decide upon the 

 employment of an agent to go at once to Caraccas to attend to their 

 interests, if such course is not unacceptable to the State Department. 

 Such agent would be more certainly useful if the department would 

 provide him with letters of a similar character to those furnished to 

 Mr. Pickerell, the agent of the Pennsylvania or Philadelphia Gruano 

 Company last spring ; and suggesting to the minister of the United 

 States at Caraccas to aid him and to confirm such adjustment as the 

 agent might succeed in effecting, not inconsistent with the other official 

 instructions of the department on that subject. Mr. Shelton and asso- 

 ciates have not yet fixed upon any agent, and they would take care 

 not to select any person without consulting the department, and not 

 to designate any one unacceptable to it. I presume I need not say to 

 you that I have not thought of going on this errand, and since I have 

 retired from the diplomatic service of the United States, I have not had 

 the least wish to be invested with any official or quasi official employ- 

 ment. _ My private and personal affairs have been the object of my 

 undivided attention. The only object of this communication is to en- 

 deavor to accelerate the just settlement of my uncle's claim, in which 

 Ex. Doc. 10 6 



