422 AVES ISLAND. 



of the combination of powerful and political influence in Venezuela 

 and the United States interested in sustaining him. 



But with reference to the further conduct of their case, the claim- 

 ants would again urge upon the department, not merely the propriety, 

 hut the imperative necessity, if anything is expected to be done in this 

 case, of supplying forthwith one defect (alluded to in Dr. Briceno's 

 pamphlet) which exists in it, caused by Mr. i!ames's failure to furnish 

 the Venezuelan government with the several depositions, documents, 

 and proofs forwarded to him, duly exemplified for that purpose. 

 Whether peaceful reprisals are resorted to or not, whilst the 34th 

 article of the treaty of 1836 is in force, this should have been done. 

 Venezuela, it is in the opinion of legal counsel, has the right under 

 the treaty to ask for it, even though our government may decide to 

 resort to some other mode of redress than reprisals. It is too much 

 for me to ask of the department to require Mr. Eames by explicit 

 instructions to forthwith deliver copies to the Venezuelan government 

 of every deposition, document, and other proof transmitted to him in 

 this case, not previously delivered by him in extenso, and to furnish 

 the department with the proof thereof. With respect to Gibbs's depo- 

 sition, it was presented mutilated, and a material part was omitted by 

 Mr. Eames, the most important and extended deposition of Captain 

 Wheeler, those of McCabe, Thornell, and others, are still retained in 

 the archives of the legation — all important and all obtained with 

 great trouble and at no inconsiderable cost. 



If Dr. Briceno is sent home simultaneously with such instructions, 

 and renewal of the peremptory demand for adjustment, which Mr. 

 Eames has not yet presented to the Venezuelan government, or a letter 

 of request be sent at the same time to that government direct, as a 

 letter of request under the law of nations must be, I have some little 

 hope that by the end of this year matters may approach something 

 like the "commencement of the end!" 



I have great confidence in the new government ; I know some of the 

 members of it personally, and they are high-toned, honorable men, 

 deservedly respected by the country, and as yet unacquainted with 

 official circumlocution ; but I think it important that their sense of 

 justice should be appealed to while it is fresh. 



In view of the nearly approaching end of the session of Congress,, 

 and of the extraordinary, unjust, trifling and dishonorable course of 

 the government of Venezuela in this matter, it appears to me that an 

 intimation from the Executive to Congress that a law clothing the 

 former with more plenary powers to enforce justice against that gov- 

 ernment than some suppose it possesses without such law, would not 

 fail to be responded to by Congress. Of course no action would be had 

 under such law if the new government of Venezuela act with more 

 justice and honor than its predecessors. Of this I have stated that I 

 had hopes, and would further say that Dr. Briceno was in Venezuela 

 opposed to the Monagas administration, and being committed as he is 

 by his pamphlet against the just settlement of this claim, it is possible 

 that his representations to the new government on his return home 

 may have an injurious influence. 



