Daily National Republican

The Presentation of the Venezuelan Minister-His Address to the President-Mr. Lincoln's Reply,

We have before stated that Senor Blas Bruzual on Monday presented to the President his credentials as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of Venezuela. We give below Mr. Bruzual's address and the President's reply:

SPEECH OF SENOR BRUZUAL.

Most Excellent Sir: It is not a century since we, the inhabitants of the new world, were colonists of Europe: then relations could neither exist, nor were they necessary among us, because all the interests of the slave are concentrated in the palace of the master; but, from the moment these peoples, in obedience to the mandate of Providence, drew the sword and severed the chain which bound them to a portion of the old world, they have reassumed their proper spheres, and the imperious and irrepressible necessity has arisen of having an understanding among ourselves, in order to combine our efforts, to comply in the most proper way with the great duty which we have imposed upon ourselves of defending the independence and liberty of the American world, and to elevate it to the highest degree of civilization and prosperity.

To consolidate these relations to the full extent which this duty requires is the object of the mission with which I have been honored by the Government of the United States of Venezuela, near that over which your Excellency so worthily presides.

I regret to find the Government of this great Republic now engaged in resisting the greatest and most unjust of the civil wars which the error of man has ever caused in the world. My Government deplores that the American blood is being shed by American hands, and it offers to Heaven the most fervent supplications for the termination of this calamity, and for the restoration of the Union of this great people, whose prosperity and aggrandizement is necessary to the prosperity and aggrandizement of the other republics of the New World.

I shall esteem myself the most fortunate of the Venezuelans, if I should realize the happiness of fulfilling, satisfactorily to the two Governments, the object of the high mission the credentials of which I have the honor to place in your Excellency's hands.

REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.

Mr. Bruzual: It gives me pleasure to receive and welcome to the United States a representative of Venezuela.

Venezuela, almost centrally situated among American republics, holds a position commercially advantageous and politically important. Endowed by nature with capacity for rich and varied production, it extends over a broad territory, embracing vast resources yet to be developed. Guided by the principles of republican government and advancing civilization, it adopts institutions which have contributed largely to the growth of the countries of this continent in the past, and which form the basis of high and cherished aspirations for their future.

The Government and people of the United States cannot but feel a deep interest and earnest sympathy in the peace, the prosperity, and the progress of Venezuela.

Thanking you for the friendly sentiments towards the United States which you have expressed, I pray you to accept the assurance of my best wishes that your sojourn in our country may be agreeable to yourself and satisfactory to the Government which you represent.