Mr. Corwin to Mr.
Seward.
No. 32.]
Legation of the United States of
America.
Mexico,
August 28, 1862.
Sir: Since the date of my despatch No. 31, Mr.
Doblado has resigned his position of secretary for foreign affairs, and
taken command of a detachment of troops to unite with the corps
commanded by the late President Common fort. Doblado, I learn, is to be
commander in chief of this army. This force is to first drive a band of
freebooters out of the mountains near Guadalajara, and then hold itself
ready to protect the government officials should they be driven out of
this city by the defeat of Zaragoza’s army, which is to meet the French
should they advance on this city.
[Page 769]
The French forces, about seven thousand in number, are occupied and
fortified at Orizaba, about ninety miles from Vera Cruz, and one hundred
and eighty miles from this city. There are various accounts as to the
number of re-enforcements to come from France. One account sets them
down at 10,000, the other at 20,000. Adopting either number, they will
have much difficulty in reaching this city without defeat or great loss.
Zaragoza has now under him full fifteen thousand men, most of them
inured to war, especially guerilla war, for which the Mexicans, in
general, are well qualified. And this is the very kind of war most
useful in harassing an army on a long march through such a country as
the French must pass through on their march to Orizaba to this city. If
the government should be driven from this place by the failure of
Zaragoza to check or repulse the French, then it will fly to the nearest
safe position in one of the States, most probably to Morelia, a distance
of about two hundred miles from Mexico. Then I am satisfied it is the
policy of France to set up some government in the capital, call it the
government de facto, treat with it and retire.
This, I think, is the most likely to be the end of “intervention,”
especially should the French force their way to this capital. If they
should not, it is certain, judging from the temper and known
characteristics of the French people, that large armies will be sent
here, and an idefinite expenditure of money will be required to carry on
successively a war of one year or more, to achieve the complete conquest
of this country.
If, however, in the meantime the northern forces in the United States
shall succeed in gaining a decisive victory over the south, so as to
forbid all hope of a division of our Union, I agree with the universal
opinion of discerning minds here, both native and foreign, that France
will find some honorable way of ridding herself at once from her Mexican
troubles. In short, there are satisfactory reasons for believing that
the fate of Mexican interests involved in the present contest will be
determined favorably, or otherwise, as the tide of conflict in the
United States shall set one way or the other. For these reasons all
classes here wait with intense anxiety the result of a general battle at
Richmond. We have heard nothing from that quarter since General
McClellan changed the position of his besieging force, and hope with
tremulous uncertainty of mind to get some good news by the forthcoming
mail of the British packet, which was due at Vera Cruz yesterday, and
will probably reach this city by the 30th instant.
Mr. Fuerute, late minister to France, who was so unceremoniously treated
lately by the imperial government at Paris, succeeds Mr. Doblado in the
department of foreign affairs here. He is a gentleman of good education,
great probity, and fine talent. We here, after reading the British “blue
book,” are at a loss to know how the British and Spanish governments can
permit the French to give a turn to the objects
of the joint intervention at war with the joint treaty agreed to at
London; yet they both look on and see the French attempt with arms to
overthrow the established government of Mexico, which they both assert
is a plain infraction of the treaty agreed to by France with them, upon which basis joint intervention
was moved.
If the Mexican government had money to maintain and arms to equip troops,
it could easily bring into the field fifty thousand effective men. But
they have neither money nor arms; and hence, in a contest with a rich
and warlike nation, they must be regarded as dependent on the justice of
a possible conqueror.
I have been asked to send home a supplemental treaty extending the time
of ratification agreed on by the treaty of the 6th of April last. This
is urged on the ground that a great and favorable change in our
situation may take place after the 6th of October next, when the
ratification of our treaty (now on the table of the Senate) expires.
And, secondly, if it is not likely that the treaty will ever be
ratified, while it is pending and not rejected, Mexico will seem to
[Page 770]
have one friend, and they be
left to hope; whereas, if it be rejected, she will be reduced to despair
of either friendly feelings or aid from any quarter.
Your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State of the United States,
Washington, D. C.
A 1, Despatch No. 32.
City of Mexico,
August 14, 1862.
Sir: The representatives of the United
States of America, of the republic of Ecuador, of his Majesty the
King of the Belgians, of the republic of Peru, and of Venezuela,
have the honor of addressing your excellency with the purpose of
seriously calling your attention to the pamphlet recently published
in this city by the Seńor Diputado Don Ygnacio Manuel Attimirano,
entitled “Some words with reference to Mr. Wagner.”
The unusual manner in which the author of this pamphlet speaks of
foreign governments and their representatives accredited to the
government of Mexico, using for his purpose language opposed to the
usages and customs of all civilized countries in which the
consideration due to the high character with which a diplomatic
representative is invested is never forgotten—these considerations
have induced the undersigned to address to your excellency the
present collective note, persuaded as they are that your excellency,
as well as the President of the republic, have seen with displeasure
the pamphlet to which they refer. The undersigned do not doubt that
the Mexican government will take the measures which will be proper
not only for the present case, but also those which may be necessary
to prevent similar attacks hereafter against foreign
representatives; since, if this be not done, it will be impossible
to maintain the good harmony and perfect understanding which ought
always to subsist between Mexico and frienly nations.
In addressing this note to your excellency, the undersigned would
remark that the publication complained of derives its peculiar
significancy from the fact that the supreme government of Mexico has
assumed the entire control of the public press, and has actually,
within the past few months, suppressed the issuing of two newspapers
for having published articles which it deemed injurious to the
public interests.
The article relative to Mr. Wagner, the minister of Prussia, having
been published in pamhhlet form, and afterwards reproduced in two of
the public papers of this city, without having been noticed by the
public authorities, in the eyes of the world, will, we fear, be
looked upon as being approved by the government. The undersigned
would therefore most seriously call the attention of your excellency
to the propriety and necessity of preventing such attacks upon the
representatives of foreign governments resident in Mexico.
The undersigned avail themselves of this occasion to offer to your
excellency the assurances of their distinguished consideration.
AUG. V. KINT DE ROUDENBECK.
MANUEL NICHOLAS CORPAUCK.
[Page 771]
[Translation A 2, Despatch No. 32.]
National Palace,
Mexico,
August 15, 1862.
The undersigned, chief clerk of the department of foreign relations
and government, in charge of its duties, in reply to the collective
note which messieurs the representatives of the United States of
America, of the republic of Ecuador, of his Majesty the King of the
Belgians, of the republics of Peru and of Venezuela, have thought
proper to address to him in reference to the pamphlet which has been
recently published in this capital by the deputy, Don Ignacio Manuel
Altimirano, has the honor, after having laid its contents before the
citizen president, and having received his superior opinion, to
inform his excellency Mr. Thomas Corwin and the other worthy
representatives who subscribe to the aforesaid communication, that
as soon as it was known in this department that this publication had
been made, it was ordered that it should be denounced by the censor
of the press, agreeably to the law; and that recently, and in
deference to the wishes expressed in their joint note, the order has
been renewed in like manner that the copies of the said pamphlet be
collected together, and that hereafter the same may be done with any
other publication of whatsoever character, which may contain
anything injurious or offensive to the foreign governments or to
their accredited representatives near the government of this
republic.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to his
excellency Mr. Corwin, and to his worthy colleagues, the assurances
of his very distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Thomas Corwin,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
[Translation A 3, Despatch No. 32.]
National Palace,
Mexico,
August 16, 1862.
The undersigned, chief clerk of the department of foreign relations,
in charge of its duties, has the honor to transmit to his excellency
the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America, for his information and that of his colleagues
the representatives of the friendly powers accredited near this
government, three copies of the same number of official
communications, which, under date of yesterday, the censor of the
press, the citizen Francisco Lazo Estrada has addressed to this
department, with reference to the articles published against Mr.
Wagner.
The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to his
excellency Thomas Corwin the assurances of his very distinguished
consideration.
His Excellency Thomas Corwin,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps.
[Page 772]
[Translation.]
Office of the Censor of the Press
for the District of Mexico.
To the citizen., minister of foreign relations and
government:
Sir: In virtue of your superior order,
which I have just received, I have proceeded to denounce the
pamphlet which has positively been published under the title of
“Some observations to Mr. Wagner in reference to what has occurred
with Mr. Altimirano, by Alfred Chavero,” commanding, also, the judge
to collect the copies and to issue the proper orders to prevent its
sale and circulation, and also that of any other printed similar
document. To that end I have again given notice to publishers of the
article relative to the law of the press, which forbids them, under
penalties, to consent to the circulation of any printed matter
before the censor shall have received the first copy which may be
printed. Liberty and reform. Mexico, August 15, 1862.
Mexico,
August 16, 1862.
A true copy.
JUAN DE D. ARIAS.
