Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
Sir: At an early period of the war between France and Mexico a body of native negro Egyptian troops was put by the Pacha of Egypt at the service of the Emperor of the French, by whose direction they were conveyed from Egypt [Page 416] to Mexico, where they were incorporated in the French Service. It has been represented that the embarcation of the negroes on that destination was involuntary, and was effected not without compulsion. I am not prepared to say that the statement is absolutely accurate in this latter respect. The proceeding excited much comment at the time, but it passed unnoticed by this government, which was then seriously occupied with a peculiar condition of merely domestic affairs, and with the foreign embarrassments which grew out of that condition. It is now represented to this government that a second embarcation of the same character and with the same destination and purposes is contemplated. Since the original transaction occurred the United States have abolished slavery. The attention of Congress, as well as that of the executive department and of the country, has been very steadily fixed upon the course of events in Mexico, which I need not say form a subject of serious apprehension with regard to the safety of free republican institutions on this continent—an object with which we are accustomed to connect the desired ultimate consequence of the abolition of every form of compulsory civil or military servitude in this hemisphere.
You are instructed to bring this matter to the attention of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and state to him that, in the opinion of this government, the renewal of the transactions alluded to could not be regarded with favor or even without deep concern by the people of the United States or by their government. It is proper for you to inform Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys that I have written upon the subject in the same sense herein adopted to the diplomatic agents of the United States residing, respectively, at Alexandria and Constantinople.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq., &c., &c., &c.