Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 202.]
Legation of the United States,
Paris,
November 24, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your instruction No. 296, covering the opinion of Mr.
Attorney General Speed, in reference to certain decrees relating to
emigration which have recently been promulgated from the city of Mexico,
and to enclose a copy of a communication addressed by me, in compliance
therewith, to his excellency the minister of foreign affairs, on the 22d
instant.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Enclosure to despatch 202.]
Legation of the United
States,
Paris,
November 22, 1865.
Sir: Recalling the conversation which I had
the honor to hold with your excellency on the 17th ultimo, in
relation to the alleged levy of Egyptian troops for involuntary
service in Mexico and the representations I then made in regard to
the natural unwillingness of my government and country people to see
slavery in any form replanted either within our territory or on our
borders, I beg to invite your excellency’s attention to certain
recent decrees bearing upon the subject of emigration to Mexico,
purporting to emanate from authorities acting in opposition to that
republic. In the opinion of the law officer of my government, these
decrees, if enforced, would inevitably reduce to the condition of
peon slavery workingmen of the African race, and of course such of
the freedmen of the United States as may have already been or
hereafter may be seduced to go there without a full and intelligent
comprehension of their liabilities. That your excellency may
understand the grounds for this conclusion, I am instructed to
transmit to your excellency a copy of the Attorney General’s
opinion, which will be found enclosed, and to invite the attention
of the imperial government to the questions there discussed.
In complying with these instructions of my government, I avail myself
of the language of the despatch containing them to say that, “If
European opinion can be regarded as established in reference to any
one political question, it is settled that African slavery in any
form ought henceforth to cease throughout the world. We do not doubt
that the Emperor of France cordially and fully concurs, as we do, in
this humane sentiment.”
I pray your excellency to accept assurances of the distinguished
consideration with which I have the honor to be your excellency’s
very obedient and very humble servant.
His Excellency Monsieur Droyun de
Lhuys,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
