Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
Sir: With reference to my despatch of the 30th instant, No. 297, it is now my painful duty to acquaint you that information has been received from the minister of the republican government of Mexico accredited to this government to the effect that the sanguinary policy referred to in the above-named despatch has actually been inaugurated by the execution of several distinguished officers of the liberal forces who had been surprised and captured by the imperialist forces in the town of Santa Ana Amatlan, namely, Generals Arteaga and Salazar, and Colonels Diaz Paracho, Villa Gomez, Perez Milicua and Villanos, five lieutenant colonels, eight commanders, and a number of subordinate officers.
It devolves upon me to instruct you again to call the serious attention of the imperial government to this subject, and to inform Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys that these reports have been received with the most profound concern by the government of the United States. If upon investigation they should prove, as there is too strong ground for believing, that they are well founded, we cannot suffer ourselves to doubt that, so far as the government of France is concerned, it can [Page 464] never countenance proceedings which are so repugnant to the sentiments of modern civilization and the instincts of humanity.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq., &c., &c., &c.