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 for foreign
affairs, on the 22d instant.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosure.]
Mr. Bigelow to Monsieur Drouyn de
Lhuys,
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 working-men 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 M. Drouyn de Lhuys,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
