Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 157.]
Legation of the United
States, Paris,
August 10, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
copies of a letter addressed by me to his excellency the minister of
foreign affairs, on the 1st instant, and of his reply, in reference
to the schemes of Dr. Gwin and his associates in Mexico, referred to
in your despatch No. 195.
The sensitiveness betrayed by his excellency upon this subject has
determined me to defer any rejoinder until I have had time to hear
from you. For that period, at least, silence will be the most
effective rejoinder.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Enclosure No. 1.]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys.
Legation of the United
States,
August 1,
1865.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
of the United States at Paris, has the honor to transmit to his
excellency the minister of foreign affairs copies of four
letters which have been recently submitted to the State
Department at Washington.
The first, dated Mexico, May 16, 1865, is addressed by William M.
Gwin, the son of Dr. and Mrs. William M. Gwin, followed by the
second from Dr. Gwin himself, on the same sheet, without date,
addressed to his wife and daughter in Paris. The third, in the
well
[Page 520]
known
handwriting of the doctor, dated Mexico, May 18, 1865, is
addressed to “My dear Colonel,” and was contained in an envelope
addressed to “Colonel John Winthrop.” The fourth, signed
“Massey,” and dated Mexico, 18th May, 1865, was addressed “To
the Hon. B. Wood,” (now a prisoner of state for alleged
treasonable practices,) enclosing a communication to the editor
of the New York Daily News, dated at the city of Mexico, 19th
May, 1865, upon the subject of Mexican affairs.
By these letters it appears—
First. That Doctor William M. Gwin and family, though citizens of
the United States, are disloyal to its government.
Second. That they are engaged in obtaining from Maximilian,
titular emperor of Mexico, grants of mineral lands in the states
of that republic adjoining the United States, and that Doctor
Gwin is to be the chief directing agent in working these
mines.
Third. That a large accession of capitalists and emigrants into
these States from parties in rebellion against the United States
is expected.
Fourth. That they assure the said Maximilian and the Emperor of
France that their contemplated proceedings will tend at once to
promote the projects of Maximilian in Mexico, and inure to the
injury of the United States.
Fifth. That they claim to have the patronage of the Emperor of
the French, with assurances of military aid.
In submitting to his excellency, the minister of foreign affairs,
copies of this correspondence, the undersigned is instructed
frankly to state that the sympathies of the American people for
the republicans of Mexico are very lively, and that they are
disposed to regard with impatience the continued intervention of
France in that country; that any favor shown to the speculations
of Dr. Gwin by the titular emperor of Mexico, or by the imperial
government of France, will tend greatly to increase the popular
impatience, because it will be regarded, perhaps justly, as
importing danger, or, at least, a menace to the United
States.
Could the government of the undersigned be brought to believe
that the state of these speculations were worthy of entire
confidence, the President of the United States would be forced
to the conclusion that his Majesty the Emperor of France was
pursuing towards Mexico a policy materially at variance with
that of neutrality in regard to the political institutions of
the country, which he avowed at the commencement of his war with
that republic. The President, on the contrary, confidently and
sincerely expects in some form an assurance that all the
pretences of Dr. Gwin, and of his associates, are destitute of
any sanction from the Emperor of France.
It is unnecessary for the undersigned to say, that after having
expelled insurgents from our own borders, the United States
could not look with satisfaction upon their reorganization as
martial or political enemies on the opposite banks of the Rio
Grande.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to his
excellency the minister of foreign affairs assurances of the
distinguished consideration with which he has the honor to be
his excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant.
His Excellency Drouyn de Lhuys, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
[Enclosure No. 2.]
Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to
Mr. Bigelow.
[Translation.]
Sir: I have received the letter which
you have done me the honor to address to me, dated August 1. In
it you mention to me some plans for the colonization of Mexico,
deemed to have been conceived with intentions hostile to the
government of the United States, and you desire to know if it is
true that the emperor Maximilian and France lend their support
to these undertakings.
We shall always be ready, sir, to respond frankly to demands for
explanations coming to us from an allied nation when they are
inspired by a conciliatory spirit, presented in an amicable
tone, and based upon authentic documents or positive facts. But
I must add that the Emperor is resolved to reject all
interpolations which may come to us in a comminatory tone about
vague allegations, and based upon documents of a dubious
character.
You will understand, sir, that it is not for me to enlighten you
concerning the speculations of such or such person who has
emigrated to Mexico; but what I know of the intentions of the
Mexican government enables me to say to you that it proposes to
let the emigrants from the southern States enter upon its
territory only individually, and without arms. They will receive
such help as humanity requires, but will be immediately
dispersed through the provinces of the empire, and bound to
abstain, in their conduct, from everything which might awaken
the just susceptibility of neighboring nations. I have,
moreover, reason to believe that these dispositions of the
emperor Maximilian are by this time as well known to the cabinet
at Washington as they are to us.
As for France, she has on several occasions, sir, and with entire
frankness, stated her resolution
[Page 521]
to observe in all the internal questions
which may agitate or divide the Union an impartial and
scrupulous neutrality. We have nothing to offer as a pledge of
our intentions but our word, but we deem the word of France a
guarantee which will satisfy any friendly power, as we ourselves
are satisfied with the word pledged to us by the federal
government, to remain strictly neutral with regard to affairs in
Mexico. I take pleasure in recalling here, sir, the assurances
which I had the satisfaction to receive from you on that
subject, especially in your letter of the 12th of June last, and
which I have stated in my answer, dated the 17th.
The Emperor trusts with confidence to the sentiments of which you
were the interpreter, and although certain recent manifestations
may seem difficult to reconcile with these declarations, his
Majesty does not hesitate to rely always on the honorableness of
the American people.
Accept assurances of the high consideration with which I have the
honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient
servant,
Monsieur Bigelow, Minister of the United
States, &c., &c., &c., Paris.
