Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward

No. 157.]

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,

JOHN BIGELOW.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Enclosure No. 1.]

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys.

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.

JOHN BIGELOW.

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,

DROUYN DE LHUYS.

Monsieur Bigelow, Minister of the United States, &c., &c., &c., Paris.