Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.
[Translation.]
Tours, Department of Indre
Loire,
May 26,
1864.
Sir: As soon as the blind apologists of
the sophisms and prejudices of another epoch roused the passions
and interests of the government near which you are accredited,
producing the unjustifiable invasion of which the Mexican
territory is at present the theatre, we comprehended the new
field which presented itself to the human race to continue its
conquests of progress, of improvement, and of perfection, to
which it incessantly aspires, in compliance with laws which
nothing can impede.
Abstracting ourselves from selfish thoughts, we enter in good
faith on the path of investigation, seeking the rules of
morality, the dogmas of philosophy, the precepts of justice, on
which might hang the pretext for overthrowing our independence,
destroying our institutions, stifling our opinions, and casting
around our necks the chains forged beforehand in the workshops
of France. We must confess, Mr. Minister, that neither in
morality, nor in reason, nor in justice, nor in history, nor in
the annals of humanity, do we find a single word which can
justify so vast an outrage, but without much effort we find that
it rested on our wretchedness and on our weakness, because we
have labored enough in demolishing the ancient edifice, whose
social conditions were repugnant, to bury beneath its ruins the
rights of the citizen, in order to build up a new edifice where
might eternally dwell the rights of man There was, therefore, no
room for hesitation; the sword is not argument. In this idea,
grasping ours in one hand, and bearing aloft in the other the
sublime tablet of the rights of man, convinced that an assault
upon the nationality of one people is an assault upon that of
every people, we gave a beginning to the struggle. Victory
smiled on us awhile, notwithstanding that our adversary, to his
indisputable knowledge in the art of war—knowledge very superior
to ours—added deception and perfidy in order to conquer us. At
length, at Puebla, we succumbed to the superiority of physical
force, and came to this country in the character of prisoners of
war of France.
We are in the firm conviction that, in proportion as we strip
ourselves of our prejudices and of our privileges, reason
resumes her place and civilization is aggrandized—not that
civilization whose electric shock produces the shock of arms,
but that whose torch is kindled in the conscience of the people.
We, in consequence, think that wars of ambition and of conquest
are no longer possible; those of emancipation and of liberty can
alone take place, until the time arrive in which there can be no
material forces which can contend with moral force. The
enlightened and magnanimous American people thinks as we do,
and, although tormented by a civil war whose end will be the
security of the rights and immunities of man, does not, on that
account, remain indifferent in a strife which affects its
interests.
Even here we have heard its protest, and, considering it to be an
unavoidable duty which gratitude counsels that your government
should know the sincere and profound sentiments of admiration
and respect with which we are inspired by the virtues of the
people of the United States of America, our position obliges us
to address the present letter to you, begging you to think
proper to become the interpreter of our fraternal affection.
At the same time we ask you, Mr. Minister, to deign to accept the
assurance of the very high consideration with which we are your
very humble and obedient servants,
Colonel JESUS GOMEZ, Portugal.
Colonel JOSÉ MONTESENOF.
Colonel LEWIS LEGONETA.
Commodore JUAN URBINA.
Lieutenant Colonel V. H. RUNERAS.
Commandant PABLO REUTEVIA
Commandant FRANQUITOM CORTEZ.
His Excellency Mr. Dayton, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America near the
French government.
[Untitled]
Gentlfmen: As representative of the
government of the United States at Paris, it is my pleasing duty
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th of May
last, and to thank you for the kind sentiments and encouraging
sympathies therein expressed.
[Page 765]
It will give me much pleasure to forward your communication to
the government at Washington.
Accept, gentlemen, the assurance of highest respect with which I
have the honor to be, your very humble and very obedient
servant,
Colonel Jesus Gomez, Portugal,
Colonel Jose Montesenof,
Colonel Lewis Legoneta,
Commandant Juan Urbina,
Commandant Pablo Reutevia,
Commandant Franquitom Cortez,
Tours, (Indre Loire,) France.
