Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
No. 635.]
Department of State, Washington,
August 18, 1864.
Sir: I enclose for your information a copy
of a letter which I have received from his excellency Frederick F.
Low, governor of California, relative to the rumor there that Mr.
William M. Gwin is to be minister of finance under the new
government of Mexico, and also concerning the supposed policy of the
Emperor of France in regard to indemnity for the expenses of the
war.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L.Dayton, Esq., &c.
Governor Low to Mr. Seward
State of California,
Executive Department, Sacramento,
July 18,
1864.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 20th June, enclosing copy of an extract
from a letter received by you from Paris, giving information
concerning the movements of Mr. William M. Gwin.
There is a rumor here that Gwin is to be minister of finance
under the new government of Mexico, but I cannot vouch for the
correctness of the report. My impressions are that the Emperor
of France will require indemnity for the expenses of the war,
and in the absence of any revenue which could be applied to that
purpose, he will demand and receive from Maximilian certain
territory which will comprise the States of Sonora and Sinaloa,
probably in lieu of a money consideration.
[Page 769]
Gwin has probably been sent as an emissary to shape the public
mind for such a state of things. In any event, the ports in the
Gulf of California will most likely be a sort of rendezvous for
plotters of treason, bearing a similar relation to the Pacific
coast that Nassau does to the Atlantic.
The Mexican question is one that is of especial importance to the
people of this State, and for any information concerning it
which you may think proper to communicate to me, I would feel
especially obliged.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D.
C.
