Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress, Part III

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward

No. 282.]

Legation of the United States, Paris, March 6, 1866.

Sir: On the 2d of March, in the corps legislatif, the president, Count Walewski, after reading the paragraph of the address to the throne relative to Mexico, gave the floor to Mr. Rouher, minister of state, who asked in behalf of the government that the paragraph should be voted without discussion, alleging that, considering the present state of diplomatic negotiations already initiated with the emperor Maximilian, the discussion of Mexican questions was at this time inopportune. This proposition was adopted, but not without a spirited debate, in the course of which Mr. Rouher repeated, in language rather more emphatic than the government has formerly used, that the French troops were soon to be withdrawn from Mexico; and, in addition, gave positive assurances that a future opportunity would be afforded for the thorough examination of the Mexican question in all its aspects.

The paragraph was then adopted, and the amendment of the minority rejected, the members of the opposition protesting that the opinion of the assembly was not to be prejudiced by this merely formal vote.

I transmit a copy of the paragraph adopted, the amendment of the opposition, and an extract from the remarks of Mr. Rouher.

I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

JOHN BIGELOW.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Enclosure 1 to despatch 282.]

“Our expedition to Mexico approaches its close. The country has received this assurance with satisfaction. Led to Mexico by the imperious duty of protecting our countrymen against odious acts of violence, and to obtain the redress of legitimate grievances, our soldiers and our sailors have worthily fulfilled the task which your Majesty has confided to their devotion. This expedition has attested once more, in those distant lands, the disinterestedness and the power of France. The people of the United States, who have long known the loyalty of our policy and the traditional sympathies by which it is inspired, have no cause to take umbrage at the presence of our troops upon Mexican soil. To wish to subordinate their recall to any other conveniences than our own, would be to attack our rights and our honor. You have these in charge, sire, and the legislative body knows that you will watch over them with a solicitude worthy of France and of your name.” (Paragraph of the address to the throne, adopted 2d March, 1866.)

[Enclosure 2 to despatch 282.]

“We condemned the expedition to Mexico, at its outset, in calling attention to the embarrassments and sacrifices which it would impose upon France.

“Last year the return of our soldiers was solemnly announced; we regret that we should have encountered a delay not justified by French interests.

“The country has not forgotten the early declaration of the government in regard to the causes of the expedition. It is astonished to see our army devoted to-day to the defence of a foreign throne.”

(Amendment proposed by MM. Bethmeout, Garnier-Pages, Jules Favre, Pelletan, Due de Marmin, Picard, Glais-Bizoin, Javal, and others; rejected March 2, 1866.)

[Enclosure 3 to despatch 282.]

[Extract from the remarks of Mr. Rouher, minister of state, in the legislative body, on the 2d of March.]

“But the speech from the throne expressed to you a thought—that of the early close of our expedition; it declared that the expedition approached its termination. That thought is the common thought of the government and the corps legislatif, and here I have not to distinguish between the majority and the opposition. It is the thought of the public opinion. This thought is expressed in the project of the address.

“Is there a certain shade of differences? Be it so. Let it be reserved.

“What objection should there be, then, gentlemen, that the commission and the corps legislatif should express their sentiments immediately upon this great theme of the early (prochain) return of our troops from the shores of the Atlantic and of Mexico, making all reserves in regard to the conduct of the expedition, its results, and its relations with the United States, for a later discussion.”