Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress
Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to send herewith to you, for the information of the government of the United States, various documents, which show what is the latest aspect which French intervention presents in Mexico and the so-called empire of the ex-Archduke Maximilian. Among them I permit myself to call your attention to the letter dated at the city of Mexico the 8th of December last, and continued to the 26th of the same month, because it was written by a well-informed person. I hope the narrative it contains may be read with interest by the government of the United States.
I avail of this opportunity, Mr. Secretary, to renew to you the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
List of Mexican legation sends, with note of this date, to the Department of State of the United States.
No. 1. December 8, 1866. Letter written at the city of Mexico, relating what occurred between Maximilian and his so-called ministers and councillors on the 26th November and following days.
No. 2. December 8, 1866. Letter of Maximilian to D. T. Lares, explaining to him the reasons why he convoked his so-called congress to Orizaba.
[Page 516]No 3. December 10, 1866. Issue of a circular from Lares, called minister of foreign relations of Maximilian, showing that the latter reckoned upon the French army continuing to sustain him.
No. 4. December 10, 1866. Extract from La Patria, ministerial newspaper of Maximilian, announcing that General Bazaine had given orders to deliver material of war to the troops Marquez was organizing in defence of that usurper.
No. 5. December 19, 1866. Circular of General Bazaine, inviting the French soldiers fighting under the banners of Maximilian to return to their country with the expeditionary corps.
No. 6. December 19, 1866. Publications of French agents, showing the disagreement which exists between them and the emperor, (so-called,) in relation to the custom-house at Vera Cruz, which the French held in possession.
No. 7. January 8, 1867. Notice by the French legation in Mexico, inviting resident French who wish to return to their country to embark with the expeditionary corps.
No. 1.
[Translation—Extract.]
My Very Dear Friend: * * * *
All intrigues have been useless; all the blood shed has been shed in vain; falsehood, perfidy, baseness, and flatteries, and threats, and the perspective of a military future capable of seducing him who in heart loves Mexico, all, all have been used with ability to upset the man who grasps the standard of independence, and the man remains at his post.
Three months ago the idea, was to erase the name of Juarez from the flag of the independents, and to substitute therefor that of Gonzales Ortega. To this end, Bazaine called on several liberals, giving them carte blanche to conspire against the empire on condition of abandoning Juarez. All was useless; there are no Ortegaists; if there had been they Were ashamed; but the capture of the. general upset this last illusion. It is necessary to regard Juares as re-established in the capital. If a treaty of peace has to be made between Mexico and France that treaty must bear the signature of Juarez. This is what the French have come to understand after four years of war, and is it not very natural they should trip and hesitate rather than fall ? But all this that I am writing you know, if not better, at least as well as I do. I am going to give you seme news that by few channels could reach your knowledge. I will speak to you of the conferences at Orizaba between Maximilian and his council of state. Nothing has been published beyond the resolution of the grand duke to return to the capital.
On Saturday, 24th of last month, the councillors reached Orizaba to the number of 16, notwithstanding the council is, composed of 30 and more members, and on Monday, 26th, they had their first session. Maximilian did not present himself to preside over it, as was to be expected. M. Lares, the soul of the imperial government, had authority to do so. He began by reading a letter from the archduke addressed to the council, which in substance said as follows: That he had an intimate conviction that he ought to retire from the country, returning to it through the medium of that body, the only one existing, all its liberty to frame in the manner it may judge most convenient its own constitution; that such conviction rested on reason more or less incontestible, and which, in fact, made the empire an impossibility. Among these reasonings and facts you have here the principal ones. That the French agents had intimated that France had an understanding with the United States to end the question of Mexico on the basis of a republican government; that the condition of poverty in which the public chests were found was such that it was impossible to meet its most pressing and urgent obligations without recourse to violent exactions; that for the same reason there were no elements, for raising an army sufficient to make head against the dissidents, who not only occupy important cities at a distance, but growing in boldness daily, come already to a very short distance from the capital; and, finally, that his personal misfortune, that is to say, the sickness of his wife, filling his heart with bitter grief, had completed the series of calamities. The letter ends by announcing his resolution to abdicate in the midst of the council of state.
The letter having been read, Lares thought proper to make some explanation, and said that the resolution of Maximilian was not definitive; that although French agents had, in effect, declared what the letter expressed, they had not done so officially, and added that he was authorized to receive General Castlenau, and would give assurance that he had no other mission than to ratify in words that which at various times lately Napoleon had written to Maximilian; to wit: That the present situation of Europe prevented him from continuing to lend him his aid in any way, and obliged him to withdraw his troops after a short time, which General Castlenau was authorized to fix. He said, lastly, that both Castelnau and Bazaine had offered him both artillery, arms, and ammunition in considerable quantity on condition that Maximilian would return to Mexico and continue at the head of the government.
[Page 517]This declaration all, because it was generally believed that the French had refused to deliver armament.
A committee of the council was appointed, which on the following day should report their opinion. Fonseca, Vidaurri, and another whose name I do not recall, composed that committee. The report was presented, and concluded, as might be expected, by requesting the archduke to return to Mexico and to continue to govern the empire.
Five of the council voted for the report, and, as I understand, the three ministers who were present; against it, eleven councillors, of whom one, Cortez Esparza, did so absolutely; and ten, among them, Silicio, Victor Perez, Manuel Cordero, Linares, and Luiz Mendez, explained their vote by saying in substance that Maximilian ought, before abdicating, to guarantee, in I know not what manner, the interests created by the empire.
Larez, the interpreter on this occasion of the council, and of Maximilian, charged himself with giving account of this and of the result of the deliberations, and on the next day returned to preside over the sitting, and read a second letter from the archduke.
This new letter said that Maximilian, before taking a definitive resolution, and supposing the vote of his councillors, wished them to solve for Mm that day the following questions :
1. If the government could count upon such resources as to be able to face the situation without recourse to violence and arbitrary action ?
2. If it was possible to arm a numerous army without recourse to levies to take from the dissideuts the strong posts they had in possession, cause them to disappear, aid to the imperial rule through all the extent of the country ?
3. If it was possible to enter upon a negotiation with the United States which should result in the recognition of the empire by that power ?
The letter spoke, also, of national representation and of submitting to its vote various questions, upon the understanding, I suppose, that in the bosom of that congiess the two political parties would be represented.
The council declared it was not possible to resolve such questions that day, as was asked, because it had not necessary antecedents on each of them; but added that, in reasonable time, in another place, that is, in Mexico, and laying before it the divers intents and projects of finance, with all the explanations and suitable observations, by doing the same with all connected with the brands of war, and becoming informed, also, of all done to this time by the imperial government, directly or indirectly, to obtain the recognition of the United States, would be possible to express the opinions asked for.
It was to be believed, and all the world believed, that Maximilian had wished to present to his steadfast part sans, represented by the ministers and some of the councillors, all the difficulties of the situation, of such volume they had themselves acknowledged them and declared them insuperable. But Mr. Lares, who continued in his office of interpreter, to the general amazement, announced next day that, assuming the opinion of the council, and whatever was to be assumed, Maximilian had resolved definitely to return to Mexico and put himself at the head of the government. This resolution was communicated by telegraph to all the prefects, ordering them to celebrate the occasion with ringing of bells, music, and fireworks, a notice which was faithfully carried out. After that the “Patria” newspaper, which the government pays, sung the victory, and announced to us that the time for pardon and magnanimity had gone, very clearly expressed in the law of the 3d of October, and that thenceforth the empire, sustained by Miramon, Marquez, and Mejia, would regulate all affairs at the sword’s point. But leaving this on one side, although those that we see obliged to remain here cannot forget it, and turning to the matter of the conferences at Orizaba, I will say to you that their results would be truly matter for joking if they had not happened to retard a solution which the entire country, without distinction of parties, (and even for eigners resident in it,) has awaited with feverish anxiety during the last forty days.
The conferences of Orizaba and their results would be droll, I have said, and, in fact, are so; at least I have fancied hearing the conversation of two deaf men, who by their condition can’t hear each other, and in consequence cannot understand each other. As the details I communicate to you are authentic, it cannot be doubted that the council disapproved the opinion that advised that Maximilian should remain; that is to say, that the council wished he would abdicate; and to this declaration the archduke replied that, regarding it as the. wish of his council, he would remain.
You should notice the manifesto of the archduke to the nation. There is not one who gives it any importance, so far as to the purpose it ostensibly has, because there is no one who believes that the independents will lay down their arms to decide the question at the electoral urns. But yes; even his most decided partisans reprove such a manifesto, because they see that the sovereign places his title in doubt. Here it works with good result, because no liberal allows himself to be deceived.
* * * * * *
We are at the 20th of December, and as the New York steamer has not yet arrived, there has been no opportunity to send you this. It contains news which will already be forgotten by you; the fault, as you perceive, is not mine.
You know that when Bazaine married, Maximilian, who was sponsor, presented to the bride the old house of Mrs. Rulwellthen. In the deed of donation is a clause by which the archduke engaged to give 100,000 francs for such house, if Bazaine, at the time of leaving [Page 518] Mexico, should so desire. That he does so desire is unquestionable, but, you understand, the house being bought with public funds, the French army withdrawn, and the constitutional government re-established, the donation is a nullity. The interest is what now worries the imperialists. If you contribute, they say, to Bazaine to do away our prestige, the government wall lack means to meet a personal promise with you.
Here you have one of the explanations given of the suspicious conduct of the French. I insist on it, the mischief comes chiefly from Paris.
Castelnau and Dano were at Puebla, where the archduke was. It was said the principal object was to have him abdicate, and it was even given out the abdication was made. I doubted this news, and believed they were treating of the convention of 30th of July, which Maximilian don’t care to ratify. For this belief I rest upon the fact that the situation has lately grown more serious, because, by order of Maximilian, they are collecting in Mexico all the duties paid at Vera Cruz to the French, in virtue of such agreement. That is to say, that Maximilian ignores the treaty, as Juarez would do if he were now in Mexico.
Zacatecas was occupied on the 29th of last month, and Aguas Calientes a few days after; day before yesterday came news of the occupation of Guadalaxara, which General Gutierrez was to have defended until Miramon got there. Daily is announced the departure of Miramon, and daily is the news contradicted that Bazaine will give to the imperialists arms and ammunition in considerable quantity. Taking into account the interests which are connected with Bazaine, such news may end in a fact.
A levy on a large scale is what to-day fills the world with annoyance. The curiosity is, that the imperial government has thrown off the mask and officially authorizes this, as you will see by a circular from the department of government, published these four days.
Yours, affectionately,
No. 2.
The France publishes the following letter from Maximilian to M. Lares, president of the council of ministers:
“My Dear Sir: The gravity of the present condition of our country has led us to call to our aid the councillors of the crown, in order that, by their clear and prudent judgment, we may arrive by legal means at a solution of the existing difficulties. A weighty duty is now imposed upon us, but we have a thorough conviction that the welfare of the country demands its accomplishment. After reflection free from all party, prejudice and passion, after a long and conscientious examination of the position, we have arrived at the conclusion that it might be our duty to restore to the Mexican nation the power which it had confided in us. The following are the reasons which confirm us in this opinion: first, the civil war still continues—with grief we state the fact; it stains the devastated territories with the blood of thousands of our countrymen, and is every day assuming vaster proportions; secondly, the hostility of the United States toward the monarchical principle is daily becoming more marked; thirdly, our allies have declared it impossible for them, from political reasons, to continue their support, and it has even lately come to our knowledge that there have been negotiations between the French and the United States government with the object of coming to an agreement as to the means of putting an end to the civil war which has been so long ravaging our country. Considering the opinion of the great majority of the American people, it would not be possible, they say, to attain that end, except by founding, by the aid of these two powers, a new government of a republican form. Although it has pleased Providence to destroy the happiness of our domestic hearth, and although our courage and strength have consequently been unduly tried. we should not for one moment hesitate to make any sacrifices for the welfare of the nation if we had not well-founded reasons for believing that our person would prove an obstacle to the pacification of the country. These are the motives for calling round us the ministers—who have already given us so many proofs of their adhesion and fidelity—with the object of finding a solution for existing difficulties.
No. 3.
[Circular.—Translation.]
* * * * * * *
His Majesty has received at this time the most explicit assurances from his excellency Marshal Bazaine, in conformity with the orders of his sovereign, that he is to aid in consolidating order and peace by furthering the measures of his Majesty’s government during the continuance of the French troops in the national territory. All which I have the honor to [Page 519] communicate to your excellency by order of our august sovereign, that you may bring it to the knowledge of the government near which you are accredited, authorizing him to read this note to the minister for foreign affairs, and to leave a copy with him if he request it.
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Empire at—— ——.
No. 4.
[Translation.]
The Patria, semi-official paper published at the capital of the empire, says:
“By express order of his excellency General Bazaine, communicated to all the generals of the expeditionary army, all the Mexican troops and Austrian and Belgian legions are placed under the orders of his excellency General Marquez to dispose of them as may suit him for the military operations confided to him as chief of the army of the Orient.
“This is already a fact, and the Mexican general is hurrying to organize and opportunely increase his force and commence operations.
“All the Mexican material of war which was in the power of the expeditionary army has been delivered, by express order from Marshal Bazaine, to the imperial government, as well that in the city as what is inland; this is also a fact. It proves, as does the former, the good understanding there is between the intervention and the empire, which we have ourselves averred at various times, differing in that from the assurances which have been given to the public.”
No. 5.
Marshal Bazaine issued the following circular:
Headquarters Expeditionary Corps of Mexico.
The marshal commanding in chief has received a telegram from Paris, dated December 13, expressing the intention of the French government to have returned to France, not only the foreign legion, but all the soldiers of French nationality who were formerly authorized to enroll themselves in the service of the Mexican government, and who are actually serving in the general army corps of the Mexican army. However, if any of these soldiers having knowledge of this circular desire to remain in the service of Mexico, they are authorized to do so, and remain in the corps to which they actually belong. As to the French, whatever is their rank in the Mexican army, officers, non-commissioned officers, or privates, those manifesting a desire to discontinue serving in Mexico, but who are yet unattached to the French corps, will be transferred into the foreign legion, where they will have their former rank; as to others, they will be returned to their country at the expense of the French government. Consequently there will be made in each Mexican corps a nominal report of all Frenchmen serving in said corps, which report will be forwarded to the marshal commanding after each soldier has written opposite his name the action by him voluntarily taken, if he is determined or not to remain in the Mexican service. Soldiers taking the first determination will join themselves to the nearest French detachment on the first secure occasion which will offer itself.
Copies of this circular were sent to General Mejia on December 19, to be enforced immediately.
No. 6.
[Translation—Communicated. ]
The carrying into execution of the treaty of July 20 at the time fixed by his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, (1st November,) according to the right conferred on him, and the taking possession of the custom-house of Vera Cruz by French agents, have called out on the part of the Mexican authorities an opposition and protests which have, with good cause, disturbed trade, by proving that the convention was made applicable without the consent of the Mexican government. The official publication of the convention which had been kept back till now, in hope of an understanding with this government, will suffice to edify us without further explanation on the rights of the French government, and the legality of the acts of its agents.
The French government, in taking control of the custom-house at Vera Cruz, retained all [Page 520] the employés appointed by the Mexican government. The collector and thirty agents with drew, refusing their assent to the execution of this convention, and protesting against the deductions made in anticipation of duties to come in. The French authority would not allow to be idle in their hands the delegations; they made claim and had commission to recover, and appointed a French agent collector in conformity with the provisions of article three— the measures taken were necessary to secure the collection duty of the duties payable at the Vera Cruz custom-house: these duties, without exception, and with reserve only of previous delegations which had been admitted and duly paid, are allotted for payment of the delegations admitted for the benefit of France. This note is accompanied by the text of the convention, and the following notice:
“Merchants who shall have paid duties due at the Vera Cruz custom-house, conformably to the regulations of the empire, are permitted to withdraw their goods from the Mexican warehouse, and to claim, if there is cause, the concurrence of the French authority.
Mexico and the French.
A letter from the city of Mexico says:
“Everything at the capital portends an early evacuation by the French, and it is even said that Maximilian will be off at the same time; that he is now preparing himself for such a step, and that the putting off of the national congress—for which an assembly of notables is now to be substituted—is for the purpose of abdicating. His minister of the treasury, Campos, has wished to give up his place, being unable to cope with the difficulties that surround him.”
The French legation in the capital have issued to the French residents the following circular:
“Legation of France in Mexico, “January 8, 1867.
“The Emperor Napoleon has determined that the French residents, who wish to leave Mexico, shall be re-embarked at the same time as the expeditionary corps.
“Persons who intend to make use of this favor will be pleased to make it known as soon as possible at the office of the legation.”