The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-29 00:00:00

The Late Emperor Maximilian.

The following hitherto unpublished letter from
the late Emperor of Mexico to his Minister, Senor
Aguirre, presents a complete defence of the Em-
peror against the calumniations of his enemies. The
letter is dated Queretaro, March 2, 1867 :
" My dear Miuister,—As my departure for Que-
retaro, to put myself at the head of the recently-
formed army, may be falsely interpreted by male-
volent persons in the country as well as abroad, and
as my reasons cannot be known, owing to the many
calumnies which our enemies spread about with
avidity respecting the conduct of our Government,
I think it necessary to make some slight observations
which may serve as an explanation and a guide in
the present difficult moments. The programme
which I adopted in Orizaba, after having heard the
frank and loyal opinion of the consultative bodies
of the State, has not been in the least changed ; for
my dominant idea is to call a congress—the only
solution which can form a lasting future and a basis
which may approximate all the parties now causing
the ruin of our unfortunate country. I emitted
the idea of the congress, which I nurtured ever
since my arrival in the country, as soon as I
became assured that the representatives of
the nation could be united free from all foreign
influence. As long as the French had their sway
iu the central parts of the country, it was impos-
sible to unite a congress with free power to delibe-
rate. My journey to Orizaba hastened the march
of the troops of the intervention, and thus arrived
the key when the idea of a constituent congress
could be openly spoken of. That no such step could
be taken before was evidently shown by the strenu-
ous opposition which the extinct French authorities
made against the idea I emitted. A. congress elected
by the nation, as a real expression of the majority,
and with full power and liberty, is the only possible
means of concluding the civil wars and of putting
an end to so much bloodshed. I, as sovereign and
chief, called by the nation,with pleasure again sub-
mitted myself to the expression of its will, having
the most ardent desire thus quickly to conclude the
desolating struggle. I even did more by personally
addressing myself to the different chiefs who say
they fight in the name of liberty and the principle
of progress, so that they might submit themselves,
as I am willing to do, to the vote of the national
majority. -What has been the result of these negotia-
tions? That the men who invoke progress would not
or dared not submit themselves to such a judgment.
They answered me by executing loyal and distin-
guished cikizens, rejecting the paternal hand, and
acting as blind partisans who wish exclusively to go-
vern by the sword. Where, then, is the national will?
On which side exists the desire of true libeirty? Their
only apologyis their blindness, sadly demonstrated
by the deeds enacted under such a banner, and
which clamours loudly to Heaven for chastisement.
It is impossible for us to count upon them, and our
duty is to act with all energy, so as to restore liberty
to the people that they may frankly express their
will. This is the reason why lin all haste marched
in person to this city, endeavouring in every way to
re-establish peace and order, and to save the country
a second time from a more noxious foreign influence.
The bayonets of the intervention are leaving by the
east ; it is therefore necessary to arrive at the
longed-for moment so as to avoid the armed influ-
ence which, directly or indirectly, may menace our
independence and the integrity of our country.
We are now at the moment when our country is
being bartered. It is necessary to search out all
possible remedies to put an end to so critical a situa-
tion, and to liberate Mexico from all oppression
from whatever side it may come. Finally, a national
congress will settle the destiny of Mexico, as re-
gards its institutions and form of Government ; and
if this assembly should not be convened, because
we who demand it fall in the struggle, the judg-
ment of the country will always admit that we were
in the right, and will declare that we were the real
defenders of true liberty, that we never sold the
territory of the nation, that we endeavoured to save
her from a second and oppressive intervention, and
that in good faith we had used all our efforts that
the principle of the national will might triumph.
(Signed) " MAXIMILIANO."