The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04
Affairs i'm Mexico.

Affairs i'm Mexico.
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DISRUPTION OF THE EUROPEAN ALLIANCE ON
THE SOIL OF MExICO-ExCITING SCENES
AND CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN GENERAL
PRIM AND THE OTHER LEADERS. 40
Vera Cruz april D Cor. Of the London Times.
As I have little doubt you are anxious to
know what has recently taken place here, I
will in the following letter send you what
information / have been able to gather.
The Commissioners of England, France and
Spain had agreed to meet on the 18th of
this month, the Mexican Ministers at ORR
zaba, for the purpose of conducting nego-
tiations there and bringing them to con
clusion. Orizaba was fixed upon as yellow
fever was raging at the time in Vera Cruz.
1t is q healthy town, one hundred miles
from the seacoast. The forces of the Allies
were only allowed to proceed to it on the
understanding that if, after the conference
on the 10Th, the Commissioners of the three
European Powers could not agree with the
Mexican government, they were again to
withdraw their troops to Vera Cruz. The
English, French and Spanish Commanders
in.Chief signed treaty with the Mexicans,
in which they faithfully undertook to per-
form this obligation. Each gave his word
OF honor" that the government he repre-.
scented would not depart from the promise
so made. The allied troops accordingly
proceeded to Orizaba, and found there
very good hospital, with every facility for
providing stores. The French took up
thair nh
town. -Four days before the time fixed for
a conference the English, Spanish and Mexi-
can Ministers met. As the French Minis.
ter, however, did not join them, they waited
until the 10th. The French Commissioner
was still absent.
General Prim then showed great impa-
thence of the delay, and be resolved at length
to ride towards the French quarters to ask
an explanation of the cause. He had hardly
gone two miles, when, to his surprise, he met
the French army advancing in military
array. First came the cavalry, with drawn
sabres and carbines loaded and unslung.
The infantry followed, with muskets at the
trail, loaded, and bayonets fixed. Then
came the artillery, every gun loaded and
ready to unlimber. He met the staff, and
asked Admiral Ronier the meaning of that
movement, and told him that he had come
out to ascertain why be had not made his
appearance at the conference. The ADM.
raj replied that he had received orders from
France aohich absolved him from all former
treaties. He added that be had heard our
sick were 10 danger of being massacred.
General Prim at once protested against the
course taken by the French. He told Ad.
miral Renter that he was violating the re-
cent treaty, and acting in fragrant violation
OF every obligation imposed by the law of
nations, by advancing, armed and ready for
battle, into the interior of State against
which war had not been declared. The
Admiral gave the protest patient hearing,
and answered that he would encamp where
he was for the night and think about it.
General Prim then rode back to Orizaba,
and informed Commodore Drummond of
what he had seen, heard and done.
10 ascertain if there was any ground for
the assertion that massacre was in con-
temptation, he visited the hospital and found
everything quite safe. He visited it again
at seven, eight and nine P. NJ, and again
found everything quiet. The Commodore
went at ten P. NJ, and with the same result.
As there was no evidence of any plot of the
kind at four A. M, On the goth, General
Prim then went to the Mexican Minister,
and told him that be would return to the
French quarters and urge the necessity of
strict adherence to the conditions of the
treaty. AS all the Spaniards had gone to
Vera Cruz, the Mexican Minister insisted
that be should be accompanied by guard
of honor of one hundred men.
General Prim, however, did not wait for
the guard of honor, but set out at once on
horseback towards the French encampment
Imagine his surprise at finding the army in
advance again, as on the day before. He
rode right into the middle of the French
staff. As he passed the French Admiral the
latter saluted him with "Bon jour mon
Amiral," but the reply was simply, Bon
jour General" When the Spanish Com
mander got into the middle of the staff he
took off his hat, bowed all round, and said,
"Oficers and gentleman, you made this adj
vance yesterday under the ercuse of your
sick being in danger. l have visited your
sick and chief medical officer at five, seven,
eight and nine P. NJ, aod found everything
quite safe. he English Commodore visited
your sick at ten P. NJ, with the same satis-
factory result. visited them again at four
this morning. l found all quiet, and was
assured by your own medical officers that
they are as safe as in the middle of France,
the Mexico population showing their good
feeling by the readiness with which they
supply them with provisions. Now, gen.
men," he added, 81 have relieved your minds
on this score, and beg of you to adhere
to the solemn promise you have made, and
not to advance farther"
At first there was no reply to this protest.
At length, however, Admiral Renter, after
some talk with bis officers, turned to Prim,
and said that he had received recent Or
ders from the Emperor which absolved him
from his word and the treaty. He had been
instructed not to treat with the Mexicans,
except in the town of Mexico. General
Prim made no reply to this statement. He
considered the conduct of the French dis.
honorable, and rode away at once for Vera
Cruz.
just as he left, the guard of honor which
hod hcon ordered tn escort him an1 whioh