Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-10
Interesting Letter from
Mexico.

First Impressions or Confed--- What
he Thinks of the Emperor asd the
Empress---Lt. Msury, Ex-Gov. Harris
and other Distinguished ExiIes---The
Unfriendly Attitude of the United
states.--The Future of Mckee,
Cry OF MEXICO, Dec. 2, 1866.
Editors Of the Charleston Daily News:l
When left the States" L promised to
write to many of my friends and late fellow
soldiers, from this my new place of abode
and land of adoption. OF course, they ex-
pect full accounts Of the state of the country,
the prospects of the Imperial Government,
and more particularly of the reception. ac-
corded to ex-Confederate soldiers, and the
inducements held out to emigration. Nov,
as it will be perfectly impossible for me to
comply with my promise, and write to all
my friends, so as to satisfy their inquiries. |
have bethought me of happy substitute,
viz If you will permit me, will send you
| a letter from time to time, which you may
print, and senda copy of your paper, con-
| tanning my letters, to the enclosed addresses
| of my friends In this manner l can, with
ease to myself, give them the information
they desire, and detail such facts and items
of interest as the events transpiring around
me may suggest.
AsI expect these letters to be published,
/ shall avoid, as far as possible, everything
not strictly of general interest and, for that
reason, say nothing of the various hardships,
adventures, and mishaps that befell our
| party on the voyage to this country. We
arrived here some two months since-dirty,
ragged, weary and jaded; sore in heart in
our recollections of the past-perplexed,
anxious and doubtful, yet not without hope,
| for the future. | had letters to Gen. Pres
ton, of Kentucky, and other distinguished
| Confederate exiles, some of whom hold
positions of honor and trust at the Imperial
| Court or Council Board. Gen. p. was very
kind to me, and placed me under great obli-
CATION by his polite Notwithstanding
me to the various prominent Americans,
resident here at present; and afterwards,
also, being instrumental in procuring me an
audience of his Imperial Majesty, as well as
with the Marquis de Montholon, the French
Ambassador At the palace Of the latter |
had the good fortune to be presented to
| Marshal Bazaine, the ommander-in-Ch Chief
of the French forces in Mexico. As a mat
| ter of course, our late unfortunate war, and
the policy of the United States towards
France and Mexico, were the subjects dis
cussed at this interview,
/ was extremely pleased with the En-
| peror. He has a fine face and figure, though
he looks rather young for his position-very
| prepossessing in his manners, dignihed, cour-
teous and affable; expresses himself with
fuency in French, Spanish and English, as
well as his native German. He has fne
mind, which appears to have been well cni-
| tivated. He seems to appreciate the diff
| culties of his position, and is anxious to
shape his policy so as to give offense to none
| (if that were possible y to steer clear OF the
preiudiees ready to assail him on all sides,
and vet to devise and carry out such meas
ures as he believes will lead to the establish
ment of his Empire on firm basis, and to
| the furtherance Of the best interests Of Mex
ico and her people. :,
To this end Maximi;ian is calling around
| him men of talent from every part of the
world. He has Mexicans, Americans,
| Spaniards, Germans and Frenchmen in his
service. Our distinguished nautical astron-
omer and ruler of the wind and wave, Lieut..
NJ. F. Maury, has here found an honorable
retreat. He is one of the councillors OF
State. Generals Price and Magruder are
here, winning golden opinions. The for.
mer is a sterling soldier and good ruler OF
men, in whatever position placed. L was
pleased to learn that he enjoys the confidence
of all who come in contact with him. Gen.
Magruder is still the same energetic, I'M
petuous, go-ahead character we knew him at
Malvern Hill, perhaps looking little more
subdued and his hair shade more gray.
He seems in fine health and spirits, and |
doubt not, will make name for himself In
the land of the Montezumas.
Gems. Preston and Kirby Smith were
here some time ago, but have left again; but
ex-Governors Harris, of Tennessee, Allen,
of Louisiana, Reynolds, of Missouri, are
still here; and many more gentlemen OF
character and distinction at home, who have
cast their lot with this country. will not
here enumerate all their names, as DO not
think they would covet such notorlety.
have not yet seen the Empress. She Is
| in Yucatan az present, and there met with
most enthusiastic reception. She Is very
| popular with all classes here. Quite young
and yery handsome, courteous and amiable
| to those around her, and kind and charlta-
| BILE to those dependent on her bounty. She
is the only daughter, you know, of the King
| of Belgium, a first cousin, therefore to Queen
Victoria, and on her mothers SIDE grand
daughter of the late citizen King Of France,
Louis Philippe. Her situation here can,
not be very pleasant, imagine: Removed
from all her relatives and friends, and from
| the companions of her childhood, in a for
eign country, where all is strange that meets
her eve or strikes her ear. The contrast,
too, between life and people In Brussels,
! Paris or Vienna, and that OF Mexico, with
its conglomerate population cannot be pleas
| inc 7 should think. But, as she is young,
she NAV soon get herself acclimated, and
become the mother beloved of new and
fourishing empire.
| The mails from Vera Cruz are looked for
with considerable anxiety by many of us
| here. The exile finds a mournful solace in
the pa.,ers and letters he receives from what
was o,lce his home. Though he has left his
country, he cannot divest himself OF the most
| lively interest for her welfare. And for OBJ
v;or,s reasons. am doubly anxions to OBJ
serve the attitude Of the United States toward
1 This country. 1t cannot be denied that this
subiect is one of the most engrossing among
ali glasses Of intelligent people here. The
! French. and also Maximilian have ali along
believed In the continuance Of pacific rcla-
tions with the United States; and have sought
10 avoid everything that could give the least
i nrovocation. There was slight collision
| tnrcdtefleu OH TIE INbO OAAhNcj sAOOuS q
ago and serious trouble was apprehended
| tberefron1; but delievethe matter was ami
I cably adjusted between the two generals COM
manding on the opposite shores Of the Rio
4 Grande- General Weitzel and General Me-
| jia.
gan as Minister to the Republic of Mexico,
was the first official act Of the United States
that pointed to determined, persistent hos
| tility toward the Government Of Maxiniilian.
This policy is most incomprehensible TO me.
4 IL the intention Of Mr. Seward is TO seek an
open rupture with Napoleon, this appoint
4 ment Of General Logan is all plain enough.
II is certainly not dictated by any regard for
the liberal cause, so called. The Juarez
Government is nyth--a humbug. II left
! alone. ii has not the shadow Of chance for
success. Its army is lawless mob Of rob
| bers and rurdcrers; and many Of the officers
not whit better than the rank and file. In
deed, discipline seems to be entirely ignored
| Guerrilla warfare is the favorite method,
and you know perfectly well what that
| means. The civilized world approves po ne
conduct of Victor Emanuel, who is S,,d. az
the Kingdom of Naples Of thgesent time
brigands that have, up to thfon to his rule
maintained an armed oPysbot or executed
At last accounts hs them. And yet, the