Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-12
THE FRANCo.NExIClN question.


the. agreement Of the French Emperor to
withdraw the French etpediti6nary force
maintained in Mexico for the support Of
Maximili6ns authorfty-the evacuation
be this force 10 commence in November,
1866, and be completed in November,
1867 butiotimaiss that the withdrawal
may be effected at an earlier date Mr.
Campbell was instructed, therefore, TO
proceed At once, and place himself either
at the headquarters Of Juarez, or near
at hand, so as to be able to promptly
communicate with thai government. He
was informed that he would be accompa.
MED bv Lieut. Gen Sherman, who was
authorized to make, in conjunction with
him, such military observations as were
proper and 70 SO dispose Of the military
force Of the United States that might
be placed u his command. as to
assist in enabling Mexico under the Re
public headed by Juarez in ats transit
ton stage from n state of military siege
by a Foreign enemy d a lcondition of
practical self government .Mr Camp
bell asadmonished.to know riothing of
the Empire, the church party, or any
other faction in Interchangeable to the
Juarez authority; and that in coniunc-
ton with Gen Sherman, it might become
his duty to make such a disposition of
the land and naval forces of the United
States, that while it would not infringe
neutrality laws it would make the good
Offices of this government effective in pa
officiating the country under republican
forms, and securing the withdrawal Of
the Imperial power and its military sup
port without leaving the country prey
to faction.
Mr. Seward lays down the following
principles rs his.gride in negotiation:
"There are, however some principles
which, as we think, may be safely laid
down in regard 90 the policy which the
government Of the United States will ex-
peef you to pursue The first Of these Is
that, asa representative OF the United States
you are accredited TO the republican gov
eminent Of Mexico Of which Mr. Juarez is
President Your communications As such
representative viii be made to him, where
soever he may be, and in no event viii You
officially recognize either the Prince Maxi
~. /.
other person, chief or combination, as exer-
cising the executive authority in Mexico,
without having first reported 10 this de-
partment, or received Instructions from the
President of the United States. s..
Second-Assuming that the French
military and naval commanders shall be
engaged ia good faith in executing the
agreement before mentioned for the evacu-
alton Of Mexico, the spirit of the engage
meat on our part in relation TO that part
win forbid the United States and their
Representatives from ohstructing the de-
parture Of the French.
f%Thirlly-- What the government Of the
United States desires in regard TO the fu-
ture Of Mexico is not the conquest of Mexi-
co, or any part Of il, or the aggrandiZe-
ment Of the United States by purchases. of
land or dominion, but, on the other hand,
they desire 10 see the people Of Mexico re-
lieyed from all foreign military interYen-
ton, TO the end that they may resume the
conduct Of their own affairs under the ex-
isting Republican government or such
other form Of government as being left in
the enjoyment Of perfect liberty, they shall
determine TO adopt, in the exercise of their
own free will, by their own act, without
dictation from any foreign country, and of
course without dictation from the United
States" ... .r. e. ..E
On the 9th Of November the Secretary
Of State Informed Mr. Bigelow American
Minister at Paris, of Mr. Campbell's mis-
sion, and forwarded him copy of the
instructions under which Messrs Camp
bell and sherman were to act
The Presidents message, delitered ON
the Sd Of December current, SAYS. or
the 22d of November last, official inlOr-I
mation was received from Paris that the
Emperor of France had some time before
decided not to withdraw a detachment Of
his forces in the month of November past
according to engagement but that this de!
cisiOn was made with the purpose of with.
drawing the whole Of those forces in the
ensuing spring of this determination,
however, the United States had not re-
ceiyed any notice or intimation; and, so
soon as the information was received by
the government, care was taken to make
known its dissent to the Emperor of
France. -f f. ,''..
On the day of the receipt of this in-
formation, the Secretary of State informed
Mr. Campbell orthe fact, and notified him
that he had promptly communicated with
the French government Healso notified
the Secretary of War, and requested his
consideration in regard to the proprietyI
of any military orders to Lieut.. General
Sherman under the aspect Of affairs pre-
scented by the continued French military
occupation On the same DAY Mr. Seward
dispatched BY telegraph to Mr.. Bigelow,
in regard to the postponement Of the evae-
uation 600 agr-IaHn \
"The embarrassment thus produced is
immeasurably increased by the circnm-
stance that this proceeding of the Emperor
has been taken without conference with
and even without notice TO- the United
States This government has not in any
way afforded achievements TO the MeXi-
cans, as the Emperor seems to assume, and
il has known nothing al all Of his counter
manding instructions to Marshal Bazaine,
Of which the Emperor speaks. We consult
only official communications 10 ascertain
the purposes and resolutions of France, as
we make our own purposes and resolutions
known only in the same manner when she
IA concerned.
- al am not prepared to say, and il is now
unnecessary TO discuss, whether the Presi-
dent could or could not have agreed to the
Emperors proposed DELAY, il he had been
reasonably consulted, and il the PROPOSE
ton had been then put, as the proceeding
is now, upon the ground of military con-
siderations alone and lift had been marked
with the customary manifestations of re-
gard 70 the interests and feelings of the
United Siates But the Emperors decision
70 modify the existing arrangement without
any understanding with the United States,
80 as to leave the whole French army in
Mexico for the present, instead Of drawing
one detachment in November current, as
promised, is now found in every way in
convenient and eNceptionable We cannot
acquiecse:
i" First Because the term next spring.
as appointed for the entire evacuation, is
indefinite andyague, -.