The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-03
wa.hiu.ton r,,y,..

a.Ecil. g WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1866.
No information had been received up to ten
o'clock by General Grant or the President con-
firming the report that General Sedgwick had
crossed into Mexico. General Grant has tele-
graphed to General Sheridan that if the move
ment has been made it viii be repudiated. Sc
nor Romero has no information on the subject,
and up to this evening nothing was known in
the diplomatic corps of the reported crossing,
except conflicting newspaper statements Mr..
Seward has not communicated with the French
Minister of late. The whole course of the
President and Secretary of State relating to
the Mexican question has convinced all for
eign representatives here that both these ofic-
ials are bent upon forcing q difficulty with Ma
poleon. These ambassadors have, on the 9TH
er hand, no doubt OF Napoleon's sincerity in
. the withdrawal of histroops. 1t has come to
light that more than year ago the plan of
creating trouble with France was urged upon
Mr.. johnson and Seward by prominent rebels,
they giving the opinion that it was the only
way Of forcing the Presidents policy upon
Congress. Mr.. johnson refrained at that time
from taking such step, though Mr.. Seward
urged it, but both have gone actively to work
in the matter since the elections. A letter
just received in semi-otfical circles nom the
city of Mexico, written alter the departure of
Campbell and Sherman was known there, says
that Marshal Bazaine stated freely that there
was no cause to anticipate trouble with the
French authorities from the presence of Gener-
al Sherman, so convinced Were all there that
1he Emperor WIS IN IOO0 fdifh. The
principal officers of the French army were
Speaking very highly of General Sherman's
record and seemed pleased at the idea of en-
tertaining him. The same letter, speaking au-
thoritatively and from the personal observa-
ton OF the writer, states, as further evidence
of the good faith of the Emperor, that in ac-
cordance with orders from Marshal Bazaine
the destruction OF quantities Of partially worn
military material had begin and the service
able material was about ready TO be shipped
Gen. Grant has of late been more outspOken
than usual on political subjects, aud has given
pretty full expression to his views on recon-
strncfion. In recent conversation with ex-
rebels. he has plainly told them that they mis-
took their position: that they had openly made
war upon the government and had been de-
feated in their appeal to arms, and hat they
were now on parole; that the rights they talked
about had been forfeited by their treason. and
their return to their former position in the GOV
ernment lay in the hands Of Congress; but if
they persisted in rejecting the amendment to
the Constitution, they wouid only have TO go
farther and fare worse. v3a
The members of Congress who have arrived
here seem generally disposed to give reason
able time to tile rebel States toaccept the terms
that have been off red them, and II they fail to
. do this to go on and regulate for them as ter
ritoFies, subject TO the general government
Dispatch TO Boston AdcsFss5ef. ....