Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-19
MR.. J. LoTHRoP MOTLEY TO COUNT MEN.
IDtDTlF

Austria, and the Count Mensdof:
MR.. J. LOTHRoP MOTLEY TO COUNT MEMS
DORFF.
vienna, May G, 1SGG.-H will doubtless
be within your EXcelcncy's recollection
that on the 9TH Of April, / had the honor tC
lay before YOU for confidential perusal, dis
patch Of nav own 10 Mr. Seward, Secretary
of State Of the United States. This paper wa.
in answer to communication from the Sec.
rotary Of State instructing me to make a.
earnest and emphatic protest as was COM
palible with the profound respect entertain.
I'd by the United States for the Imperial
Royal Government against the departure OF
any additional soldiers from Austria for
Mexico. The language Of the protest which
! was thus instructed to make, was quoted at
length in the dispatch which / had the
honor Of submitting TO your perusal before
sending it to Washington. In returning
that dispatch understood your Excelency
10 observe that il contained a Just and ex-
pligit statement Of the position Of the Aus
triau Government in regard to the affairs of
Mexico, and that you had no further obser-
walton to make upon it.
Since forwarding that paper to Washing
ton ! have received dispatches of a grave
nature from MY Government in regard to
the same subject.
The instructions Just received by me from
Mr.. Seward arc in answer 10 my statement
30 him, under date of 9th March last, that
the military supplementary convention be-
tween the Austrian government and the
government Of Mexico, recognized here as
the legitimate one, had been signed on the
nth of March, and that it was expected
that about one thousand volunteers would be
shipped very soon from Trieste to Vera
Cruz, and at least as many more in the
autumn.
An imperative duty is now placed upon
me of again most respectfully calling your
ENccllency's attention to the general and
growing uneasiness throughout the United
States on the subject Of foreign troops in
Mexico. In so doing | wish to use the most
courteous and becoming terms that are COM
patible with a faithful execution of the task
Just committed to me by my Government.
Recognizing the right of one Independent
nation, for reasons deemed sufficient by
itself 10 make war upon another indepen-
dent nation, and not being called upon to be
Judge of the quarrel between the bellige-
rents, the United States has sCrupulously
maintained neutrality in the war existing
during the past few years between the en-
pre- of France and the republic Of Mexico,
with which power the United States govern
ment has not ceased 20 maintain friendly re-
lations. This preservation of neutrality has
been rendered the more difficult in pOrpOr-
ton 10 the growth Of the conviction among
the people of the United States that the war
began 10y France for the purpose of redress
ing grievances, and with a disclaimer of all
political intention on the part of France,
was continued, as it were indefinitely, for the
purpose Of establishing and peIpetuating on
the borders of our own territory a foreign
imperial government by means of European
troops.
IL is hoped that ut last an arrangement
has been effected 10y which the French
troops-hCretoioTe preventing a full express
sion of the national will i'm MeXiCo-are TO
be Withdrawn. The appearance of fresh
troops arriving from Austria at exactly this
moment therefore, would almost inevitably
increase the general excitement in the Uni
ted States which the recent understanding
with the French Government had begun TO
allav. Ii would be thOught-crroneous as
such a suppositiou really is-that the Gov
crumcnt of Austria was about to succeed that
OF France in an armed and protective alli-
ance with the new Government which It
wishes to see established in Mexico
4 thousand volunteers, many Of them per-
haps veterans, having served their time in
the Austrian army, will be regarded as the
precursors Of an indefinite Number, sufficient
To- supply the void left by the retiring
French forces, and to overawe, for a period
of wears, the free action Of the Mexican peo-
pie in regard 10 their form of government.
The United States Government has from
the beginning neither acquiesced in nor in
timated the possibility Of future acquies-
cence in the substitution of an imperial for
eign and military government in the place
Of the national republic of Mexico, unless it
should satisfy itself that such was unques-
tionably the will of the Mexican people.
That will, in the opinion Of the United States
Government can never be manifested in the
presence Of foreign fleets and armies 1t
has therefore, during its very protracted dip
lomatic correspondence with the French i'm
pcrial government been unable TO admit the
validity Of the revolution supposed TO have
been effected in the Government &C Mexico
chiefly by the means Of European forces.
In lis last note addressed 10 the French
Government itexpressoditselfas understand
ing the Emperor of the French 20 announce
% the United Statos his immediate purpose
10 bring TO an end the service Of his armies
in Mexico, 10 withdraw them, and in good
faith to fall back, without stipulation or con-
dition on the part of the United States, upon
the principle of non-iutervention, rs 20
which he is hencclorth agreed with the
United States.
The practice Of the United States Govern
mcut, saws the Secretary of State is from the
beginning guarantee 10 all nations of the
respect of the American people for the free
sovereignty of the people in every other
State. Ii is the chief element Of foreign in
tcrcoursc in our history.
Thus much of information ! have thought
il not superlluous TO give Of the latest ex-
prcssionb y the United States Government TO
that of France Of its sentiments in regard to
the affairs Of Mexico.
/ am now instructed TO say 10 the imperial
roval government of Austria, that in the
opinion Of the United States The time seems 10
hare arrived ,rhCa The position Of their gorcp-
u5nt ca relation 10 NcIico should trdH5y and
distinctly be made kn0wa 10 The imperial royal
Government aud 10 al others rhom a mag directly
concern.
The United States, for reasons which
seem 10 them TO be lust, and 90 have their
foundation in the laws of nations, maintain
hdt The domestic rcpublicR government as The
aalv legitimate one oriS'iag IN Ncrico THev
cannot, n rislr 81 he character gf their olrn pc
liicdl institutions. their proximity and intimate
relations iolprr3s Merico and their last inau-
eacc a. he afdirs Of the Amo'ican o0HtiH5at,
consent 10 The subarsion Of that government by
10 ,sigR armies. Having urged upon the
French Government their strong, and, as
tEev think. reasonable desire for the with
dIawal Of the French troops engaged in
that Objectionable invasion, il now becomes
moper for the United States 70 announce
thai they are no less opposed TO military in
tcrvention for political objects hereafter in
Mexico. with the sanction Of the Austrian
Government, than they are opposed to any
further intervention Of the same character
in that country by France.
l am accordingly instructed to state that
the United States sincerely desires that
Austria NAV find it Just and expcdient TO
come upon the ground Of non-interventioH
in Mexico which is maintained by the
United States, and 10 which they have in
yited France. They could not hut regard rs
a matter of serious concern the dispatch of
any troops from Austria for Mexico while
the subject which i am thus directed TO
prceent 10 the Austrian Government re-
mains under consideration.
| have now faithfully laid before your Ex-
cellency, as briefly as the importance Of the
subject will permit the position OF the
Tinted States in regard 20 Mexico.
Until recently have been instructed by