The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-04
by him with expressions of grateful
appreciation.

Inc EXoCuL1Vc, WdTuCd Ol stu iI-
tempt by Spanish American adven-
turers to induce the emigration of
freedmen of the United States to
foreign country, protested against the
project as one which, if fconsummated,
would reduce them to q bondage even
more oppressive than that from which
they have just been relieved. AS
surance has been received from the
Governnlent,of the State in which
the plan was matured that the pro-
ceeding will meet neither its encou-
ragement nor approval. It's ques-
ton worthy of your consideration
whether our laws upon this subject
are adequate to the prevention or
punishment of the crime thus medi-
tated.
In the month of April last, as Con-
gress is aware, friendly arrangement
was made between the Emperor Of
France and the President of the
United States for the withdrawal
from Mexico Of the French expedi-
tionary forces. This withdrawal was
to be effected in three attachments
the first of which, it. was understood,
would leave Mexico in November,
now past; the second in March next,
and the third in November, 1867.
Immediately upon the completion of
the evacuation, the French Govern
ment was to assume the same attitude
of non-intervention in regard to
Mexico as is held by the Government
of the United States. Repeated as
surances have been given by the EN-
peror since that agreement that he
would complete the promised evacua-
ton within the period mentioned OF
sooner. 1T was reasonably expected
that the proceedings thus contem-
plated would produce crisis Of great
political interest i'll the Republic of
Mexico. The newly appointed Mi
mister Of the United States, Mr..
Campbell, was therefore sent forward,
Oh the 9th day Of November last, to
assume his proper functions as Mi
mister Plenipotentiary of the United
States to that Republic. 1t was also
thought expedient that he should
be attended in the vicinity cf
Mexico by the Lieutenant General of
the army Of the United States, with
the view Of obtaining such informa-
ton as might be important to deter
mine the course to be pursued by the
United States in establishing and
maintaining necessary and proper in
tercourse with the Republic of Mexi-
co. Deeply interested in the course
Of liberty and humanity, it seemed an
obvious duty on our part to exercise
whatever influence we possessed for
the restoration and permanent estab-
hshment i'll that country Of domes-
tic and Republican form Of Govern
ment. Such was the condition of
affairs in regard to Mexico when, on
the 22d of November last, official in
formation was received from Paris
that the Emperor of France had some
time before decided not to withdraw
4 detachment of his forces in the
month of November past, according
to engagement, but that this decision
was made with the purpose of with
drawing the whole Of these forces in
the ensuing spring Of this deter
mination, however, the United States
had not received any notice or inti-
nation, and SO soon as the informa-
ton was received by the Govern
ment, care was taken to make known
its dissent to the Emperor of France.
1 cannot forego the hope that
France will reconsider the subject,
and adopt some resolution in regard
to the evacution Of Mexico, which
will conform, as nearly as practicable,
with the existing engagement, and
thus meet the just expectations of the
United States. The papers relating
to the subject will be laid before you.
It is believed that with the evacua-
ton Of Mexico by the expeditionary
forces, no subject for serious differ
ences between France and the United
States would remain. The expres-
sions of the Emperor and the people
Of France warrant hope that the ira
ditionary friendship between the two
countries might, in that case, be
renewed and permanently restored.
A claim of citizen of the United
States for indemnity for spoliations
committed on the high seas by the
French authorities, in the exercise Of
a belligerent power against Mexico,
has been met by the Government of
France with q proposition to defer
settlement until mutual convention
for the adjustment of all claims of
citizens and subjects Of both coun-
tries, arising out of the recent wars
on this continent, shall be agreed
upon by the two countries. The
SurOeStiOn is not deemed 1nraocon-