Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-16
Our Relations with Mexico.

President to advise them in regard " to steps tax
en- by the called Emperor Of Mexico or by
European power to obtain from the United State
recognition of the so-called Empire of Mexico
and what action has been taken in the premise
by the Government Of the United States" In re
Spouse 10 this the President communicates t.
Congress a report from the acting Secretary O
State. This report shows that efforts have beer
made by agents and representatives OF MaxImll
Lan's government, we'll as by those OF the gov
eminent Ct Juarez, to cause some decided actor
of our government in reference to the French in
,ervention in Mexican affairs. The most impor
tant part of this report Is condensed as follows:
Nov. 6 the Secretary of State addresses Min
lster Bigelow, and represents that the presence
and operations of French army in Mexico
and its maintenance of an authority there, is
cause OF erious concern to the United States
Nevertheless, the objection OF the United States
Is still broader, and includes the authority 1t
seli which the French army is maintaining
That authority is in Greet antagoHism to tht
p9lic9 of this Government and the principle or
which Ii is founded. Every day s experience Of
It's operation only adds some new lconhrma ton
of the ju slice OF the views which tins Govern
ment expressed at the time tie attempt to instl-
tute that authority first became known. The
! United States have hitherto practiced the utmost
frankness on that sube cr. They still regard
the attempt 10 establish permanently !oreie L
and imperIsl Government in Mexico as disa How
| able and impracticable. For the reasons that
they could not now agree to compromise the
| position they have heretofore assumed, they arr
not perpared to recognize or 10 pledge them
seIvee hereafter TO recognize any political insti-
| buttons ID Mexico which are III opposition Il
| thu Repu blictn Government with which We have
80 long and So constantly maintained relations O
amlty and friendship. de says IN closing. that
1t hardly necessary to say that We should not
| be dwelling SO earnestly upon this branch OF po-
it,cal relations If it had not been our conviction
that these relations at the present moment ST.
| pcrsedc those of commerce in the c3nsidera tion
| OF the American people.
| Nj. Biyelow, under date Vt NV. 80, reports
reading the dlspi tch o: NJ. Seward to NJ.
Drouyn de Lhuy, who thanked him, though he
ielt obliged say that he derlv-d neither plea
sure nor satisfaction from lis contents.
| Mr. Seward Oh Dec. l6 says: 1t is Tie Pres
idents purpose tina. France should be respect
| fully informed upon two points First that
| the oited States earnestly desire to cultivate
sincere friendship with France; second, that this
| policy would be brought into imminent jeopardy
| unlcss France could deem II consistent with hel
interest and honor TO deslst from the prosecution
OF armed intervention il Mexico to overtime.
/
there, and to establish upon its ruins the fore
| ign monarchy VII Oh has been attempted TO be
es abolished 10 th4 capital of that county, and IN
| conc usion he says that the United States will
| not recognize Macmillan even If the French
troops should be withdrawn from Mexico
The papers submitted include a confidential
letter from NJ Drouyn de Lhuye to tho Mar
quIs de Montholon, dated Paris, Oct. 1865, say
ing that he had renewed the assurance Of the
stroDs desire OF the French Government To With
draw IT'S auxIIeT corps SO soon as cIrcu Instances
would allow it. he French Government had
been ready to adopt without minutes delay
the bases OF an understanding with the Govern
ment OF ashington. What 1t asked of the Uni
| ted States the consolidation OF the new order
of things found in Mexico and the best guarsn-
| tee the French Gov rnment could desire would
| be the recognition OF the Emperor Macmillan
| by the Federal Government.
| Secretary Seward, under date Of Dec 8, 1865,
writes & letter to the Marquis de Montaolon, 10
which he Gays, - After a review OF ali the facts.
| the President gratlhed with the ASSURANCE you
gave OF the Emper rs good disposition. iregret,
however, to b. Obliged to say the condition
which tue Emperor presents IS one which seems
to be mpraetlcabe.
| 1t will be seen from this, that while Secretary
Seward las avoided all offensive expressions, he
has yet firmly and def ,itely assured the French
ognze the empire Of Macmillan as at present
upheld by French bayonets.
While this has been the decided disposition of
our government on the one hand, Oh the other il
has fnaintai ned a strict and wellguarded neutral
i-y in reference to the Macmillan governm mt,
and has very carefully avoided giving otfense to
Napoleon by any dispos ton to give material aid
and comfort to the Juarez government. And
now there is little doubt that Secretary Seward
aud the executive department at Washington
have no purpose of interfering in any way in
Mexican affars. The refusal of Gen Logan to
accept the mission to Mexico was a significant
evidence of the Infections of our government in
this respect and foreshadowed policy of master
ly insctivy on our part, leaving Macmillan and
the Mexicans TO settle the matter for the MISE Ives
Nor do We hink Congress, although it has taken
quite belligerent tone in its discussions of the
Monroe doctrine, will ultimately arrive at any
ton which will endanger peaceful relations
with France and Maximlion or Mexico.