Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-01-19
Secretary Stewards Note to the Marquis
De MOnthOlOn.
DEPARTMENT or STATE

secretary SeWard'S note to the Marquis
De M0nthOlon.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WASHINGTON, December 6, 1865.
SIR Having made known to the Presi-
dent the Emperor's views on Mexican affairs
which you communicated to me on the Goth
ultimo, have now the honor to inform you
of the disposition Of this Government in re-
gard to the same subject It seems proper,
however, for me to say, in the first place,
that what ! have to communicate has been
already fully made known to Mr.. Bigelow,
with authority, in his discretion, to impart
the same to NJ. Drouyn de L'Huys
The effect Of the Emperor's suggestions,
when they are reduced to practical shape,
seems to be this that France is willing to
retire from Mexico, as soon as she may, but
that it would be announcement for her without
first receiving from the United States an as
surance of a friendly Or tolerant disposition,
to the power which has assumed to itself an
imperial form in the capital city of Mexico.
The President is gratified with the assurance
you have thus given of the Empcror's good
disposition. | regret, however, to be oblig-
ed to say that the condition the Emperor sug-
gests is one which seems quite impracticable.
It is true, indeed, that the presence of for
eign armies in an adjacent country could not,
under any circumstances, but cause uneasi-
ness and anxiety on the part Of this govern
ment. It creates for us expenses which are
inconvenient, not to speak of dangers Of col
lsion. Nevertheless, cannot but infer from
the tenor of your communication, that the
principal cause of the discomfort prevailing
in the United States in regard to Mexico is
not fully apprehended by the Emperor's Gov
eminent. The chief cause is not that there
is a foreign army in Mexico much less does
that discomfort arise from the circumstances
that that foreign army is French one. We
- .scc~ the right Of sovereign nations to
carry on war with each other, II ICY &c &c not
invade our right, or menace our safety or just
influence. The real cause of our national
discomfort is, that the French army which is
now in Mexico, is invading "a domestic Re-
publican Government there, which was es-
tablished by her people, and with whom the
United States sympathize most profoundly,
for the avowed purpose Of suppressing itand
establishing upon its ruins foreign monarchi-
cal government, whose presence there, so
long as it should endure, could not but be
regarded by the people of the United States,
as injurious and menacing to their own cho-
sen and endeared Republican institutions.
admit that the United States do not feel
themselves called upon to make war of
propagandism throughout the world, or even
on this continent, in the Republican cause.
We have sufficient faith in the eventual sue
cess of that cause on this continent, through
the operation of existing material and moral
causes, to induce us to acquiesce in the con-
dition of things which we found existing here,
while our own republic was receiving its shape
and development. On the other hand, we
have constantly maintained, and still feel
bound to maintain, that the people Of every
State on the American Continent have right
to secure to themselves Republican Govern
ment if they choose, and that interference
by foreign States to prevent the enjoyment
of such institutions deliberately established is
wrongful, and in it's effects antagonistical to
the free and popular form Of government ex-
listing in the United States. We should
think it wrong as we'll as unwise, on the part
of the United States, to attempt to subvert
by force monarchical governments in Europe
for the purpose Of replacing them with Re-
publican institutions. It seems to us equally
Objectionable that European States should
forcibly intervene in States situated on this
continent to overthrow Republican institu-
tons, and replace them with monarchies or
empires.
Having thus frankly stated our position,
I leave the question for the consideration OF
France, sincerely hoping that that great ma
ton may find. it compatible with its best in
terests and its hi1h honor to withdraw t.on
its aggressive attitude in Mexico, within some
convenient and reasonable time, and thus
leave the people of that country to the free
enjoyment of the system of republican gov
ernment which they have established for
themselves, and of their adherence to which
they have given what seems to the United
States to be decisive and conclusive, as well
as very touching proofs. lam, Sir, the more
inclined to hope for such solution Of the
difficulty for the reason that when, at any
time within the last four years the question
has been asked Of any American statesman,
or even of any American citizen, what coun-
try in Europe was the one which was least
likely to experience an alienation of the
friendship Of the United States, the answer
was promptly given France, Friendship with
France has always been deemed important
and peculiarly agreeable by the American
people. Every American citizen deems it no
less important and desirable for the future
than for the past,
The President will be pleased to be in
formed of the reception which the Emperor
gives to the suggestions which | have now
made.
Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances ofmy
very high consideration,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE. w ednesday Jan.
10th. The Senate having passed the follow
ing House bills: To authorize the Richmond
and Danville Railroad to secure certain la
bilities incurred by the Piedmont Railroad
ond +o ro|oase tho States interest in the Fred.