The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-01-18

loLu ulI'i requesting s-lnlorin'tLivnglu ~
regard to steps taken by the Sc, o,called
Emperor ofMexlco, or by o European
power, TO obtain from the United
States a recognition of the so-called
Empire of Moxico, and what action
has been taken in the premises by the
Government of the United States, |
transmit a'veport from the acting Sec
retary7of State, and the papers by
was accompanied. 2 97a' I1i
[Signedg ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1866
The first Of these papers is q com
from Senior Arrero to Mr..
Corwin, dated March 2, 1865, in which
he expresses a desire to see Mr.. Sew
ard extra officially, and to ascertain
whether the recognition of our Con-
sui can be obtained because Of ombar-
which exist in consequence
Of their non. .habituation while in Mex
leo, The exercise of their functions
has been combined without embarrass
ment to the American Consuls, and
stating that that Government-which
was that of Don Benito Juarez docs
not exist in de facto or de jure. "'
A memorandum by Mr.. Seward
notes that the Marquis do Montholon,
on the 17th of July, called at the De-
partment OF State, saying that spec
ial agent had arrived from Mexico
bearing letter from Maximillian to
the President of the United States,
with papers making certain explana-
tions relative to transactions on the
Rio Grande, upon which the United
States Government had made ercpresen-
tations to the Imperial Government Of
France. The Secretary, on the 18th,
after conference with the President,
the letter to Mohtholon, say
ing the United States was in friendly
communication with tho Republican
Government of Mexico, and the Pres
ident declined to receive the letter or
to hold intercourse with the agent who
brought it. ~
On August 1, Minister Romero in.
formed Acting Secretary Hunter that
San Luis Arrero, assumed to act as O
Commercial Agent in New York with,
out an exequatur, or other recognition
by the United States Government, and
asks whether the Government recog
nized tho right of Maximillian t.
make such appointment, or whether
as he believes is the case, this Gov
ernment only sees in the Republic O
Mexico war between it and France
without recognizing Maximilian ever
as Government de facto. The chargt
he intimates may seem to show thai
the Government of the United States
recognizes French Intervention il
Mexico.
Mr.. Seward replies, on August 9th
that no law Of the United States pre-
ventsa person from advertising him
self as q consul; but this Government
in all its official correspondence, ha
recognized no other Government il
Mexico except that Of Juarez, and as
surcs him that such a commercial
agent can perform no consular act re
lating to tho affairs Of his countrymel
in the United States. To prohibi
him from attesting invoices and mani
fests. says tho Secretary, would b
tantamount to an Introduction Of trad
between tho United States and thos
Mexican ports which arc not in pos
session oftho Republican Government
of that country. The consuls Of tn
United States in Mexico who hav
their cxoquatur from that Govern
mont, only themselves discharge du
ties as commercial agents in port
which are not under tho control c
that Government, in all respects lik
those which the person Arrcro, in tn
samc way, and to the samo extent
claims to do in Now York.
In respect to said ports, Scnor Re
nero, on the 18th, complains that n
positive answer is given to his inqu
ries, and notifies Mr. Seward that h
has submitted tho correspondence t
his Government and will wait for ir
structions, of which communicate
Mr.. Seward makes o formal acknowl
odgment, November 7, without furthe
explanation.
On November 9Th the Secretary {
State addresses Minister Bigelow, an
represents that tho presence and OF
erations of a French army in Mexico
and its maintenance of an authorit
there, is u cause of serious concern I
tho United States. Nevertheless, th
objection of the United States is stl
broader, and includes the authorit
itself which tho French army is thu
maintaining. That authority is i
direct antagonism to tho policy of th
Government, and tho principle O
which it is founded. Every days o!
perience of its operation only ado
some now confirmation Of the justit
of tho views which this Governmel
expressed at tho time tho attempt
institute that authority first bccan
known.
The United States have hither
practiced tho utmost frankness on th
subject. They still regard the alton
to establish permanently foreign al
Imperial Government In Mexico,
disallowablo and impracticable, for I
reasons they could not now agree to
compromise. They are not prepar
to recognize, or pledge themselv
hereafter to recognize, any polite
, institutions in Mexico which are
: opposition to tho Republican Cover
, mani with which wa havo aO lOnp n