The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-13
CONGRESS-


A9. ~
In the United States House oGRepre
sentatiyes on Tuesday a message was
received from the President, and there
was an interesting debate Oh reconstruc
ton. We copy as follows from the re
port ofthe proceedings in the Lateuigen
Ger :zs~
TO tho House Of Representatives
In compliance with the resolution o.
the House of Representatives of the 1871
nltimo, requesting information in re-
gard TO steps taken by the so-caled EN-
perOr of Mexico, or by any European
Power, to obtain from the United States
recognition of the so-called Emperor OF
Mexico, and what action has been taken
in the premises by the Government OF
the United States, transmit report
from the Acting Secretary of State, and
the papers by which it was accompanied.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, January 5, 1866.
The first Of these papers is a commu-
nication from Senior Arroyo to Mr.. Cor
win, dated March 2, 1865, in which he
expresses a desire to see Mr.. Seward
extraordinarily, and to ascertain
of our consuls can be obtained, because
of the einbarrassments which exist in
consequence of their -habilitation,
aud while in Mexico The exercise oftheir
functions has been continued without
embarrassment to the American con-
suls, and that the Government which
was that of Don Benito Juarez does not
exist, either de .fdctO or de jure.
memorandum by Mr. Seward notes
that the Marquis de Montholon, OH the
18th of July, called at the Department
of State, saying that special agent had
arrived from Mexico bearing letter
from Macmillan to the President ofthe
United States, with papers making GER
tain explanations relative to transac-
tions on the Rio Grande, upon which
the United States Governmental had made
representations to the Imperial Govern
ment of France. The secretary, on the
18th, after conference with the Presi-
dent, returned the letter to MonthOlon,
saying that the United States was in
friendly communication with the Re
publican Government of Mexico, and
that therefore the President declined to
receive the letter or to hold intercourse
with the agent who brought 1t.
August l, Minister Romero informs
Acting Secretary Hunter that Don Luis
Arroyo assumes to act as commercial
agent in New York, without an exequa-
tur or other recognition by the United
States Government, and asks whether
the Government recognizes the right OF
Macmillan to make such appointment, |
ar whether, as he believes is the case,
this Government only sees in the Re- |
public of Mexico a war between it and |
France, without recognizing there Max
imilian, not even as government de |
.factO." The change, he intimates, may
seem to show that the Government of
the United States tacitly recognizes
French intervention in Mexico.
Mr.. Seward replies, August Q, that no
law of the United States prevents per-
son from advertising himself as consul,
but that this Government, in all its Of
fetal correspondence, has recognized no
other government in Mexico except that
of Juarez, and assures him that such
commercial agent. can perform no con-
sular act relating to the affairs of his
countrymen in the United States. To
prohibit him from attesting invoices and
says the secretary, "would be
to an Introduction of trade
between the United States and those
Mexican ports which are not i'm possess
ion of the Republican Government of
that country. The cousuls ofthe United Il
States in Mexico, who have their exc
quators from that government only,
themselves discharge duties as CONNER
cial agents, in the ports which are not /;
under the control of that government, in
all respects like those which the person,
Arroyo, in the same way and to the |
same extent, claims to do In New York
in respect to said ports" d
Senior Romero, on the 18th, complains /
hat no positive answer is given to his d
Inquiries, and notifies Mr. Seward that
ne has submitted the correspondence to t
his government, and will wait for in a
of which communication L
Mr.. Seward makes formal ack nowl- S
edgment November eth, without fur a
her explanation. v
November 9th the Secretary of State a
Minister Bigelow and repre-
'ents that 1.-THE presencean operations p
'fa French army in Mexico, and its e
maintenance of an authority there, is a "
cause oil q serious concern to the United b
states. Nevertheless, the objection of oil
he United States is still broader, and n
includes the authority itself, which the h.
srehch army is thus maintaining. That Ell
is in direct antagonism to the OF
'oliey OF this Government, and the prin- Ia
iple on which it is founded. Every III
ay's experience of its operations only
dds some new confirmation of the ina. ia
Ice of the views which this Govern In
lent expressed at the time the attempt as
, institute that authority first became fr
nown. The United States have hith- G
rto practised the utmost frankness on I'll
nat subject. They still regard the at I'll
.mpt to establish permanently for &c
gn and imperial government in Mexi- or