The Portland daily press., 1869-03-13

Gen James Watson Webb, our minister TO
Brazil, claims through the columns of New
York paper the credit of having caused the
withdrawal of the French troops from Mexico.
he is personal friend of the French usurper,
and when on his way to his South American
mission in 1861 called to see him and induced
him to promise not to interfere with our
blockade of the Southern coast Eariy IN 1850
Gen. Webb wrote to the Emperor, as ne rep
resents. stating that the Mexican expedition
must prove a failure and advising that it be
abandoned. In May Napoleon replied saying
that he would withdraw his troops" as soon as
he could without sacrificing his honor" This
reply was submitted to President Lincoln to
whom it proved satisfactory, but Secretary
Seward never saw it. After Mr.. Lincoln q
death the relations of France and the United
States became once more unfriendly on ac-
count of the continued occupation of Mexico
by the French. Gen. Webb, upon arriving at
Southampton on his way home in October
1855 wrote TO Napoleon, asking what his in
tentions respecting Mexico were. In reply he
received an invitation by telegraph to visit
France and breakfast with the monarch at St.
Cloud. Taither the enterprisipg Gen. Webb
repaired. His writer in the. Times says:
He went accordingly, and, alter breakfast,
spent more than two hours with HIS Majesty.
The result was on, agreement betlceen the par
ties, subject to the approval OF the fresident,
that the French troops should be withdrawn
from Mexico in twelve, eighteen, and twenty
four months.
It was stipulated by the Emperor that our
Minister IN France should knoao nothing of this
arrangement; and, to guard against its becom-
ing public by the action of our Congress, even
Mr. Seward a0as not to haze knowledge oft off,
cially. And it was further agreed that, if
President johnson approved of what had been
arranged, Gen. Webb should write to the EN-
peror to that effect, and thus prevent the ar
rangement getting into the Foreign Office of
either Countryside Emperor pledging himself
to announce the fact in April, 1866, through
the M0nitear. N -l
The narrative proceeds with strange con-
fusion of dates and pompous selfassertion
that throws discredit upon il at the very out
set:l qi.alitafs5e 5ssls 49,
On the evening of the 9th of December, 1866
Mr.. Seward called on Gen. Webb and inform.
ed him that the President approved of his ar
rangement with the Emperor Napoleon, and
desired him to write to the Emperor in his
1.-THE President's) name, and express his cordial
appreciation OF the proposed settlement OF the
Mexican question. 1 eias 4Hl -
Geu. Webb wrote accordingly; and in April,
1865, the Moniteur contained the promised an
nouncement of the Emperors intention to
withdraw his troops from Mexico. ~.
Thus it will appear that the Department OF
State had nothing sohatever to do Nth the set
tlement of the Mexican question; and it is most
unjust to Napoleon Ill. to permit, uncontra-
dicted, the universally received idea that the
French troops were withdrawn frem Me kico
in consequence of the threatening letter from
Mr.. Seward to the Marquis de Monthoon
which bears date Dec. 9. (see same date above i,
and was sent to him on the 11th. As matter
of course, both in this country and in Europe
| the public could attribute the Withdrawal
| from Mexico to no other cause; but, as it now
appears that the letter referred 10 was written
after Mr.. Seward had been officially notified
of the settlement of this all-important cues
ton, and after he had directed Gen. Webb, il
the name Of the President, to communicate Il
the Emperor the Presidents approval and
acceptance of such settlement thus agreed
upon, public sentiment both here and il
France will do justice to the Emperor, and
vindicate him from the reproach Of having
been driUen out of Mexico by anything that
could be construed into threat.
1t is supposed that Secretary Seward will
have something to say in reply to this mann
festo t