The New York herald., 1869-03-18
the SETTLEMENT or THE MEXICAN QUEs-


ever to do with the settlement OF the Mexican qaes
ton" The glory OF this solution, by the Withdrawal
OF the French troops from Mexico, In 1861, Is claimed
absolutely for Mr. James Watson Webb, formerly OF
the New York Courier and Enquirer To his active
correspondence and personal influence with the En-
peror OF the French we indebted, II would seem,
for this happy consummation- The late Secretary
OF state appears TO have been utterly ignored In this
grave event. and even the Emperor himself. If we
are to credit the historian OF the Times, threw him
self desparingly on the advice and guidance Of Mr..
Webb for an escape from position at once pefIlous
and perplexing. The details given OF the journey
ings OF Mr. Webb; Of hts visits to Fontanebleau and
ST. Cloud; Of his letters. kilograms and breakfasts,
are so imposing that feel natural shyness to
gainsay them. But certain discrepancies inspire
misgiyngs and venture, therefore, on the unenvl-
able task OF denoting Them.
The organ of Mr.. Webb asserts that the suppo-
sition OF the French retiring from Mexico in alarm
at Mr. Seward's "menacing notc' or threatening
letter. to the French Minister December 1885, is
founded for Mr.. Webb had arranged all this before
hand. IT Is incontestable that the French were not
panic-struck by Mr. seward's "menacing note.' for
the obvious reason that he never wrote any missive
Of the sort. No one can read the despatch IN ques
tiOn without admiring its very temperate exposition
OF the policy or our government. Furthermore, the
relations OF Mr. Seward and the Marquis de Montho-
Why Mr. Webb thought II necessary 20 transform
this paclhc remonstrance into belcOse threat
am at loss to imagine though Il clearly tends to
heighten the effect Of hts own services. Again. it
Is alleged that the agreement between the parties"
to wit the Emperor aud Mr.. Webb. was that the
troops should be withdrawn at the dates specified,
and II President johnson approved OF this arrange
ment, then the Emperor pledged htmself'' To an
whereas the Emperor informed the world Of his in
tention TO evacuate Mexico In his speech at the open
Ing Of the French Chambers IN January,
peror @ must have forgotten his pledge or
that Mr.. Webb has treacherous memory.
tarnish the diplomatic laurels OF Mr.. Webb forbear
from further comment on the ptqnant revelations
published IN N tn the Times OF "Wednesday last
for the ''Iacts, OF what you facetiously term my
mission 10 France" in September, 1865. have
great scruple at relating events in which dstin-
guIshed and Imperial names must appear, but the
necessity for has gone by. and the best way
to dves my visit to Paris at the above date OF any
undue Importance is to give its BRIEF history.
In July, 1855. called while in Washington on
old friend, Che Marquis de Montholon and found
him not little disturbed by the tone OF the public
mind on the prolonged occupation or Mexico by
France. The press denounced It, and both houses
OF Congress condemned IT, At this crisis the French
Minister was wholly ignorant OF the disposition OF
our government. The Secretary OF State was still
suffering from the late attempt on his life and was
therefore, inaccessible. Etiquette forbade his ap-
preaching the President. | volunteered, therefore,
to sound mis- Excellency and did so. The President
the French occupation. but waived any
action till the return OF the Secretary OF State to
office Perceivlng that the Minister was startled
by the Outcry OF the ress and especially by the de-
nunclations Of the New YORK HERALD, ] ventured,
as you may remember, sir to deprecae the vigor OF
topic. You stated to me 1t was not your purpose to
provoke rupture with France, and In proof OF IL
suggesting an amicable compromise OF the Mexican
imbrogiio. delivered this letter to the President
and 1t seemed to impress him strongly. He re-
marked, with more freedom than before, that IL
not his DESIRE that Of the Secretary OF State
embroil our relations with France but that II would
be difficult to resist much longer the pressure to
tie this Mexican question. He hoped earnestly,
however, for "a friendly and satisfactory solutionn
was informed, ON this second visit 10 Washington
that the military element was active urgent for
movement on Mexico, and the pungent letter OF
General sheridan was proof. II was. then, i'm
portant TO know the views OF General Grant, and
conversed with him on the topic. He made no con-
cealment OF his decided opposition to the French
cnpatlon. and said, ''rhe Monroe doctrine apart,
we can never suffer strong government to grow
up there II was evident the situation was
impression. Hearing that contemplated trip 10
France, he urged me to seek an audience with the
Emperor, which my former relations might warrant.
and explain TO him the exact condition of things
IL IS possible, remarked M. de Montholon, that
his Majesty engrossed by the AFFAIRS OF Europe
that IN spite Of my dispatches to our Foreign ONCE.
he may not be aware Of the fermentation prevailing
here. agreed to act on his suggestion Before
sion TO repeat his friendly language to the Emperor
should ] see him, which was readily granted. l
arrived in Paris at the close OF September aud found
that the Emperor was at Biarrtz, near the spanish
frontier. heard, few days later, from the Grand
Marshal Count BacciochI, an old acquaintance that
his Majesty would return the middle OF October and
would be informed OF my visit to Paris ON the nth
OF the month | was summoned To the Tuieries and
notified tha, the Emperor would give me an audience
repaired thither. and was received by his Majesty
with the condescensIon habitually accorded to
me. In the conversation that ensued Mexico,
of course. figured prominently. | was struck
by the frnnkness OF the Emperor's remarks.
lie said that England and Spain had invited
rp.
spective claims against Mexico but soon abandoned
the attempt. He was then solicited by various in1u-
entia classes In Mexico to cooperate setting up
stable government; and az the republic had failed,
they preferred monarchy. From commercial
He supposed the United states would welcome any
government that would develop the resources OF
that rich country. No other nation, observed his
Majesty, would benefit so largely by such an event,
and 1t was strange serious effort had been made
to accomplish II. The Emperor admitted that the
government of Macmillan composed chiefly OF ma
tive materials had not been success and from all he
could learn seemed TO be losing ground. Both the
leaders and people In % Mexico were inexper,enced
to their iey0s that strong central government
almost impossible. The opposition OF the United
drawback TO the experiment making. l wonder at
It. Tor no government can be set up there to check
% tner 'e,r'ora, na % Expansion, ar,y hax,iian sue,
United States came into possession. Meanwhile,
It were surely better to establish order aud
stimulate trade and commerce than nurse
the chronic anarchy so long existing. However. my
friendly relations with the United States, continued
his Majesty worth more to me than the rcsusci-
talion Of Mexico; and II I cannot overcome their
excessive scnsbility on this point must consider
seriously the alternatives presented. The Emperor
expressed himself much Qratined at the friendly
. sentiments OF the President, and paid m2liment
the Secretary OF state, who had uniformly maui
tested the most pacific disposition.
After he had ceased 70 speak OF Mexico the En-
peror went on to make Inquiries touching the United
States that displayed the hyeest interest In passing
events; but these rescrvs AZ not connected with
the main topic Of this letoer. IL viii be observed
from the date Of my visit TO ST. Cloud--the 18th Of
Octobcr-that the audience Of Mr.. Webb-the 10th OF
November--f0llowed some three weeks later. During
this interval 1t is apparent from the statement OF Mr.
Webb that the Emperor mad not only decided 10
abandon Mexico, but had settled on the details OF
the evacuation. In response to your demand have
thus given you, Mr. Editor, concise summary OF
the "facts'' OF my journey TO Paris In the OF
1885, and II IA fault OF mine II II turns out that
you have invested NJ with more Significance than 10
deserves. Very respectfully, HENRY wlk0FF.