New-York tribune., 1869-03-13
ANOTHER CARD FROM MIR. BIGELow..

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your comments upon the note from
me- TO which you good enough TO extend the hOsp
tay Of your columns Sd inst, you state that the
remarks which provoked that based upon my
official correspondence of which you co tho following
passage from one of my letters:
s.kd whether 10 you EweIeney' olnon, Masmlan would be
recognized by ihe United Sta,esi
Had you in your editorial cited the whole Of the pas
sage of which this is but part, do not know that
should have cared TO trouble you again upon this subject
and upon your courtesy for the privilege Of citing
Il here. The passage would then have read as follows
"Your EScecy 10 reply my inquiries bad been expressing yonr
measure Of h n the ultimate consolidation Of power founded under
auspices NJ France Mexico And th' faith rested 'our hopes
ot soon recalling 'our troops lou feeauairl some o. NE dA.t
aair't vhcl goui require omg .ie tine % PROVIDE bat all OF
was n view of uch rresgnos bat asked whether u your
eucy opinion Slslau the
m o France Biz authority recognized By TIE United States
taics state your Etceeu that recognition Of any Goyen
possible" I,,si '''''''' ~ '''' '''''-
am not aware that there Is anything in this statement
that Is not perfectly consistent with the communication
which you criticise.
Aside however from the context, there surely very
considerable difference between my asking the French
Minister II he thought MaNimlan could sustain himself
were We recognize his authority and my proposing
him 10 recognize 10. Tn question mode OF testing
his faith in the popular strength Maximilian. The
to it, whatever 10 might be- necessarily placed my
interlocutor IN dilemma 10 which his previous
ton exposed him, and from which sought to derive
legitimate advantage. Had I supposed any portion OF
this conversation would have been subjected to news
paper discussion should have taken the precauton to
give It entire, aud not merely such points Of
II as sunced parties familiar with the current and
tone OF protracted negotiation
Iregrct that my OF this business has not
proved acceptable 90 you. dare say there are many
who would have conducted It to your satisfaction
a .f,IN, ft.trt. 1tfrf
those who in my absence and through solicitation OF
mine for reasons best known TO themselves, committed
10 10 me II for 10 say that IN THIS they did not
make "a mistake; but with all my shortcomings IL is now
a source OF great satisfaction 10 reflect that all the i'm
porant questions pending between the United States aud
France during ny residence at the latter Cour-and
some Of them wero Of gravity not easily exag.
ccratcd-were entirely settled before l retired
from the Mission, upon basis perfectly satisfactory,
believe 20 both nations and without leaving scar 10
show where the hereditary friendship OF the two nations
had received an almost fatal wound. While claim
credit to myself for my humble agency In treating that
wound successfully, II may not be unbecOmng In me
10 remind who complain OF my diplomacy that every
serious difference which had arisen between Govern
ent and the French previous my appointment and
think can recall four OF them during brief national
existence resulted IN termination OF diplomatic roa-
tlons for a tmc and q financial crisis Had adopted
tho heroic treatment Of differences popular
in this country, especially with those who were not re-
fponsble what might be done; II by an abrupt and
gratutous assertion Of our Continental pretensous
which by the way, no foreign Government has yet
recognized nor any Administration at Washington yet
vcntured to assert at tho hazard OF war;
say by an abrupt and gratutous assertion OF such
preensiOn had conducted the two nations into armed
conflict, ana given dsatlected Southern population
all the encouragement they needed to revive the Re
bellion; II had added few hundred millions 10 our
national debt few popuous acres to our soldiers
cemeteries and planted In the hearts Of two friendly and
powerful nations o hatred for another which would
have survived tho youngest citizen oi e.ther-all things
at one moment more difficult avoid doing than 90 do
s not improbable that my would have received
more unanimous approval that 1t would have escaped
your anmadyersons and that should have been spared
the necessity for this explanation You ought not TO be
surprised that did not think such unanmity or i'm
muuity-precious they would be 10 me-worJh pur
chasing at such price Yours, very respectfully,
Netr York March TO- 1862 join BiGELOw.