The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24


peror Of the French than what have here
stated nor nothing more distasteful to him than
that the American people are united in their de.
termination that his reign on this continent shall
cease. Another election will probably bring
this latter fact clear before his vision. regret
that his expulsion had not been the closing
scene in the great struggle through which the
country has just passed. and which he contrib
uted largely to protract"
1t will be noticed that Grant speaks of the ex.
pulsion Of the Emperor of the French evi
IDENTIFY regarding the Mexican potentate as only
the tool of his great prototype in France.
On the Goth OF July, 1866, Grant wrote to Sher-
idan:
'Y our dispatch relative to selling the arms at
Brownsville to the Liberals was referred by me
to the President, strongly recommended / also
saw the President in person about IL. who said:
Why can't we let them have themp The sub
ject will be up before tho Cabinet to-day, and as
Seward is absent. am in hopes il will be decided
to let them GO. Whether this is done or not the
Liberals are now getting arms got the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to give clearances for a
large lot of arms for Brownsville, for export be-
yond the limits of the United States. Some are
now on the way, ard others will follow. There
has been entirely too much lukewarmness about
Washington in Mexican affairs. l am afraid that
1t may yet cause US trouble. 1t looks to me very
much as il Napoleon was going to settle the
European quarrel in his own way, TINS making
himself stronger than ever before If he does,
will he not compel Austria to sustain the imper-
ial government with such aid as he will give2
This looks to me to be the danger to apprehenj.
You and 1 should, and we have done it, aid the
Liberal cause by giving them all the encourage
ment we can. minister to the Liberal govern
ment has been confirmed. but he is idling about
Washington, waiting for Mr.. S., to give him his
instructions"
On the Both Of July Grant wrote again to
Sheridan: "Snce the repeal of our neutrality
laws / am in hopes of being able to get authority
to dispose of all our surplus ammunition within
your command to the Liberals of Mexico.
Seward is powerful practical ally of Louis
Napoleon, in my opinion, but am strongly in
hope that his aid will do the empire no good. "
On the 10Th of October he said:
Enclosed I send you two letters furnished
me by the Mexican minister. One is from the
agent of the Liberal government of Mexico, and
the other is an intercepted letter fully explaining
itself. How far the agent may judge the OBJ
jects of Santa Anna and Mr.. Seward correctly
do not know But do not believe that either
OF these parties ID favorable to the Liberal
cause My own opinion is that the interest of
the United States and duty is to see that for
eign interference with the affairs OF the CONT.
nent are put and end to. There Is but one gov
ernmept in Mexico that has ever been recog-
nized by the United States, and we must re-
spect the claims of that government and advance
Its interests In every way we can It is prob
able that you may have an opportunity of judging
the designs of Santa Anna should he attempt
to send force to the Rio Gran6e Should his de-
signs be inimical to the government of Mexico,
with which we are at peace, the same duty in
obedience to our own neutrality laws compels US
to prevent the fitting out of expeditions hostile
to that government that existed in the case OF the
Fenian movement against our northern neigh
Dor. There is hut one party, one government,
In Mexico whose complaints or wishes have claim
to respectfrom US No policy has been adopted
by our government which authorizes as to inter
fere directly, on Mexican soil, with that country,
but there is nothing that know OF to prevent
the free passage of people or material going
through our territory to the aid of the recog-
nized government Our neutrality should pre-
vent our allowing the same thing when the OBJ
ject is to make war upon that government, so
long as we are at peace with it."
It would be hard for the most accomplished
doctor of laws to turn the neutrality acts both
ways more skillfully to suit his own purposes
Yet who can contest the logic OF Grants reason
ing or the justice of his conclusionsq
But however profoundly he disapproved of
Stewards course, Grant had no desire to criticise
or censure member OF the government before
the country. He had soldiers regard for Of
fetal propriety, and besides he could not but en-
terrain genuine admiration for many points in
Stewards character as well as for his public serv-
ices On the 3lst of October he wrote again to
Sheridan.
'.Slnce the publication of your letter of the
23d inst, to Brevet Brigadier-general Sedgwick
it may be possible that you or | may be called
on for copy Of the instructions under which
you gave such instructions. My letter of the
0fh OG nARAh Hvn 49, Cd 1ta1
it would not be well to give to the public. and
were confidential, though it gives authority for
just the instructions you have given to General
Sedgwick. barring perhaps calling Maximlinn a
buccaneer. have thought 1t proper to renew
my letter to you for official record, leaving out
the objectionable passages ithose referring to
Seward Do not understand me as shrinking
from the responsibility of the letter I wrote to
you, On the contrary, am delighted with your
letter. 1t will have a great effect in sustaining
the cause of Juarez both by encouraging his ad-
herents and by discouraging other factions. In
view of the fact that Max and the French are
about going out of Mexico, it might have been
well to have left ont the term buccaneer. If.
however, the explanation is called for, will be
glad even of the use of that expression"
Thus the matter dragged along for nearly
two years, Grant doing everything in his power
to hasten the result at which he was aiming,
and Seward opposing Grants measures, if not
his object, in every possible way. In CONVERSE
ton with journalists and other leaders and
makers of opinion, Grant constantly sought to
create public feeling in favor OF demanding
the withdrawal of the French. l remember on
one occasion, at reception given to him at the
Union League Club in New York, he SO far de-
parted from his custom and did violence to his
ordinary inclination as to force himself to utter
a few words in public almost speech, indi-
eating how strongly he desired the intervention
of our government.
The country, however did not respond very
ardently to these utterances, and I have no
doubt now that Stewards policy was more in
accord with the general sentiment. The Nation
did not feel so keenly as Grant on the subject,
nor did it apprehend the danger that he saw in
delay. There was prevalent belief that Louis
Napoleon's only object in Mexico had been frus-
trated when Lee surrendered, and that the
French were certain to withdraw if allowed to
do wit hum l;ak