Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
Sir: The condition of the emancipated slaves or freedmen within the United States is at this moment very properly a subject of deep interest. The establishment of the perfect equality of men of the African race with men of other races throughout the whole continent, is a policy which the United States may hereafter be expected to cultivate with constancy and assiduity. Certain decrees bearing on the subject of immigration which are understood to have been promulgated by authorities acting in Mexico, in opposition to that republic, have arrested the attention of this government. The law officer of the government has submitted to this department an opinion, that if those decrees were carried into execution, they would inevitably operate to reduce into a condition of peon slavery working-men of the African race, and, of course, such of the freedmen before mentioned as, with or without their intelligent consent, might be brought within the jurisdiction of Mexico.
If European opinion can be regarded as established in reference to any one political question, it is settled that African slavery in any form ought henceforth to cease throughout the world. We do not doubt that the Emperor of France cordially and fully concurs, as we do, in this humane sentiment. I have, therefore, to request you to place a copy of the opinion of the Attorney General, herewith enclosed,* in the hands of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and ask that the attention of the French government may be directed to the question which the Attorney General has discussed with ability, and with an anxious desire to arrive at just conclusions.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq., &c. &c., &c.
- The opinion of the Attorney General referred to herein is that previously inserted under date of October 21, 1865.↩