Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
No. 329.]
Department of State,
Washington,
December 14, 1865.
Sir: Your despatch of the 24th of November,
No. 202, with its accompaniment, has been received. The note which
you addressed to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys on the subject of peon slavery
in Mexico is approved.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Three enclosures.]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward.
No. 243.]
United States Legation,
Paris,
January 16,
1866.
Sir: Recalling my despatch No. 202, I
have the honor to transmit a reply, received last evening, from
his excellency the minister of foreign affairs to the note which
I addressed him on the 22d of November last, in reference to
certain decrees promulgated recently from the city of
Mexico.
My letter acknowledging the receipt of his excellency’s
communication is also enclosed.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to
Mr. Bigelow
Sir: You did me the honor to
communicate to me in the course of the month of November a
letter addressed to Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State, by the
Attorney General of the United States, on the subject of the
decrees issued by the emperor Maximilian concerning immigration
and colonization in Mexico. That document constituting a
judgment upon interior acts of the Mexican government, I could
only receive it as a piece of information. I was careful to
point this out to you at the time, declining also any discussion
upon measures to which the Emperor’s government was absolutely
foreign. In acknowledging receipt, therefore, according to your
desire, of your letter of the 22d November, I consider myself
bound to state the verbal reply which I had to make thereto.
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys
Sir: I have had the honor to receive
your excellency’s communication, dated the 15th instant,
relative to certain decrees recently promulgated in Mexico upon
the subject of immigration and colonization. Your excellency
refuses all explanation of the inadmissible passages of one of
these decrees, to which I had the honor to call your attention
in a note of the 22d of November last, upon the plea that they
relate to measures of internal administration, with which the
Emperor’s government had nothing to do.
Although the line separating the responsibility of the imperial
government from that of the political organization it has
planted in Mexico is traced with some indistinctness, I am
certain my government will learn with satisfaction that France,
which was one of the first powers to hold up slavery to the
execration of mankind, declines all responsibility as to the
attempt (although made under protection of her flag) to
re-establish that institution in a country which had expressly
stigmatized and abolished it.
I take this opportunity, &c.,
