If perfectly convenient, will your excellency have the goodness to inform me whether there is any room for questioning the authenticity of that communication? I have the honor to be, very truly, your excellency's very obedient and very humble servant, JOHN BIGELOW. His Excellency M. DROUYN DE LHUYS, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow. PARIS, February 13, 1866. SIR: I have received your request for information with which you honored me yesterday, about the authenticity of a letter of Marshal Bazaine, but I am not able to furnish you the information required. Accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be your very humble and obedient servant, Mr. BIGELOW, DROUYN DE LHUYS. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, &c. Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. No. 276.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I found occasion to-day to say to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys that when I took the liberty of interrupting some remarks he was making this day week, in view of the contingency of a war with the United States, Marshal Forey had not made his speech on the senatorial address in reply to the discourse from the throne. A perusal of that speech had led me to fear I had been guilty of a negleet of duty in not sooner bringing to his excellency's attention an instruction which I had been waiting some weeks for a propitious moment to present him. I then briefly stated the subject of your instruction No. 336, in reference to a provision for the mutual protection of the mail steamers of France and the United States in the event of war, and went on to say that while nothing was further from our thoughts or wishes than a war, yet it seemed only ordinary prudence to provide against a class of dangers to which the commerce of maritime nations was always more or less exposed. Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys said he had no idea of the nature of the convention, referred to in your despatch, between the United States and England, and then exclaimed, "How things move. When we made our convention with you no one dreamed that such a provision could ever become necessary between France and the United States." "Very true," I said, "but capital is very vigilant, and scents danger from afar; besides," I added, "when I see what an alarm has been created by the unfounded reports from Bagdad, repetitions of which were to be expected at intervals so long as the French army remained in Mexico, I thought it prudent at least for both nations to give to their commerce the benefit of such a convention as we had with England." I then handed him a copy of the letter of Mr. McLane of the 8th of October, 1864, and of the 20th article of our postal convention with England, for his information. His excellency said he would submit the subject to his colleagues, but expressed no opinion about it himself. I attribute his silence to the circumstances under which I submitted it to his notice. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN BIGELOW, No. 403.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have just now received your despatch of February 9, No. 269. In that paper you have communicated to us the proceedings which you adopted in regard to the temporary occupation of Bagdad. Those proceedings are entirely approved. All of the information which has been received from General Sheridan subsequently to the writing of Mr. Hunter's despatch No. 375, corroborates and confirms the view of the transaction at Bagdad, which were given to you in the last mentioned paper. We trust that no occasion will arise in the future for misapprehension on that subject. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 281.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, March 4, 1866. SIR Referring to my despatch No. 197, and to your reply, No. 325, December 9th, 1865, I beg leave to state that I have received several letters from the agent of the parties interested, who represents the case as one of great urgency, and the situation of the four salt-makers, whom I mentioned in my former communication, as one of positive distress. In reply to these letters, I have promised to bring the subject anew to the notice of my government. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN BIGELOW. Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. No. 412.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 5, 1866. SIR: Your despatch of the 7th ultimo, and its accompaniments, relative to the communication which Mr. Laboulaye, the active president of the French committee of emancipation, has addressed to you upon the subject of the President's proclamation announcing the abolition of slavery in the United States, have been received. In reply to Mr. Laboulaye, I will thank you to inform him that the congratulations of the society upon the auspicious event are gratefully received and highly appreciated; that this government entertains no apprehensions for the future of a race physically qualified to obtain for itself, by industry and application, prosperity and happiness, under our free and equal constitution of government; and, therefore, we feel assured that this desirable result will be peacefully and creditably accomplished. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 423.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 17, 1866. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 9th of February, No. 265, together with its accompaniment, containing a full account of the speeches recently made at a meeting held in Paris, having for its object the relief of the freedmen in this country. It is with a feeling of grateful regard that I observe the interest which the eminent speakers manifested on that occasion for the welfare of the United States, and for the condition and elevation of the freedmen. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. No. 288.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, March 22, 1866. SIR: The conference of the great powers, now sitting in Paris to provide for the exigency created by the deposition of Prince Couza, has already held two sessions. I understand that France has recommended that the old union, under a single Hospodar, should be renewed. The Journal La France says that the Ottoman ambassador has been charged by his government to advocate the same policy. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of 4th March, No. 281, in relation to four French salt-makers, who ask this government to relinquish its claim upon 20,000 francs, deposited in April, 1863, with a notary at Montpelier, as security for the wages to be earned by them under a contract made with the general commission of subsistence of the late treasonable organization which styled itself the Confederate States of America, for the construction and operating of salt works in Alabama. These men appear to have been engaged in France by an engineer in the rebel service, and to have been brought to this country for the purpose of rendering such essential aid to the maintenance of the insurrection. The contract thus made was as hostile and, perhaps, as injurious to the United States as if it had been for the manufacture of gunpowder. The application is, in effect, that this government shall pay these men for their efforts to destroy it; or, at least, facilitate their payment by relinquishing its claim to the fund in question-a claim which the holder of the funds deems too serious to be disregarded, notwithstanding his sympathy for the alleged distress of these workmen. The United States cannot indulge their compassion to the extent of giving any aid whatever to their enemies, foreign or domestic, in obtaining remuneration for an enterprise directed to the subversion of their government. The fund in question is stated by the agent of the notary to be held by him under a pledge "not to deliver it to the said workmen except upon a certificate from the confederate government that they had fulfilled their obligations." You are, This is strong evidence, if not absolutely conclucive, that it came from the treasury of the insurgents, and now of right belongs to the United States. therefore, instructed to apprise the notary, Mr. Grasset, that we insist upon the claim, and to take such measures as may occur to you to complete the necessary evidence, in case he manifests a disposition to resist it. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., Sr. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 292.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, March 26, 1866. SIR: I have received from Lord Cowley notice of the payment of the second instalment of the Japanese indemnity. I have the honor to enclose copies of his lordship's letter and of my reply. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN BIGELOW. Lord Cowley to Mr. Bigelow. PARIS, March 23, 1866. SIR: Sir Henry Parkes, her Majesty's envoy in Japan, has reported to her Majesty's government that a sum of $500,000, being the second instalment of the indemnity due by the Japanese government under the convention of the 22d of October, 1864, has been received by the Oriental Bank at Yokohama, which holds it at the disposal of the representatives of the four powers. Sir H. Parkes observes, that calculating three months from the close of the Japanese ninth month, which fell on the 20th of August, 1865, when the Japanese government chose to declare the first instalment to be payable, the second instalment became due on the 17th or 20th November, according to whether the date be determined by the Japanese or foreign calendar. The delay which has occurred in the payment is attributable, Sir Henry Parkes says, in some degree, to the absence of the representatives at Osacca, and also to the time required to raise the requisite sum by the conversion of a large quantity of copper cash, the sale of which in China has been undertaken by the Oriental Bank on account of the Tycoon's government. Her Majesty's minister in Japan and his colleague, knowing that the Japanese ministers were acting in good faith in respect to the payment of the second instalment, did not think it necessary to raise serious objections to the delay. I have now been instructed to propose that this second instalment should be remitted to Europe in conformity with the arrangement suggested in the letter which Mr. Ellis addressed to you on the 19th of December of last year, in regard to the first payment. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. JOHN BIGELOW, &c., &c., &c. COWLEY. Mr. Bigelow to Lord Cowley. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 23d instant, communicating the report received by your excellency's government that a sum of $500,009, being the second instalment of the indemnity due by the Japanese government, under the convention of the 22d October, 1864, had been received by the Oriental Bank of Yokohama, where it is held at the disposal of the representatives of the four powers. Your excellency also informs me that you are instructed to propose that this second instalment should be remitted to Europe in conformity with the arrangement suggested in the letter addressed to me by Mr. Ellis on the 19th of December last, in regard to the first payment. In conformity with the instructions of my government, and in its behalf, I have the honor to accept the foregoing proposal and to thank your excellency for its communication. I have the honor to remain, my lord, your lordship's most obedient and most humble ser vant, His Excellency Earl COWLEY, &c., &c., &c. JOHN BIGELOW. No. 299.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE United States, SIR: I have the honor to transmit a copy of a communication received at this legation on the 28th ultimo from the minister of foreign affairs, and marked enclosure No. 1, in reference to certain steps taken by the consul at Marseilles for the distribution of a pamphlet entitled, Lois pour encourager l'emigration, pour la protection des passagers, et pour garantir un asile aux colonisateurs actuels, &c. I immediately addressed the consul a communication, of which enclosure No. 2 is a copy, and in a few days received in reply enclosures Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. After a careful perusal of these documents, I addressed a communication, of which enclosure No. 8 is a copy, to the minister of foreign affairs. I made no comment upon the reasons assigned by the minister of the interior for refusing the application of our consul First. Because it was apparent from the whole tenor of the despatch that this government does not look with favor upon any efforts to induce emigration from France; and Secondly. Because it was specially requested by my predecessor, Mr. Mason, as I have discovered in the course of my researches in the archives, to prohibit contracts being made in France with emigrants going to the United States, on account of the fraudulent abuses to which the practice often subjected them. I think the recent political reaction of the emigrant population from Ireland against the mother country has had its influence in determining this goverment to guard itself against a similar inconvenience. I the more incline to this opinion from the gratuitous rigor with which naturalized Americans of French origin have, in repeated instances, been treated by the authorities here, under the pretext that they were liable to military service. I shall soon have occasion to invite your attention to a correspondence which has passed between this legation and the minister of foreign affairs upon this subject. The brilliant reports which emigrants bring back from the country of their adoption, and which personal vanity often tempts them to exaggerate, have a very unsettling influence upon the minds of ignorant peasants, to whom they are generally addressed. It is not strange, therefore, that the police soon find some pretext for removing these eloquent apostles of democracy from the reach of those likely to be rendered discontented by their revelations. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN BIGELOW. |