No. 193.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. UNITED STATES LEGATION, SIR: The assassination of President Lincoln set free in France a large amount of latert respect for his character, and for the cause to which his life was sacrificed, which till then had given scarcely any sign of its existence. This fact, in view of its bearing upon the great events of which our country has been recently the theatre, has seemed to me of sufficient importance to justify the collection and preservation of the evidence by which it may be historically established. With that view I have directed a translation to be made of everything of consequence, I believe, that has appeared upon the subject in the political press of Paris, and have the honor to transmit to you the two volumes in which it is bound, by this post. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW. [For contents of the volumes above referred to, see Appendix, separate volume.] No. 294.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 30, 1865. SIR: Your despatch of the 13th of October, No. 184, has been received. I thank you for the information you have given me of the manner in which my No. 264 was received by Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and I shall wait with interest for an account of the imperial purposes in regard to the matter therein presented. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: I acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 6th instant, No. 181, acquainting me with the gratifying manner in which the French press comment upon the course of the President, and our treatment of the rebel loan question. I give you my thanks for your thoughtfulness. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 306.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 11, 1865. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of despatch of the 27th ultimo, No. 190, enclosing a copy of a communication addressed by you to their excellencies, the minister for foreign affairs and Lord Cowley, relative to the adjustment of the indemnity due the three western powers by the Japanese government. Your proceedings therein mentioned are approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c.. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 312.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 18, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 28th October, No. 193, together with the two manuscript volumes which are therein mentioned. Into these volumes have been collected the generous tributes which were spontaneously made by the press of France to the character of Abraham Lincoln, and the cause in which his life was sacrificed, when he was removed from his field of eminent service by the fearful and mysterious crime of assassination. It was a very just and happy thought on your part to make this collection, which is so honorable to France, and so entirely in harmony with the geniality of sentiment which distinguishes the French people. The volumes will be preserved in the archives of this government. The President is of opinion that an acknowledgment of these tributes would be eminently just and proper. I have therefore to suggest to you the publication of this despatch if, upon an informal consultation with Mr. Diouyn de Lhuys, it should be found that such a publication would be agreeable to the Emperor's government. A list of the contents of the volumes is appended to this communication. Mr. BIGELOW. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Contents of Volume 1. NEWSPAPERS. Avenir National, L'; Constitutionnel, Le; Débats, Le; Epoque, L'; France, La; Gazette de France, La; Monde, Le; Moniteur Universel, Le; Opinion Nationale, L'; Patrie, La; Pays, Le; Presse, La; Siecle, Le; Temps, Le; Union, L'. NAMES OF AUTHORS. Aucaine, Felix; Bonneau, Alexander; Boucherie, C.; Carnot, P.; Claveau, A.; Cohen, J.; Delore, Faxile; Dréolle, Ernest; Escaude, A.; Le Francois, A.; Gaiffe, A.; Gauthaic, A.; Girardin, Emile de; Guerault, R. D.; Galluad, E. G.; Isambert, Gustave; Janicot, Gustave; Jauvet, George; Julland, F. B.; Labbie, J.; Ladet. Ulysse; Laurentie; Legault, L.; Limayrac, Paulin; Mahias, J.; Malespine, A.; Martin, Henri; Mason; Moreau, Henri; Nefftyer, A.; Paradol, Prevost; Perrin, Joseph; Peyrat, A.; Plee, Leon; Renauld, A.; Raineey, Henri de; Sanford, H. S.; Simon, Edouard; Texier, Edmond; Vermorel, A.; Voiseau, A.; Vrignault, H. Contents of Volume 2. NEWSPAPERS. Avenir National; Constitutionnel, Le; Epoque, L'; Gazette de France; Journal des Débats; La France; Monde, Le; Moniteur, Le; Opinion Nationale; Patrie, Le; Presse, La; Revue des Deux Mondes; Temps, Le; Union, L'. NAMES OF AUTHORS. Assolant, Alfred; Baraton, J.; Beauer, E.; Bedolliére, Emile de la; Bonneau, Alexandre; Camus, F.; Carfort, Adde; Cassiniss; Cohen, J.; Dearfort, A.; Denise, E.; Didefils, L.; Dreolle, Ernest; Duboil, Réné; Escaude, A.; Felix, Eveque d'Orleans: Feydeau, Ernest; Foncault, Aubry; Gaiffe, A.; Gaillard, Leopold; Graudguillot, A.; Gullaud, E. B.; Isambert, Gustave: Jaubert, Georges; Jnip, Jules; Labbé, J.; Ladet, Ulysse; Laurentie; Lavergne, Bernard; Lavertigen, André; Le Francois, A.; Lemoine, J.; Limayrac, Paulin; Loek, Frederick; Luca, Francois; Mahias, J.; Malespine, A.; Nefftyer, A.; Paulin, A.; Perrin, Joseph; Peyrat, A.; Pruvet, E L.; Regnault, Elias; Reynould, A.; Taconet, Eugene; Voiseau, A. FRENCH LEGATION. Mr. Seward to Mr. de Geofroy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 9, 1864. SIR Referring to your note of the 12th ultimo,* in regard to alleged construction in certain ports of the United States of vessels which are to be used as privateers, under letters of marque from President Juarez, of Mexico, I have the honor to enclose, in reply, a copy of a communication of the 26th ultimo from the War Department, from which it will be seen that all needful precautions, within the control of that department, have been taken to prevent the arming or fitting out of vessels to depredate on French commerce. Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my high consideration. Mr. L. DE GEOFROY, &c., &c. &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. de Geofroy to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] LEGATION OF FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES, Washington, January 3, 1865. SIR: In many places, pertaining to Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the municipal authorities have recently assessed a tax, the product of which is especially intended as compensation to volunteer recruits, in order to avoid carrying the conscription law into effect. A great number of our subjects, who are menaced with being subjected to this tax, have addressed his Majesty's consul at Chicago in remonstrance against this measure, and their letters may be summed up in that of Mr. Saguin, of which I have the honor to transmit, hereto annexed, a copy to your excellency. The population of certain counties, towns and villages comprises many French, who remain such, who have purchased and cultivated a noticeable part * See pp. 250, 251, Part III, Diplomatic Correspondence, 1864. of the land; such are the townships of Belleville, county of Dane, (State of Wisconsin,) and the county of Lee, (State of Illinois,) where French colonies have been formed, each member of which has religiously preserved his nationality. It is evident that it would be veritable injustice, if for the personal exoneration of themselves from conscription-that is to say, from an individual duty inherent in their qualities-the American citizens in the above-mentioned localities, in the subdivision made by themselves of this tax, should cause it to bear upon foreigners; in other words, it would be contrary to the principles of equity, that whilst admitting that foreigners cannot be, against their will, compelled to do military duty, they can be obliged in any way to furnish substitutes. I, in consequence, call the attention of your excellency to this subject, and pray you to be so good as to give the orders necessary that in future French subjects who reside in the United States, and have retained their nationality, be not subjected by the municipal authorities of the State they inhabit to a tax, which evidently can only concern American citizens. Accept, sir, the assurances of my high consideration. Hon. WILLIAM SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. Mr. d'Elpeux to Mr. Saguin. L. DE GEOFROY. [Translation.] VICE-CONSULATE OF FRANCE AT CHICAGO. Copy of a letter addressed to the vice-consul of France at Chicago by Mr. Saguin, physician and land-owner at Amboy, Lee county, Illinois. DECEMBER 15, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have been some days informed upon the mode of subdivision of a new tax which our county is about to levy to meet a sum of about $40,000, which is intended to pay for substitutes necessary to avoid a draft. If I am well informed, foreigners, not naturalized, will have to pay their part as well as citizens, and in case of refusal their property will be immediately sold. As this kind of law can only emanate from some local functionaries, I have room to believe that it is possible for us to evade such a vexation. If "foreigners should never be made soldiers against their will," (last message of the President of the United States,) it is quite natural that they cannot be held to pay for substitutes either directly or indirectly. Many French people having asked my opinion on this subject, I have promised to inform them by the 1st January, the time assigned for paying the first annual payment on this impost. Consequently I request you, very humbly, Mr. Vice-Consul, to be so good as to let me know what we would have to do in such a case if it should be sought to make us contribute to the payment of the impost. I have the honor to be, &c. A copy certified by the undersigned, vice-consul at Chicago, 17th December, 1864. RAVIN D'ELPEUX. No. 1.] Mr. de Lhuys to Mr. de Geofroy. [Communicated by the French legation.] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, POLITICAL DIRECTION,. SIR: You know that the representatives in Japan from France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Netherlands, having deemed it to be indispensable to inflict, without further delay, on the Prince of Nagato, the chastisement called for by his attacks on foreign flags, the expedition in which the French, English, and Dutch ships-of-war, and an American mail-boat, took part; obtained the most complete success. The Daimio of Chio Chion recog nizing at once his powerlessness, bound himself to respect the freedom of navigation of the Strait of Simonosaki, and to pay the ransom of that city and the costs of the expedition. As soon as the cabinet of Yedo heard the result of the expedition it hastened to enter upon conferences with the agents of the four powers, and our last intelligence informs us that these had, at the date of 22d October, signed at Yokohama, with the plenipotentiary of the Taikoon, a convention which fixes at three millions of dollars (eighteen millions of francs) indemnity for the war made by the admiral on the Prince of Nagato, for the payment of which the Japanese government become guarantee. It is declared that this amount represents the sum of all claims, of every kind soever, based on the act of aggression by the Prince of Nagato, either in the way of indemnity, of ransom of the city of Simonosaki, or of expenses caused by the expedition of the allied squadrons. However, it is stipulated at the same time that the Taikoon can offer, in place of the indemnity offered, the opening of the port of Simonosaki or of any other port in the neighborhood situate on the inland sea; but that it shall belong to the signing powers to accept this offer or to hold to the payment of the indemnity in cash. The colleagues of Mr. Leon Roches, after having at first had the intention of settling between themselves, in concert with the admirals, the part inuring to each one of the powers whose flag was present at the affair at Simonosaki, have thought with him that it was the better course to refer the care of settling this point to the four governments interested. They have decided, besides, that there shall be specially reserved to us, in the repartition of the indemnity, the sum of $140,000, which I had required, in my arrangment with the last Japanese mission to Paris, as reparation for the attack made in July, 1863, on the French mail-boat Kian Chan by the forts of the Prince Nagato on passing the strait. You will, morcover, find herewith a copy of the convention and of the memorandum signed by the French, English, Netherlands, and American agents. The convention leaving to the signing powers the right to choose between the payment of the indemnity indicated and the opening of the port of Simonosaki, I have been led to think, after mature investigation, that it would be most politic and most advantageous to rest upon the first alternative. I could not, in fact, consider the opening of the port of Simonosaki or any other neighboring port in the inland sea as a substantial compensation for the abandonment of our indemnity. Simonosaki is, without doubt, in fact an important strategic point; but it does not appear to me to fill any of the conditions necessary to the development of commerce. The navigation of the strait is very dangerous; the roadstead does not offer, it is said, sufficient depth of water, and the communications of the city with the interior are very difficult. It is therefore of little moment that the Prince of Nagato may have manifested, personally, a disposition favorable to the opening of Simonosaki to foreign commerce. What was essential was that this Daimio should no longer believe that he had the right and the power to interdict access to the inland sea to European flags. The lesson he has received must have convinced him of his powerlessness in this respect. It is, therefore, no less than probable, and such also is the opinion of the admirals, that he would like to fall back from his former attitude, and were it otherwise, that the temporary apparition of a ship-of-war would make him understand the danger. Things would not go on thus if a new port were opened on his shores; it would require thought about the means for the permanent protection of the foreigners who would go there to establish themselves; and the new expenses which would result therefrom would not be in proportion to the advantages which would be derived from it. The immediate opening of Hioga and Asacca would have been alone of a nature, in our view, to justify the abandonment of the indemnity. Asacca, of which Hioga is the port, is in fact the most important commercial point in Japan. All the agricultural and manufactural productions of the country abound there; there the rich bankers and great native merchants reside. One might have been justified in hoping for profit enough from this measure to feel warranted in substituting it without hesitation for the indemnity. But since it has not seemed opportune to claim as yet the execution of the article of our treaties which gives us the right to begin at Asacca, it is better to wait the now sufficiently near expiration of the time we have granted to the Japanese government, and then exact the opening of this port, without seeking elsewhere advantages which in reality we shall only find there. In my opinion, it would, therefore, be well to declare to the cabinet of Yedo that we hold to the payment of the indemnity stipulated; the opening of a port such as that which is in reserve to be offered to us being in our eyes of secondary importance, whilst we have not yet access to those which our treaties should open to us in full right. I desire you to communicate these opinions to Mr. Seward. I should see with pleasure, if his manner of regarding it should, as I hope, accord with mine, that he would be pleased to instruct the representative at Japan, Mr. Pruyn, about it. Accept, sir, the assurances, &c. Monsieur DE Geofroy, Chargé d'Affaires de France. DROUYN DE LHUYS. |