Seaton Schroeder

“ Sir:—I have the honor to inform you that by the last mail received from the United States I have intelligence that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of my government has directed a courier to be sent to you to beg, upon the part of my government, that in the event of the capture, as a prisoner of war, of the Prince Maximilian of Austria, His Excellency the President of Mexico may be pleased, through a spirit of clemency and also of friendship for the United States, that the Prince Maximilian may be spared his life should it be in danger. ”

“ Now, therefore, our military honor pledged, the exigencies of our politics and the interest of our industry and our commerce make it our duty to march on Mexico, to plant there boldly our standard, to establish there—a monarchy if it is not incompatible with the national sentiment of the country—but at all events a government which possesses some stability. ”

“ At three the consular government turned the city over to the Mexican civil officers who immediately opened the gates, and sent a deputation to wait upon General Benavides, and invite him to enter. Out behind this deputation streamed an army of hot and weary men, women and children, who swarmed into the fields to get a bit of grass or a branch of green bush once more in their hands after the dreary captivity of over three months within the walls of the beleaguered town. ”

“ On general principles an officer of a foreign government could have nothing to do with either side of the question. The mere judgment of right or wrong, or the desire to help a friendly nation, should not even for one moment influence the action of a naval commander compelled to decide and act for himself. ”

“ To-day the pardon of the Archduke of Austria could not be granted without incurring universal censure, there being very few who would believe that we were influenced solely by the noble sentiments of humanity and magnanimity. These same friends of Maximilian and enemies of the government of the republic would comment on this act in a manner most unfavorable to our dignity. They have always endeavored to produce the belief that the Mexican people, and, to the nations of Europe, that the republican government is in a state of traitorous dependence upon the United States ”

“ A single authoritative demand, coupled with offensive measures, might possibly have compelled that man, who acknowledged himself to be without a master, to surrender his command. Roe was in good accord with the English and French captains, but there was no authority for them to do what humanity daily and hourly appealed to them to do. To engage, without orders, in open hostilities with a nation (as Maximilian's Empire was acknowledged to be by most powers) , was a more serious step than would be sanctioned by the broadest interpretation of instructions. ”

“ Day by day Marshal Bazaine's intercourse with Maximilian became more and more one of quarrel, if quarrel it could be called; his temper burst all bounds and he accused the Prince of being the cause of the degradation of the French army and the humiliation of himself and his officers before the European world. Finally, in an outburst of passion, he said to him that he was no emperor but only a puppet set up by Napoleon and the army of France, and that as a "puppet emperor" he had caused the disgrace of his supporters. ”

“ The command of the army of the Intervention in Mexico was one of great trust and authority. At such a distance from France, unusual power and large discretion were necessarily given to an officer commanding the armies and executing the purpose of the French emperor in the New World, As slowly, but apparently surely, he tightened his grasp on Mexico, driving to remote fastnesses the patriots who refused to sell their birthright, the Marshal's proud and haughty nature asserted itself strongly. ”

“ When the Prince cast his lot for good or ill with those that had offered him a crown and a throne, he fully appreciated the dangers of his situation, but with his characteristic gallantry braved all perils. The end had now come, and he was a prisoner in the hands of fierce and angry men. The intelligence caused no surprise to Commander Roe, who had long expected it, and had matured his plans. Knowing, as he and others did, the difference in the temperaments of the people of Mexico and of the United States ”

“ Drouyn de l'Huys should be informed that the United States continue to regard Mexico as the theatre of a war which has not yet ended in the subversion of the government long existing there, with which the United States remain in the relation of peace and sincere friendship; and that for this reason the United States are not now at liberty to consider the question of recognizing a government which, in the further chances of war, may come into its place. ”

“ The establishment of a European monarchy in Mexico, supported by a European army, could not have failed to be a perpetual menace to the peace of the North American continent, and would have compelled, in the United States, a continued armament and state of military preparation most distasteful to a nation specially averse to war and devoted to the peaceful development of the western hemisphere. ”

“ The delay in surrendering the city was contrary to the usages of war and the scenes that might be enacted by rioters were repugnant to enlightened humanity. Furthermore, apart from the desirability of displaying the additional force vested in the "Jason," the fact of a ship taking such action flying the flag of a country which had recognized the Mexican Empire, and Prince Maximilian as its emperor, would be the more apt to cause reflection among any officers that might have a vestige of authority remaining. ”

“ For this reason he does not think that Mexico has to apprehend any attempt at retaliation by European he has seen the whole Republic rise up against him. Notwithstanding this he wants to continue his work of ruin and desolation by an aimless war, surrounded by men well known for their robberies and assassinations, and the deepest-dyed in crime of any in the Republic. When such persons are captured it is not reasonable to suppose they could be considered as simple prisoners of war, for they are responsible to the law of nations and amenable to the laws of the Republic. ”

“ Parties of opposition in that country almost always assumed a belligerent attitude, and a resort to arms was frequent. Insurrection and rebellion in the outlying provinces were not so serious things as they were in the United States; familiarity made the offence a light one. But when the fact was presented of a foreign power establishing in Mexico a monarchical form of government, with an alien prince at its head, the country had blazed forth in passion and defiance ”

“ In this particular case the United States was certainly interested in having Santa Ana's incipient revolution nipped in the bud; should international complications demand it, the officer guilty of over-zeal could afterwards be reprimanded or, if necessary, temporarily disgraced, but the object would have been gained. No single-minded officer would ever hesitate before such an alternative; the only difficulty would be in accurately divining the wish of the government. ”

“ It was on the 24th of July, at daylight, that the "Tacony" finally bade good-bye to the ancient city of Vera Cruz, which owed so much to her,— to her guns, to her flag, and to the intelligence and determined action of her commander. Steaming along at a moderate speed she made a four-days' passage to Pensacola, but did not then escape the discomforts of a ten-days* quarantine. Many of the officers were detached and went to their homes to recover from the effects of exposure to tropical suns and diseases. ”

“ An old veteran places himself under your orders to be sent where you think he can be of the greatest service to the nation. . ." The result of this, however, was even more disappointing than the outcome of his appearance at Vera Cruz, for General Peraza's opinion of his services was such as to prompt him to place the old veteran under arrest with a view to the safety of the Republic; and for greater security he was sent off to the neighboring state of Campeche in custody, to await the action of President Juarez. ”

“ To a certain extent remaining there involved a cool calculation of chances; the experiences of a long war at home had led the officers of the American vessel to think that a first shot rarely takes effect, and the shower of grape and canister that their five heavy guns and as many howitzers were ready to belch forth at the flash of the enemy's pieces, would probably cause such havoc as to make the second shot, if ever fired, as harmless as the first. ”

“ Might not the popular passion be bent and swayed, and the dictates of humanity as well as policy score a triumph in Mexico as in the United States? Immediately upon the receipt of the brief but pregnant despatch, Captain Roe had the gig manned, and, at that late hour, pulled alongside the "Jason." Calling the captain from his bed, he frankly gave him the despatch to read, saying that he now desired the co-operation of himself and the Austrian captain. There was no time to lose; every effort must be made to save the Prince's life. ”

“ On the subject being first broached the General drew himself up and exclaimed: "We want nothing from any country except the United States. Maximilian has been a robber and a murderer, and as such let him die." Subduing his passion, however, he read over the propositions and afterwards said that while it was very doubtful the President would accept the terms, he still might possibly entertain them; for it was true, as pointed out, that Vera Cruz was the key to the hopes of the city of Mexico, and its surrender would instantly be followed by the fall of the capital. ”

“ So on the morning of the 3d of April the General came on board, bearing polite messages from Benavides. This introductory visit was one principally of compliment and courtesy to the United States flag, as representing the only friend among nations to the Republic of Mexico. He brought the latest news from the interior, and told of the capture of Puebla by General Escobedo after a severe fight; every one was confident that peace would soon be restored. ”

“ As distances have come to be shortened by the railway and the steamer, and annihilated by the telegraph, it has seemed as though authority and discretion could be more and more centralized, and that an officer would but need to watch events carefully and keep his ship in good fighting trim. A commander's first duty is indeed to keep his ship in good condition for effective service ”

“ Commander de Pritzbuer, being a younger man, is still able to wear the harness; and an American man-of-war entering the vast dock-yard of Rochefort is sure to meet with a pleasant welcome from that gray-haired veteran who, as Vice-Admiral and Préfet Maritime of the Department, is an important factor in the maintenance of that superb navy.
Perhaps the most cordial leave-taking was with Captain Gröller, who returned in the "Elizabeth" on the 12th of July. He had cause to feel grateful to Captain Roe for the efforts made to save his Prince. ”

“ The detention of the general was indeed to be only temporary; but when released he was not to be put on shore, but sent out of the country. General Benavides sought to have this intention given up, and to have him guarded until affairs could be arranged. In his letter urging this upon Captain Roe, he represented that the general was a fugitive from justice. "You know he has fled from debts, and that he is at liberty under a bond of thirty thousand dollars, which he laughs at. This conduct is not strange in Santa Ana. He is a man who does not know modesty, and he is a trickster. ”

“ The very fates seemed to conspire to make of the promoted soldier a military autocrat moving on the full floods tide of success, and the whispered suspicions of his ambition to possibly succeed or replace in person the Prince whom it was his duty to establish and support on the Mexican throne, were perhaps not ill founded. ”

“ As the United States had never ceased to recognize and entertain and express friendly feelings for the Juarist government, the advance of the "Tacony" alone might be construed as simply one of national offence and might add to the probabilities of a conflict.
It did not take long to persuade the gallant Aynesley; he consented to co-operate with the American gun-boat, and at four the two vessels got under way together and stood up for the harbor, the stately "Jason" leading. Entering by the north passage, the Englishman came-to within easy range of the northwest bastion of the castle. ”

“ In this interview General Benavides showed a spirit of humanity worthy of all praise. Orders had been received from General Diaz not to treat with the Imperial forces further, unless they laid down their arms and surrendered at discretion; but knowing the temper of the besieged, and desirous of avoiding all unnecessary bloodshed, he took upon himself to remain bound by promises made before the receipt of the order. There was indeed no shadow of reason for any longer hesitation on the part of the Imperialists. Vera Cruz was the only place in Mexico now held by them ”

“ That country, after a disheartening and desperately protracted struggle, had at last begun to triumph over all its enemies, including that most intolerable of all political evils, foreign armed intervention, and to have reached a crisis when, if left alone, it might be expected to restore tranquillity and reorganize itself upon permanent foundations. ”

“ He will keep on styling himself to our shame,—Emperor of Mexico; all dissatisfied Mexicans will keep up an active correspondence with him about his supposed popularity there, and even may induce him to return at some future time, as they did with Iturbide; such of them as can afford it will go over to Austria and form a Mexican court for Maximilian at Miramar, and he will have enough of them to organize a legitimate Mexican government there, as the ex-king of the Two Sicilies did at Rome, after he was expelled from Naples ”

“ The United States have already expressed themselves on that subject with frankness and profound respect to the government of President Juarez. To reiterate its opinions and wishes in a formal manner in compliance with the wishes expressed by the sovereigns of France and Great Britain, would perhaps embarrass the government of President Juarez, and might tend to defeat the humane purposes entertained. ”