[Translation.] OFFICE OF THE CENSOR OF THE PRESS FOR THE DISTRICT OF MEXICO. To the citizen., minister of foreign relations and government: SIR: In virtue of your superior order, which I have just received, I have proceeded to denounce the pamphlet which has positively been published under the title of "Some observations to Mr. Wagner in reference to what has occurred with Mr. Altimirano, by Alfred Chavéro," commanding, also, the judge to collect the copies and to issue the proper orders to prevent its sale and circulation, and also that of any other printed similar document. To that end I have again given notice to publishers of the article relative to the law of the press, which forbids them, under penalties, to consent to the circulation of any printed matter before the censor shall have received the first copy which may be printed. Liberty and reform. Mexico, August 15, 1862. F. LAZO ESTRADA. MEXICO, August 16, 1862. A true copy. JUAN DE D. ARIAS. No. 55.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Corwin. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 15, 1862. SIR: Your despatch of August 28 (No. 32) has been received. The retirement of Mr. Doblado from the office of secretary of foreign affairs is an important event. This government is impressed with a very favorable opinion of his ability and his integrity. From your representations I think it must be assumed that the war in Mexico is only now about to begin. It is sincerely hoped here that it may end with as little of public injury as possible, and without a subversion of the free institutions of the republic. At the moment when I am writing this paper the public mind is disturbed, and even somewhat alarmed. General McClellan succeeded in bringing his army away from the James river and placing it at and near Alexandria without battle and without loss. But General Pope, who, for the purpose of making a diversion in favor of General McClellan, had advanced with a smaller force to the Rapidan, was successfully flanked by a large insurrectionary force, and was thus obliged to retire hastily to the vicinity of Manassas. Becoming involved there in several engagements, in which he suffered severe loss, he at length withdrew to the line of the fortifications in front of this city. These reverses are supposed to have resulted from a want of co-operation and support on the part of some of the corps which had been just before hastily detached from the command of General McClellan and assigned to General Pope's command. An inquiry has been instituted with a view to ascertain with whom the responsibility for the reverses rests. Meantime the insurgents, profiting by their success, passed up through the country to the places where the Potomac is, at this season, nearly everywhere fordable, and threw a large force across the river, occupying Frederick and the line of the Monocacy. There they appealed to the people of Maryland to rise and join them, while they seemed to threaten equally Washington, Baltimore, and the southern part of Pennsylvania. A considerable force was, however, promptly organized and sent up under General McClellan to meet them. We hear to-day that, having evacuated Frederick, they have entered Hagerstown, thus apparently relinquishing any design of striking at either Baltimore or Washington on the northern side of the Potomac. The same aggressive policy has been practiced in the west, and for several days the insurgents have been, or seemed to be, marching on Cincinnati and Louisville. Preparations have been made to repel them, and while I am writing the telegraph reports that they are retracing their steps and falling back from the Ohio. I might give you more details of the military position, but it is likely to change any day. Our forces are being largely augmented, and our generals are confident of their ability to retrieve our losses and restore the former fortunes of the war. While the government indulges this expectation we must abide by results, and news of these will probably reach you sooner than this despatch. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, THOMAS CORWIN, Esq., &c., &c,, &c., Mexico. No. 33.] Mr. Corwin to Mr. Seward.. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMErica, SIR: Nothing has occurred here since the date of my last despatch which could give any new information to our government as to the aim and ultimate designs of the French Emperor upon this part of the American continent. My own conclusions on the subject are founded upon facts, I dare say, better known at Washington than they are here. I need, therefore, only say now that recent events in France and elsewhere on the continent of Europe all tend to render the conquest and subjugation of Mexico by French power quite impracticable. How much of carnage will be required to restore the supposed damaged prestige of the French arms remains to be seen. But this being accomplished, I confidently anticipate a treaty, good or bad, for this republic, by which all French questions with Mexico will be for the present adjusted. The news from home, received here up to the 2d of September, give some faint hope that the battles about that time fought near Bull's Run may be "the beginning of the end." I wait with eager anxiety for the news by the next British packet, which must reach us in a day or two hence. Mexico, or rather the thinking men of Mexico, look upon our struggle with as deep and absorbing interest as that which they feel in regard to their own impending conflict. They seem to entertain a sad and profound conviction that our failure will be the doom of free government everywhere on the earth. I am your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, THOMAS CORWIN. Secretary of State of the United States, Washington, D. C. No. 58.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Corwin. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatch of September 28 (No. 33) has been received. It is earnestly to be hoped that the war of France against Mexico may last no longer and have a conclusion no more unfavorable to Mexico than you anticipate. The present military situation here may be described in a few words. Our spring campaign, so fruitful in victories, closed with reverses in the last weeks of July. An insurgent invasion of the loyal States began with successes in August and was arrested in September. Our armies are now renewed, our naval force increasing, and a decisive campaign will soon be opened. The insurgents excited in European capitals the most sanguine hopes of the success of their campaign of invasion, promising nothing less than the capture and capitulation of Washington, with the occupation of Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Philadelpaia. They built high hopes of recognition upon this magnificent, though precarious, foundation. From Europe we hear little that is definite, but there is manifestly some difficulty there in digesting disappointments. The abuses of the neutrality proclaimed by the government, which are daily committed by British subjects in British ports and on the high seas, have become not merely annoying, but deeply injurious. We are doing everything possible to prevent a ripening of these disturbances into a war upon the ocean, which would probably leave no nation free from its desolating effects. I am, sir, your obedient servant, THOMAS CORWIN, Esq., &c., &c., &c.; Mexico. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. SWITZERLAND. No. 18.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Fogg. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatch of February 7 (No. 15) has been read with much. interest. The progress of our arms has, however, so greatly changed the aspect of our affairs at home and abroad that I need not now dwell upon the principal subject you have so ably discussed. As you may well suppose, our attention has been directed to the extraor dinary proceedings which are taking place in Mexico. We shall be just to ourselves, and at the same time shall practice the prudence that will avert any new complication in our affairs. To-day the insurgent army is retreating from the position it has so long and so uselessly held in front of the capital. The war is retiring within the limits of the States which began it with reckless haste, and which have hitherto carried it on with intemperate zeal, under the expectation that they would escape from the scourge it was inflicting upon States less disloyal than themselves. SIR: Your despatch of September 26 (No. 26) is received. Since writing mine of September 4, to which yours is in acknowledgment, I have had more opportunity to form a judgment as to the probability of a large emigration of European laborers to the United States. The result has been to somewhat modify those first formed and expressed in my former despatch. The facts and suggestions of your circular on that subject have been published in nearly all the Swiss papers. At first, and when the fortunes of war were darkest against the Union arms, they were received with a smile of incredulity. People had been receiving none but war news from America for a year past, and had come very generally to believe all the energies of the country were absorbed by the possession of arms. The information elicited by your circular, confirmed by the collateral facts which every week is bringing to public attention, has wrought a very consider able modification of the first unfavorable impressions, Judging from what I now see and hear, I shall not be surprised to see a resumption of the tide of emigration from Switzerland and Germany, with the early spring much like that of former years. The general success or failure of our armies, during the winter will, however, have great influence upon the amount of emigration. The mass of those contemplating going to America are those who want to make homes for themselves and their children. They want a free country and ultimate peace, and unless they can see a proximate promise of this they will not go. Let us have the Union restored without slavery, and the supremacy of the federal government everywhere asserted and acknowledged, and we will see more and a better class of emigrants to the United States from Europe than ever before. But people must first see that we are going to have a republic and a government there. Thus far, nearly all the organs of public intelligence in Europe, and almost all the public men, whether speaking through the gov ernment or the press, have been for us ravens croaking and prophecying our ruin. I trust to see events of the next few months in America shut their mouths. With the highest respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, GEORGE G. FOGG. Secretary of State of the United States of America. |