Mr. Seward to Mr. Geofroy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 16, 1865. SIR I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 3d instant, requesting that the plea of certain French subjects residing in the United States be relieved from the burden of a tax imposed for the purpose of compensating volunteer recruits may be granted, and, in reply, to inform you that the tax is not a local one, but is imposed by State law, in conformity with State constitution, for public and general purposes, and domiciled aliens are entitled to no exemptions from burdens of the State. Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my high consideration, Mr L. DE GEOFROY, &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Geofroy to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] LEGATION OF France to the United States, Washington, March 24, 1865. SIR: Colonel Woodford, who commands Charleston, published on the 6th of this month an order which you are doubtless acquainted with, and in virtue of which "authority to carry on trade after the first of April will not be granted except to individuals who shall have taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, and obtained, in consequence, a permit." This order having been applied to a number of French subjects, retail traders who reside at Charleston, the consul of his Majesty at that city went to Colonel Woodford's quarters to represent to him the ruinous consequences which would fall upon them; to which the colonel replied that, in publishing his order of 6th March, he had done nothing but obey the instructions of General Sherman, that citizens of the United States alone would be authorized to carry on trade, and even upon condition that they should arm for the defence of the city, should it be attacked by the confederates, and that this condition of things would be prolonged so long as martial law should be in force at Charleston. He added that it would be impossible for him to modify the orders of the general-in-chief, but that he was disposed to offer to the French the facilities they should wish for leaving Charleston. The consul of his Majesty has represented that many of these French, on the one hand, would be ruined if they were to leave Charleston under existing circumstances, and that, on the other hand, they cannot subsist there without working. He has added, and affirms, that the conduct of any of them during the war has not been of a nature to justify the harsh treatment to which it is sought to subject them. The individuals to whom permits have been refused were not engaged in trade in articles imported in vessels which forced the blockade; they have in their stores only some tobacco of Virginia and Florida. I, in turn, beg your excellency to be so good as to let me know whether the government of the United States approves the order of General Sherman, and whether it intends that it is to be applied without distinction to all foreigners as a natural consequence of the state of siege; in a word, to give precision to the question whether the peaceable foreigner, not having taken part in hostilities, and having always observed the duties of neutrality, has no longer the right to remain and live in Charleston without renouncing his nationality, which is the consequence forced upon him by the oath of allegiance. I should have the honor in this case to observe to your excellency, first, that Charleston is not a besieged city, and that the existing state of things does not cause the presage that it would be. Even admitting that this were so, I would remind you that in analogous cases, especially after the occupation of Memphis, the legation of the Emperor, desirous to anticipate difficulties, and to yield as much as possible to the hard necessities of war, consented last year, by way of exception, and without inducing any consequence, to the authorizing of the subjects of his Majesty to join the urban militia, and even, in case of attack, contributing to the defence of the city, saving always the reservation that it would claim their exemption if this militia should go into the field, and had to do outside the duty of regular troops. But such concession is evidently the extreme limit to which it could go without entire abandonment of its countrymen. It is also, in my opinion, the last which the law of war and the necessities of defence permit the government of the United States to claim from foreigners. To seek, besides, to force these to abjure their nationality, or to be sent away, that is to say, ruined and reduced to want, would be to press, even to inhumanity, the application of the axiom that every one is master of his own home. I therefore please myself with the hope that the government of the United States will modify, in respect of what is absolute, the measure taken by the military commanders, and seize this occasion to offer to your excellency the fresh assurance of my high consideration. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. L. DE GEOFROY. [Translation.] Mr. de Geofroy to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES, Washington, March 27, 1865. SIR: By two decrees, dated June 22 and the 1st of last month, the Emperor has ordered that a universal exhibition of the productions of agriculture, manufacture, and the fine arts should be opened at Paris May 1, 1867. Another decree, also issued February 1, of this year, and published in the Moniteur the 21st of the same month, has placed this grand international solemnity under the direction and supervision of a commission, the presidency of which has been confided to his Serene Highness Prince Napoleon. Such a selection bears too high testimony to the importance which the Emperor attaches to the success of this universal exhibition to leave any need to dwell upon it. As to the commission, it is composed of several of his Majesty's ministers, of high functionaries of state, as well as of the most competent of notable individuals. The government of his Majesty charges me to give notice, officially, of these aforesaid decrees to the cabinet of Washington, to invite its valuable concurrence, and to designate an authority with which the imperial commission could have a direct understanding. It would also be of advantage, to avoid all loss of time, that the government of the United States should make choice at Paris of an agent who would be specially delegated to be near his serene highness the Prince Napoleon. This mode of procedure is the most suitable channel, and the speediest, to convey to the knowledge of the imperial commission the wishes of the exhibitors from abroad. The government of his Majesty would attach a high value to being informed as early as possible of the result of the steps I am charged to take which have an exceptional character of urgency. The objects sent to the exhibition will be received, in effect, in a palace constructed for the occasion of this solemnity, and the size of which should meet the actual need of the exhibitors of all nations. But that the general arrangements and plans which shall be adopted may be in relation with the claims for space which will be preferred, it will be necessary that the imperial commission should know, with the least delay, what States will take part in the exhibition, and how much space each would desire to obtain. In ending the letter he has written to me on the subject, the minister for foreign affairs adds that he is gratified to hope that the government of the United States will show a disposition to facilitate, so far as it is concerned, the success of the work confided to the imperial commission. It is too enlightened not to appreciate the advantages of these solemnities, at which nations contract new ties, collect useful and mutual lessons, and thus assure the development of their prosperity. Accept, sir, the assurances of my high consideration. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. L. DE GEOFROY. Mr. Seward to Mr. de Geofroy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 29, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 24th instant, respecting the inconvenience arising to French subjects domiciled in Charleston, by the order of Colonel Woodford, requiring persons wishing to remain within that city to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and to inform you that this government has had this subject under consideration upon the representations of the ministers of Great Britain and other countries. The order was made by Major General Sherman, commanding, and is deemed at present necessary as a military measure. It is applied to all foreigners of whatever nationality, and is limited in time by the necessities of the military situation. Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my high consideration. Mr. L. DE GEOFROY, &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. de Geofroy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 7, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 27th ultimo, in regard to the arrangements made by the imperial government for opening at Paris, in the year 1867, a universal exhibition of the productions of agriculture, manufactures, and the fine arts. I have the honor to inform you that I have conveyed to the minister for foreign affairs of his Imperial Majesty, through Mr. Bigelow, the minister of the United States at Paris, the reply of this government to the very courteous invitation contained in your note. A copy of my instruction to Mr. Bigelow, which bears the date of the 5th instant, is enclosed for your information; and I have the honor to acquaint you that the correspondence which has taken place on the subject will be immediately made public. Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my highest consideration. Mr. L. DE GEOFROY, &c., &c., &c. Mr. de Geofroy to Mr. Hunter. [Translation.] Assistant Secretary. LEGATION OF FRANCE TO The United States, Washington, April 16, 1865. SIR: I have received the note by which you announce to me the sad events which now afflict the people of the United States. You please to inform me at the same time that the Vice-President, Andrew Johnson, has, under the Constitution, officially entered into possession of the presidency, and has authorized you, sir, to fill, until further order, the functions of Secretary of State. I only anticipate the instructions of my government in assuring you of the deep and painful regret with which it will learn the death of President Lincoln, and other outrages which accompanied that great crime. That it will take very lively interest in your calamities, you cannot doubt. Please, therefore, receive all the condolences which I this day offer to you in its name, to which I add at the same time the very sincere expression of my personal feelings. I renew to you, on this occasion, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. Mr. de Geofroy to Mr. Hunter. L. DE GEOFROY. [Translation.] LEGATION OF FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES, Washington, April 22, 1865. SIR: The French community at New York held on Tuesday, the 18th of this month, a meeting under the presidency of the consul general of his Majesty in that city, where a series of resolutions was adopted, of which three copies have been sent to me; one for the government of the United States, another for the family of the deceased President Lincoln, and a third for that of Mr. Seward. These resolutions express the indignation and the sorrow which the horrible outrages of the last week have caused our countrymen to experience. I pray you, sir, to be so good as to cause these papers to reach their destination, and I seize this occasion to renew to you the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. L. DE GEOFROY. Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., Sr., &c. [For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.] * See instructions No. 105 to Mr. Bigelow, current series. Mr. de Geofroy to Mr. Hunter. [Translation.] LEGATION OF FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES, Washington, April 26, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to send to you, requesting you will please to cause them to reach their destination, two letters of condolence addressed by the French community in Philadelphia to Mrs. Lincoln and to Mr. William H. Seward. Accept, sir, the assurances of my high consideration. Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. L. DE GEOFROY. Mr. de Lhuys to Mr. de Geofroy. [Translation.] [Communicated by the French legation.] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SIR: The news of the crime of which President Lincoln has recently become the victim has caused to the imperial government a profound sentiment of indignation. His Majesty immediately charged one of his aides-de-camp to repair to the residence of the minister of the United States, to ask him to transmit at once the expression of his indignation to Mr. Johnson, who is now invested with the presidency. I also desired myself, by the despatch which I addressed to you of yesterday's date, to apprise you without delay of the sorrowful emotion we have felt; and I have to-day, in conformity with the will of the Emperor, to render merited homage to the great citizen whose loss the United States deplore. Elevated to the chief magistration of the republic by the suffrage of his countrymen, Abraham Lincoln had brought to the exercise of the powers placed in his hands the most substantial qualifications. Force of character was allied in him with loftiness of principle; therefore his vigorous spirit never quailed before the terrible trials reserved for his government. At the moment when an atrocious crime snatched him from the mission which he filled with the sense of religious duty, he enjoyed the consciousness that the triumph of his policy was definitively assured. His recent proclamations are traces of the thoughts of prudence which inspired him in undertaking resolutely the task of reorganizing the Union and of consolidating peace. The supreme satisfaction of accomplishing this work has not been accorded to him. But in gathering up these last testimonials of his high wisdom, as well as the examples of good sense, of courage, and of patriotism which he has given, history will not hesitate to place him in the rank of citizens who have done most honor to their country. By order of the Emperor, I transmit this despatch to the minister of state, who is charged to communicate it to the senate and legislative body. France will unanimously take share in this thought of the Emperor. Receive, &c. Mr. L. DE GEOFROY, Chargé d'Affaires of France, Washington. DROUYN DE LHUYS. P. S.-You will please remit a copy of this despatch to the Secretary of State of the United States. [For acknowledgment of receipt of above communication see instructions to Mr. Bigelow, of May 22, No. 155.] |