[Enclosure No. 2.] [Translated from the Moniteur of May 2, 1865.] CORPS LEGISLATIF-SITTING OF MONDAY, MAY 1. PRESIDENT SCHNEIDER. M. the minister of state has the floor to transmit a communication from the government. [The assembly becomes very attentive and silent.] His excellency M. ROUHER, minister of state. Gentlemen: An odious crime has plunged in mourning a people composed of our allies and friends. The news of that odious act has produced throughout the civilized world a sentiment of indignation and horror. [Assent.] Mr. Abraham Lincoln had displayed, in the afflicting struggle which convulses his country, that calm firmness and that invincible energy which belong to strong minds, and are a necessary condition for the accomplishment of great duties. [Repeated assent.] After the victory he had shown himself generous, moderate, and conciliatory. [Hear, hear.] He was anxious to at once terminate the civil war, and restore to America, by means of peace, her splendor and prosperity. [Hear, hear.] The first chastisement that Providence inflicts on crime is to render it powerless to retard the march of good. [Repeated assent.] The deep emotion and elevated sympathies which are being displayed in Europe will be received by the American people as a consolation and an encouragement. The work of appeasement commenced by a great citizen will be completed by the national will. [Hear, hear.] The Emperor's government has sent to Washington the expression of a legitimate homage to the memory of an illustrious statesman, torn from the government of the States by an execrable assassination. By his Majesty's order I have the honor to communicate to the legislative body the despatch addressed by the minister of foreign affairs to our representative at Washington. It is thus worded: (For the despatch see enclosure No. 1. sions of approbation and by applause.) The reading was frequently interrupted by expres This despatch, gentlemen, does not call for any comment. The Emperor, the public bodies, and France, from one end to the other, are unanimous in their sentiments of reprobation for a detestable crime, in their homage to a great political character, victim of the most criminal passions, and in their ardent wishes for the re-establishment of harmony and concord among the great and patriotic American nation. [Unanimous assent.] PRESIDENT SCHNEIDER. Gentlemen, I wish to be the interpreter of your thoughts in publicly expressing the grief and indignation which we have all felt on learning the news of the bloody death of President Lincoln. That execrable crime has revolted all that is noble in the heart of France. Nowhere has more profound or more universal emotion been felt than in our country. We therefore heartily join in the sentiments and sympathies which have been manifested by the government. Yes, yes.] Having been called to the direction of public affairs at an ever-memorable crisis, Mr. Abraham Lincoln has always proved himself fully equal to his difficult mission. After having shown his immovable firmness in the struggle, he seemed, by the wisdom of his language and of his views, destined to bring about a fruitful and durable reconciliation between the sons of America. [Hear, hear.] His last acts worthily crown the life of an honest man and a good citizen. Let us hope that his spirit and his sentiments may survive him, and inspire the American people with pacific and generous resolutions. [Approbation. ] France has deplored the bloody struggles which have afflicted humanity and civilization. She ardently desires the re-establishment of peace in the midst of that great nation, her ally and her friend. [Hear, hear.] May our prayers be heard, and may Providence put an end to these painful trials. [Unanimous approbation.] The legislative body acknowledges the receipt of the communication just made to it by the government, and demands that an extract of the minutes of the sitting shall be officially addressed to the minister of state. [General marks of assent.] Mr. Hunter to Mr. Bigelow. No. 128] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your very interesting despatch, of the 18th ultimo, in regard to the effect produced by the news of the flight of Lee and the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, and giving translations of the comments of the leading French journals upon the events, has been received. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. No. 129.] Mr. Hunter to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 18th ultimo, No. 80, which is accompanied by a copy of a letter from Mr. Rice, United States consul at Spezzia, published in Galignani's Messenger, in defence of Commodore Craven's courage in the late affair with the ram Stonewall off the port of Lisbon. Mr. Seward's attention will be called to the subject. I am, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. No. 90.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: At my suggestion a meeting was held at this legation on Tuesday, the 2d instant, which appointed a committee of nine to prepare an address that should express the feelings inspired among them by the horrible crimes perpetrated at the seat of government on the night of the 14th of April. On Tuesday, the 9th instant, the committee, at .the legation and in the presence of a large concourse of our country people, presented me the address, which they had prepared in compliance with their instructions, and which was signed by several hundred Americans. That address, with the signatures attached thereto, and my reply, marked enclosures Nos. 1 and 2, are herewith transmitted. You will find, also, that the address and reply have been deemed worthy of the hospitality of the Moniteur of this morning, a grace which will probably insure their general circulation throughout France. It would have been more satisfactory to our colony here, because more in accordance with our national usages, to have held a public meeting, in the exercises of which there could have been a more general participation; but, in view of the profound excitement produced throughout France by the events which would constitute the pretext for holding such a meeting, I did not think proper to give to such a demonstration any encouragement. A funeral service, conducted by the respective pastors, was held in both the American chapels here on different days, and both had an overflowing attendance. The expressions of sympathy which reach me daily from every quarter are to me, as an American, of the most gratifying, I might indeed say of the most flattering, character. The press of the metropolis shows sufficiently how overwhelming is the public sentiment. Among innumerable written testimonials of sympathy, I have received some from public bodies and from groups of people which I propose to send you as soon as I have enough copying force liberated to prepare them. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.] JOHN BIGELOW. No. 91.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The news of Johnston's capitulation reached us yesterday. I felt that the propitious moment for which I had been waiting had arrived. I immediately prepared the communication of which enclosure No. 1 is a copy, and this afternoon placed it myself in the hands of the minister of foreign affairs. In delivering it to him, I said that I had resumed in that communication the substance of my part in several conversations with his excellency about our affairs, which recent news rendered it proper that I should submit to him in a more formal manner. His excellency read the paper carefully through, and then proceeded to say that there were two distinct subjects presented in my communication-one relating to the past, and the second to the present and the future. As to the past, he said he did not see how France could have acted towards the United States otherwise than as she did on the breaking out of our rebellion; that it was impossible to treat as a mere local disorder the contest now drawing to a close in America, in which half the territory of the Union was in a state of rebelliona contest which had lasted four years, which had arrayed large armies against each other, and which had presented every known condition of serious war. But while he was not prepared to condemn the past course of his government, he said he was prepared to admit that a very different question was presented from that which they had hitherto had occasion to consider; that the war seemed to be practically at an end; that there was no longer any considerable force in the field against the federal government, nor any apparent organization, such as are the usual conditions of war. Under these circumstances, he said he would deem it his duty to bring the subject of my communication to the attention of the Empress Regent and of the council without delay, and, after taking their directions, he would communicate with me more formally on the subject. He went on to say that he should lose no time in getting the future policy of the government on this question defined, adding with a smile, "I think the result will be satisfactory to you." I then presented the military situation of the confederates a little in detail to show that Davis has no longer any army under his orders, and explained that the belligerent rights accorded to the confederates could no longer serve any purpose except to give a sort of license for the depredations of two or three of their vessels, which were now, if never before, pirates by definition. His excellency gave me new assurances of his disposition to have a prompt decision upon the subject, and of his confidence that that decision would be satisfactory to me. I think I am justified by the language and manner of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys in expressing to you the belief that a withdrawal of all countenance of the confederates by France may be expected at an early day. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. [Enclosure No. 1.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys. JOHN BIGELOW. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Your excellency need not be reminded that during the progress of the civil strife which has afflicted my country for some four years past, the declaration of the imperial gov 19 D C * ernment of September, 1861, which conceded belligerent rights to the insurgents, has proved a source of serious political inconvenience and of no little popular irritation. Without discussing the original necessity or propriety of that step, in regard to which, as your excellency is aware, my government has never entertained but one opinion, I esteem it my duty to submit to your excellency whether that declaration has not ceased to serve any of the useful ends for which it may have been designed; whether the time has not come when it is unfriendly, on the part of France, to deny to the navy of the United States that hospitality which the French navy has always received in the ports of the United States, and whether the insurgents have not forfeited whatever right they ever pretended to have to the privileges of belligerents accorded them by the imperial government. Your excellency must be already aware that the insurrectionary district of the United States has not a single port left open to the sea; it has no fixed seat for its pretended government; no coherent civil administration; no army that is not rapidly dissolving into fragments in consequence of repeated defeats. The only ships that assume to carry its flag were built in foreign lands; and from the day their keels were laid have never ventured to approach within hundreds of miles of the scene of the insurrection, while they have derived all their ability to rob and plunder our innocent commerce from the concession to them of belligerent privileges by powers which have repeatedly assured my government of their disposition to be neutral in the strife. To show your excellency how difficult it must be to maintain friendly relations, however desirable, with powers which countenance this state of things, I invite your excellency's attention to a single aspect of this grievance which is officially authenticated. Of the American merchant ships built and owned in the United States in 1858, 33, representing 12,684 tons capacity, were transferred to a British registry. The number of the same class similarly transferred in 1859 was 49, and their tonnage 21,308. The number in 1860 was 41, and their tonnage 13,683. In 1861 the number rose to 126, and the tonnage to 71,673. In 1862 the number reached 135, and their tonnage to 64,578. In 1863 the number was no less than 348, and their tonnage 252,379. In 1864 the number fell to 106, and the tonnage to 92,052. It thus appears that from the beginning of our civil war until the first of January last the number of our merchant ships which assumed a British registry was 715, or thereabouts. I do not know what number of our merchant ships sought safety by acquiring other registry than that of Great Britain, and I have no occasion to indulge in conjectures upon the subject. The statement I have made is sufficient to illustrate the great disturbance and derangement of our commerce resulting necessarily and legitimately, not from our domestic strife, but from the intervention in it of piratical cruisers built in British ports and issuing from them to devastate our trade on the high seas, in violation of municipal laws, treaties, and the law of nations. The government of France has concurred with that of Great Britain in attributing a belligerent character to these piratical vessels, whence they have derived, in a great degree, their capacity for mischief, and in so doing she has given countenance to a mode of warfare unexampled in modern times for its wanton destructiveness, and appalling, when contemplated as a precedent consecrated by such authorities for the future. I beg now to ask your excellency whether France wishes to persist in recognizing the scattered fragments of the insurrectionary organization, now fleeing before our armies, as belligerents, or the two or three ships now preying upon our commerce, constructed and equipped in neutral territory, sailing under no national flag, and therefore pirates by the law of nations, as entitled to the same rights and hospitalities in the ports of this empire as vessels of war bearing the flag of the United States? I would ask your excellency whether any possible advantage can result from this toleration of our enemies that will compensate for the irritation which must inevitably result from the continuance of a policy so prejudicial to our national interests, so irritating to our national pride, and so unfavorable to the culture of those friendly relations which my country-people have been educated to value very highly. If not, permit me to assure your excellency of my conviction that a more auspicious moment is not likely to occur than the present for France to withdraw every recognition, however qualified or conditional, which she may have made to any government or authority on the territory of the United States, save that which I have the honor to represent near his imperial Majesty. Permit me, also, to express the hope that your excellency will lend your powerful support to such a policy, involving, as it does, results about which neither of our countries can afford to be indifferent. I have the honor to renew to your excellency assurances of the very high consideration with which I am your very obedient and very humble servant, His Excellency Mr. DROUYN DE LHUYS, JOHN BIGELOW. Minister of Foreign Affairs, &c., &c., &c. The proclamations accompanying despatch No. 112 were transmitted to the minister of foreign affairs, with a despatch, of which enclosure No. 1 is a copy. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, JOHN BIGELOW. Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. [Enclosure No. 1.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, to your excellency, a printed copy of three proclamations issued by the President of the United States on the 11th ultimo: one relating to the closing of certain ports of entry; another supplementary thereto, and relating to the port of Key West, Florida; and a third, relating to reciprocal hospitality to the vessels of foreign navies in the ports of the United States, and to vessels of the navy of the United States in foreign ports. Your excellency will perceive, by these proclamations, that it is believed that the time has arrived when the United States, whatever claim or pretence may have existed heretofore for denying them, are now entitled to claim the same friendly rights and hospitalities which they are willing to concede to the marine of all other nations. I have the honor to renew to your excellency the assurances of my highest consideration, and remain your very humble and very obedient servant, His Excellency Monsieur DROUYN DE LHUYS, Minister of Foreign Affairs, &c., &c., &c. JOHN BIGELOW. No. 146.] Mr. Hunter to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 16, 1865. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 86, and its enclosures, informing me of the unanimous expressions of sympathy which have emanated from the government and people of France with the victims of the horrible crime which deprived us of our President, and maliciously injured the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of State. I will thank you to convey to the Prince Napoleon Bonaparte, Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and others, the grateful acknowledgments of this government for the words of condolence which they have addressed to us in the hour of mourning. I am happy to be able to inform you of the improved health of Mr. Seward and his son Mr. Frederick. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. *Same as accompaniments to instruction No. 1,350 to Mr. Adams. |