Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Guizot. PARIS, January 4, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to enclose a proclamation issued by order of the President of the United States, on the 18th of December last, which raises to the rank and privileges of freemen all persons at that date held in bondage within the territory of the United States. So great and sudden a change in the social condition of so large a number of human beings was never experienced before, I believe, as the immediate result of human legislation. I hasten to bring this important event to the notice of your society, and to congratulate its members that the first year of its existence should have been signalized by an event so full of encouragement to the champions of universal emancipation. I pray you to accept, sir, the assurance of my most distinguished consideration. JOHN BIGELOW. Mr. GUIZOT. Mr. Guizot to Mr. Bigelow. VAL RICHER, January 7, 1866. SIR: I received the letter you did me the honor to address to me the 4th instant, communicating a copy of a proclamation published the 18th of December last by order of the President of the United States, in virtue of which the rank and rights of freemen are conferred upon all who, at that time, were slaves within the territory of the United States. In the feeling of profound joy with which this communication inspires me, I am compelled to congratulate the people of the United States and its government upon having been the chosen instrument of God to make the holy cause of the higher law of humanity to triumph. Whatever may be the difficulties and the trials which this measure may yet impose upon your country, the accompilshment of such a work is the greatest glory which a generation of men in their passage over the earth can achieve, and the greatest blessing it can leave to the generation to come. We are permitted to hope that the example given by Christian nations will become the public law of the world. You are right in supposing that the society to which I have the honor to belong will surely congratulate itself that the first year of its existence has been signalized by an event at once so grand and so salutary. Accept, sir, the assurance of my entire consideration and of my most distinguished sentiments. Mr BIGELOW, &c., &c., &c., Paris. GUIZOT. Mr. Broglie to Mr. Bigelow. PARIS, January 12, 1866. Mr. MINISTRE: I have received the letter by which you have done me the honor to communicate to me the act of the Congress of the United States proclaiming the suppression of slavery throughout the whole extent of the confederation. I beg that you will accept my cordial thanks for this favor. It is with profound satisfaction that I have learned the final success of a cause which interests in so high a degree all the friends of humanity, and to which I have been happy to dedicate the greater part of the labors of my public life. Be kind enough, Mr. Ministre, to accept the assurance of my high consideration. Mr. BIGELOW, Minister of the United States, &c., Paris. Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. No. 244.] LEGATION OF the United STATES, Paris, January 19, 1866. SIR: Recalling the communication received at this legation from the British embassy at Paris, dated December 19th, 1865, in reference to the mode of trans mitting the Japanese indemnity, a copy of which was enclosed in my despatch. No. 226, I have now the honor to transmit to you a note verbale, received from Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, advising me of what appears to be a very satisfactory settlement of all the questions growing out of the convention signed at Yokohama on the 22d of October, 1864. By this note I am advised that the representatives of the treaty powers have concluded a final arrangement for the payment of the whole indemnity, a modification of the tariffs, and new guarantees for the opening of the Hiogo. The part of the telegram communicating this intelligence which fixed the time when the Hiogo was to be opened, unfortunately was not legible. By the same note I was advised of the proposal of the British cabinet to divide the indemnity fund equally between all the powers. The liberality of this proposal places the United States under greater obligations than any of the other treaty powers, inasmuch as our equitable proportion of it was, I believe, the smallest. I did not hesitate to embrace this proposal, subject only to the conditions by which my power was limited. Subject to the same conditions, I accepted the proposal of Great Britain to deposit the first instalment of $500,000 in the English military chest at Yokohama, and its equivalent, in sterling, at the board of treasury, in London, subject to the order of the four powers. The note verbale of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and mine in reply, are herewith annexed. France accepts these propositions, and Holland undoubtedly soon will do so, if she has not already. Nothing will then be wanting for the distribution of the fund but the ratification of the treaty by Congress. I hope, with the ratification, to receive your instructions as to the disposition of the money that shall be placed to the credit of the United States. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN BIGELOW. [Translation.] Verbal Note. Was this The affair of the Japanese indemnity had heretofore given rise to two questions: 1st. In effecting the payment of the first instalment of the indemnity, the Japanese government had asked for a delay of one year for the payment of the second instalment. request to be discarded or to be granted; or was there occasion to remit part of the indemnity; and in the two latter alternatives what compensation should we ask for in return? 2d. How should the indemnity be divided, and how should the sums paid over by the Japanese gov ernment be received? It was thought advisable to leave the first question to be decided by the representatives of the four powers interested in Japan, acting together. The last news received from that country shows that that point must by this time be settled. Indeed, the ministers of France and England have sent to Paris and London copies of a memorandum drawn up and signed by them and their colleagues from the United States and the Netherlands, in which declaring that there would be advantage in remitting the two-thirds of the indemnity to the Japanese government, if in return it were disposed to give us the three following compensations: the opening of the port of Hiogo and of the town of Osacca to the commerce of the four powers as early as the 1st of January, 1866, the ratification of the treaties by the Mikado, and a revision of the custom-house tariff. They have decided to go to Osacca, where the government of the Tycoon had just arrived, to conclude at once, amicably, with it, the negotiations relating to this affair. Now a recent telegraphic despatch addressed by Sir Harry Parkes to the British government, under date of Shanghai, December 8, states that the Mikado had approved the treaties, a modification of the tariffs had been obtained, the opening of the port of Hiogo was again guaranteed, and the indemnity was to be punctually paid. The allied naval forces which had brought the European agents to Osacca were, therefore, sent back to Yokohama. We have now, consequently, only to come to an agree ment with regard to the second question. The government of the Emperor had thought at first that the division of the Japanese indemnity might be effected in accordance with the following plan: the two-thirds of it, say two millions of dollars, to be divided among the four powers concerned, proportionably to the number of men employed by each, in the Simonosaki expedition; France, the United States, and the Netherlands to levy each $140,000 upon the last third as a compensation for special losses; and the remaining $580,000 to be divided into four equal shares among the four powers. The British cabinet appearing to be more in favor of an equal division of the whole of the indemnity among the four powers, the government of the Emperor makes no difficulty in adopting this plan, and is ready, should this system of division be adopted also by the government of the United States, to apply it to the $500,000 already paid in by the Japanese government as the first instalment of the indemnity. As for the manner in which each government is to receive this money, the British cabinet proposes that the $500,000 already deposited in two of the banks of Yokohama should be handed over to its commissariat chest at Yokohama, in which case an equal sum in pounds sterling would be held by the Treasury Department at London, subject to the draft of the powers entitled to share in it. If, as there is reason to suppose, this combination is not of a nature to create objections, even at Yokohama, the government of the Emperor is prepared to accept it also, and only desires to know whether the government of the United States would acquiesce in it also, in which case the plan proposed could be at once carried out. Verbal Note. The minister of the United States at Paris has been advised of a despatch recently addressed by Sir Harry Parkes to the British government, dated Shanghai, December 8, 1865, which states that the Mikado had approved of the treaties entered into between the government of Japan and the governments of England, France, Holland, and the United States; that the tariffs had been modified; that the opening of the Hiogo had been guaranteed anew, and the stipulated indemnity was to be punctually paid. The minister of the United States is also advised that the English cabinet had proposed that the covenanted indemnity, as well what had already been paid as what should hereafter be paid, should be equally divided between the four treaty powers. Assuming that the telegraphic advices from Sir Harry Parkes shall be sustained by official despatches, and that the Senate of the United States will ratify the convention at Yokohama of 22d October, 1864, the minister of the United States does not hesitate to embrace the liberal proposal of the British cabinet, if found acceptable to the other treaty powers. The British cabinet also proposes to deposit the first instalment of $500,000 in its military chest at Yokohama, and an equivalent in sterling to the credit of the treaty powers at the treasury in London. This proposal also the minister of the United States is ready to embrace, subject always to the conditions attached to his acceptance of the preceding prop osition. No. 375.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 19, 1866. SIR: The Marquis de Montholon called here yesterday, and the first topic of conversation between us naturally was the hostile expedition across the Rio Grande and the capture of Bagdad, as reported in the newspapers. To an inquiry as to whether the department had any official information upon the subject, I replied in the negative. I added that such information was probably in possession of the War Department only, and I would at once apply to that department for it, with a view of communicating the same to you in order that you might make the explanations which will probably be expected by the French government. Accordingly, a copy of a letter of this date, addressed to this department by the Secretary of War, and of the papers by which it was accompanied, is herewith transmitted. From these it is apparent that the expedition referred to was not authorized and is not approved by any officer of this government, military or civil, and that orders have been given to put a stop to any recruiting in Texas for similar expeditions. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Stanton to Mr. Seward. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, January 19, 1866. SIR: In compliance with the request contained in your letter of this date for official information respecting the reported hostile crossing of the Rio Grande from Texas and the seizure of the town of Bagdad, I send herewith copies of telegraphic correspondence on the subject received by this department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. SECRETARY OF STATE of the United States. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS ARMIES Of the United States, Major General P. H. SHERIDAN, New Orleans: In view of probable action by Congress on Mexican affairs, do all you can to preserve strict neutrality pending such action. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General. [Received in cipher, 3 p. m., 17th.] Office United States Military Telegraph, War DepartmENT, Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT, Washington: In the New Orleans newspapers of this date it is reported that some of the colored troops crossed over the Rio Grande to assist in the capture of Bagdad. I do not believe one word of it. Weitzel has the most peremptory orders to preserve neutrality, and I look on this crossing of the Rio Grande as a sensation story. I have no official information from that quarter. I have sent orders to Weitzel to break up all fillibustering recruiting parties, if necessary, to preserve neutrality. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General. [In cipher.-Time received, 9.50 p. m.] OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT, Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT, Commanding armies United States : I have directed General Wright to go at once to the Rio Grande to examine into the condition of affairs there and break up the fillibustering parties there, who are giving us much annoyance. I will probably go there myself in a day or two. Meantime but little credence should be given to published exaggerations in the newspapers. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General, &c. [In cipher.-Time received, 10.40 p. m., January 18.] [Extract.] Office UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT, The Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT, Commanding armies United States : The following official information has just reached me from the Rio Grande: Bagdad was captured on the morning of the 15th January, between the hours of 2 and 4 a. m. attacking force was about sixty men. They captured the Franco-Mexico garrison, about three hundred strong, one-half of which joined the liberalists and garrisoned the place. The attacking party had all disappeared before daylight. Neither Escobedo nor any one else had any knowledge of this transaction, but both Escobedo and Crawford posted to the place at once, and a quarrel ensued between them, and at the request of the commander of the post a garrison was sent by General Weitzel to protect the private property of the place, with instructions to withdraw should any imperialist approach the place. I do not sustain this action, but I presume there can be no objection on the part of the imperialists, as I protect them. An investigation is now going on to ascertain if any of our troops were engaged in this transaction. It appears that they were all present at tattoo and reveille. If General Weitzel has not already arrested Crawford on the order already given, I will arrest him. No. 261.] : * * P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General, Commanding. Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR Recalling my despatch No. 241, enclosing a communication made by me to M. Guizot and the Duke de Broglie, with the President's proclamation announcing the abolition of slavery in the United States, I have the honor to enclose a copy and translation of a reply to. a similar communication, made to me by M. Laboulaye, the active president of the French Committee of Emancipation, of which the other gentlemen were honorary presidents. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN BIGELOW. [Translation.] PARIS, January 20, 1866. Mr. AMBASSADOR: The members of the French Emancipation Society have received, with emotion and sympathy, the proclamation announcing the abolition of slavery, which you instructed me to communicate to them. In a numerous meeting assembled to consider the future fate of the freedmen of your country I read your letter. It transformed our gathering, in a measure, into a thanksgiving festival. This century has witnessed the abolition of serfdom in Russia, and of slavery in the United States. That is glory enough for it. We entertain the hope that the illustrious successor of Lincoln and the statesmen and Christians of America will know how to make citizens of those of whom they have made freemen. The civilized world expects from them the success of this grand experiment. We shall watch the steps of its progress with the most untiring interest; and we beg you to thank the President of the United States, in the name of our committee, for the measures which he has heretofore taken, and for the noble instrument to which his name shall remain attached, as we thank you also, Mr. Ambassador, for having communicated it to us. Please accept the expression of our high consideration. The president of the committee: The secretary: A. COCHIN, Member of the French Institute. EDWARD LABOULAYE. No. 265.] Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: A meeting was held in this city on the last Wednesday evening in January for the relief of the freedmen of the United States. Mr. Laboulaye, the president of the French Emancipation Society, presided, and spoke. Speeches were also made by the Prince de Broglie, and Messrs. Frank and Cochin, of the Institute; by Mr. Grandpierre and Dhombres, Protestant clergymen, and by |