Mr. Seward to Mr.
Dayton
No. 635.]
Department of State,
Washington,
August 18, 1864.
Sir: I enclose for your information a copy of a
letter which I have received from his excellency Frederick F. Low,
governor of California, relative to the rumor there that Mr. William M.
Gwin is to be minister of finance under the new government of Mexico,
and also concerning the supposed policy of the Emperor of France in
regard to indemnity for the expenses of the war.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L. Dayton, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Governor Low to Mr. Seward
State of California, Executive
Department,
Sacramento,
July 18, 1864,
Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of 20th June, enclosing copy of an extract from a letter
received by you from Paris, giving information concerning the
movements of Mr. William M. Grwin.
[Page 137]
There is a rumor here that Gwin is to be minister of finance under
the new government of Mexico, but I cannot vouch for the correctness
of the report. My impressions are that the Emperor of France will
require indemnity for the expenses of the war, and in the absence of
any revenue which could be applied to that purpose, he will demand
and receive from Maximilian certain territory which will comprise
the States of Sonora and Sinaloa, probably in lieu of a money
consideration.
Gwin has probably been sent as an emissary to shape the public mind
for such a state of things. In any event, the ports in the gulf of
California will most likely be a sort of rendezvous for plotters of
treason, bearing a similar relation to the Pacific coast that Nassau
does to the Atlantic.
The Mexican question is one that is of especial importance to the
people of this State, and for any information concerning it, which
you may think proper to communicate to me, I would feel especially
obliged.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
