Romero Challenges the Imperial Mexican Express Company
18 October 1865 to 28 January 1866
Romero represented Benito Juárez's republican government during a struggle in which Mexico had two competing claims to national authority. The United States had recognized Juárez in 1859, but French intervention later installed Maximilian as emperor. During the American Civil War, Seward resisted recognizing the empire while avoiding a confrontation that might draw France toward the Confederacy. [6]
Matías Romero challenged a New York company's claim that it could operate under concessions from Emperor Maximilian while also enjoying the acceptance of Benito Juárez's republican government. On 18 October 1865, Mexico's envoy in Washington instructed the Mexican consul in New York to publish laws declaring the imperial authorities' acts invalid. He then sent Secretary of State William Seward the correspondence and the company's prospectus, arguing that its proposed transport of military supplies also raised an American neutrality question. [1]
The company's president, Eugene de Courcillon, answered through the New York press. He said his conversation with Juárez had concerned protection for the company's convoys and maintained that his business contract came from Maximilian. Romero forwarded this reply to Seward on 31 October. [2]
On 1 November, Ulysses S. Grant separately sent Seward the prospectus and press reports. Seward told Romero that American authorities would act against violations of United States laws, treaties, or international law. He confirmed that prosecuting officers had already received instructions and invited further information about the company. [3] [4]
Romero returned to the disputed claim in January 1866. He forwarded a reply from Foreign Minister Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, who said that Juárez denied ever meeting or corresponding with Courcillon. [5]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Matías Romero to William H. Seward, 27 October 1865, with enclosures
pp. 561-569; opening correspondence and enclosure 1
Romero to Seward, 27 October 1865, enclosure 1: Romero to the Mexican consul, 18 October; printed pp. 561-569
FRUS 1865, part III, document 537; Romero's signed note of 27 October and his 18 October instruction in enclosure 1
Romero to Seward, 27 October 1865, opening paragraphs and enclosure 1, dated 18 October; pp. 561-563
- Matías Romero to William H. Seward, 31 October 1865, enclosing Courcillon's reply
pp. 569-570
FRUS 1865, part III, document 538; Romero's signed covering note of 31 October, pp. 569-570
Romero to Seward, 31 October 1865, and enclosed Courcillon letter of 26 October; pp. 569-570
- William H. Seward to Matías Romero, 1 November 1865
p. 570, including postscript
Seward to Romero, 1 November 1865, final paragraph and postscript; printed p. 570
Seward to Romero, 1 November 1865, main reply and postscript; p. 570
- Ulysses S. Grant to William H. Seward, 1 November 1865
pp. 570-572; Grant's covering letter
Grant to Seward, 1 November 1865, opening paragraph; pp. 570-571
- Matías Romero to William Hunter, 28 January 1866, with the Mexican government's denial
pp. 574-575, covering note and second Lerdo de Tejada enclosure
Covering note dated 28 January 1866
Romero to Hunter, 28 January 1866, enclosing Lerdo de Tejada to Romero, 26 December 1865, second enclosure, final substantive paragraph; pp. 574-575
- French Intervention in Mexico and the American Civil War, 1862–1867
U.S. recognition of Juárez in 1859; Napoleon III and Maximilian; Seward's caution during the American Civil War
Related Reading
Cite This Article
Romero Challenges the Imperial Mexican Express Company. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record 40a33b35612d55ef3d74. https://chanceries.org/research/history/romero-imperial-mexican-express-company-1865/