Letter from Paris.
important debate in the legislative Chamber on the Mexican question.[Correspondence of the Baltimore American.]
Paris, Tuesday, March 18, 1862.
The French Government has suddenly determined to send still another reinforcement to the army in Mexico.
The port of Tonton again resounds with the busy note of preparation.
On Saturday last the commander of the steam-frigate Seine, which was about to carry two regiments to received orders to land everything on board, and to be ready in six days to leave for Mexico with 300 men, 120 horses, and a thousand tons of war material.
Several large vessels are under orders for the same designation, and the general belief is that a second full brigade (,800) is to be sent out immediately.
Meantime the legislative discussion on paragraph 6th of the address throws some light on the intentions of the French in Mexico — I should have given in my letter of Friday a summary of the debate in question, but for the fact of our own affairs as discussed in the Chamber of Deputies, having accepted an entire letter.
The principal speakers on the Mexican intervention were Messrs Jabinal Favre, and one of the Emperor's Ministers, M. Billault. M. Jubinal hoped the French flag would speedily triumph in Mexico, but he was anxious to know the precise object of the expedition.
There had been rumors of an intention to overthrow Republican Government in that country, and to substitute in its place a Monarchy, with an Austrian or Belgian Prince, or a Spanish Princess, on the throne.
If such were the purpose of the Allies, the speaker protested against this violation of the principle of non-intervention, which, France and England had proclaimed and enforced in Europe.
A new nationality raised its flag on the palace of the Spanish Viceroy, in Mexico, in 1818, when the independence of the country was established.
That natonality still existed and ought not to be destroyed.
France struggled during four centuries before her unity was accomplished, and not fifty years had yet elapsed since Mexico entered the family of nations.
The actual Government appeared regular, and President Juarez would no doubt pay all just demands, if reasonable time were allowed him. Public opinion in France in favorable to Mexico, and the speaker trusted that France would not, by too much precipitation, lose the friendship of that country, or compromise the great principles of 1789.
M. Favre spoke on the amendment offered by himself and colleagues, the text of which I gave in a previous letter.
He defended the Mexicans, and stated that the French Government claim was only 759,000 francs, which would doubtless have been paid at once had France made her demand alone, instead of joining the hard Spaniards.
The private French claims amounted to between three and four millions of dollars, but the total debt certainly did not justify an expenditure of twenty or thirty millions of francs, in sending an army to Mexico.
M. Favre alluded to the reports afloat in relation to establishing a Mexican monarchy, and read a dispatch from Earl Cowley to Earl Russell, in which mention was made of the Archduke Maximilian for he contemplated throne.
Such were the pretensions on which the blood and treasure of France were lavished under pretext of avenging the wrongs of French subject.
What has taken place in Rome would occur in Mexico; a garrison must be maintained there, and when asked when the troops would be recalled the reply of Government would be: "We are waiting." A precise explanation as to the object of the expedition ought, therefore, to be given.
M. Bellault then spoke in behalf of the Government.
The war which France had declared against Mexico was as legitimate as any war could be. For many years the most shameful outrages have been committed on the French resident; their blood has been shed and their property confiscated.
Several Consuls have been imprisoned, and a Minister of France threatened.
Dignity and interest alike require that an end should be put to the violence and anarchy in Mexico.
Every effort has been made to come to an amicable arrangement, but ; each successive Government in Mexico has failed to fulfill its engagements.
Promises made one day were broken the next, and when the money laid a side for the payment of debts received a large sum, it had been pillaged by themselves.--War at length became necessary.
The Powers of Europe are alone on the subject of the New World, and it was to remove any suspicion other in sessions that France invited England and Spains to join her. The true motives of the expedition are set forth in the convention between the three Powers, which engross not to seek for any acquisition of territory and not to exercise any influence which might prevent the Mexican nation from freely choosing its own form of Government.
The United States had also been invited to take part in the expedition, but they have ulterior views, and the allied policy does not suit them.
The Minister denied that there was any intention to establish a monarchy in Mexico, contrary to the desire of the people.
The sovereignty of the popular will would no more be violated there than elsewhere.--The rumors which had occasioned the dispatch of the English ambassador to Earl Russell were without foundation, and the alarm of Earl was removed by an interview with M. Thouvenal.
To sum up, French interests called for war on Mexico, and it would be carried on with energy.
The Favre amendment was then voted down and the original paragraph subsequently adopted.
There were rumors current in Paris yesterday of Union disasters, and the Bourse was considerably influenced by them.
One story was that the Federal forces had been defeated at Columbus, and another that Gen. Banks's corps d'armes had been cut to pieces in Virginia.
It is pretended that this extraordinary intelligence come through private sources, but I am rather inclined to believe it the fruit of Bourse invention for purposes of speculation.
A late letter from Turin states that at the first grand diplomatic dinner, given by Ratazzi, the Minister of the United States proposed a toast to "the happiness and union of a divided people"--a sentiment supposed by those present to convey a double meaning.
Perhaps it did. 