At Cabinet-meeting
General Grant came in to press upon the government the importance of taking
decisive measures in favor of the republic of Mexico. Thought that Maximilian
and the French should be warned to leave. Said the Rebels were crossing the Rio
Grande and entering the imperial service. Their purpose would be to provoke
differences, create animosity, and precipitate hostilities. Seward was emphatic
in opposition to any movement. Said the Empire was rapidly perishing, and, if
let alone, Maximilian would leave in less than six months, perhaps in sixty
days, whereas, if we interfered, it would prolong his stay and the Empire also.
Seward acts from intelligence, Grant from impulse.
Seward submitted a
paper drawn up by himself, favorable to the purchase of Ford's Theatre to be
devoted to religious purposes. Governor Dennison, who sometimes catches quickly
at schemes, expressed his readiness to sign this, but no others concurred, and
it was dropped.
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