WASHINGTON, Dec. 3,
1866.
Dear Brother: . . .
I was heartily glad you got out of the War Department. The mission to Mexico is
a very honorable one, and with your views on "annexation" is a very
safe one for the country. We all hope that the French will go out, and that you
will keep the United States out. We want as little to do with Mexico
politically as possible, and as much trade with her as is profitable. She is terribly
in need of a strong government, and if her mixed population would elect you or
some other firm military ruler as emperor or king, it would be lucky for her,
but a bad business for the elected one. I have never seen the elements of a
stable government in Mexico, but she has physical resources that might, under a
firm ruler, make her the second power in America. Self-government is out of the
question. The worst enemies of Mexico are her own mixed, ignorant population.
If Maximilian could have held on, he would have secured them physical
prosperity; but sooner or later the pride of our people aroused against
European intervention would have got us into a quarrel with him. It is
therefore best that he leave. What you can do for or with Mexico we will see.
Your military reputation and aptitude with all classes may help to bring order
out of chaos. . . .
Your reception at
Havana must have been grateful, and the whole Mexican trip will no doubt close
agreeably for you a year of trials and ovations. If they don't make you emperor
down there, we will welcome you back as the "republicanizer" of the
worst anarchy on the globe. If you establish Juarez, come away by all means in
hot haste before the next pronunciamiento.
As for domestic
matters, Congress meets to-morrow, very much irritated at the President. As for
Butler or impeachment, you need not fear we shall follow the one, or attempt
the other. Johnson ought to acquiesce in the public judgment, agree to the
amendment, and we shall have peace. The personal feeling grows out of the
wholesale removal of good Union men from office. Campbell is as responsible for
this as any man in Ohio; while I was under a cloud for being friendly to
Johnson and absent from the State, they turned out all my special friends and
put in Copperheads.
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