第 30 节
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飘雪的季节 更新:2021-02-17 23:32 字数:9322
have him arrested on American soil。 Colonel Sedgwick; commanding at
Brownsville; was now temporary master of Matamoras also; by reason of
having stationed some American troops there for the protection of
neutral merchants; so when Ortega appeared at Brazos; Sedgwick
quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was
turned over to General Escobedo; the authorized representative of
Juarez; then Escobedo took charge; of Ortega; and with ease prevented
his further machinations。
During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying
arms and ammunition to the Liberalssending as many as 30;000
muskets from Baton Rouge Arsenal aloneand by mid…summer Juarez;
having organized a pretty good sized army; was in possession of the
whole line of the Rio Grande; and; in fact; of nearly the whole of
Mexico down to San Louis Potosi。 Then thick and fast came rumors
pointing to the tottering condition of Maximilian's Empire…first;
that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were being fortified; then; that the
French were to be withdrawn; and later came the intelligence that the
Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg assistance from Napoleon; the
author of all of her husband's troubles。 But the situation forced
Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers。 The brokenhearted
woman besought him on her knees; but his fear of losing an army made
all pleadings vain。 In fact; as I ascertained by the following
cablegram which came into my hands; Napoleon's instructions for the
French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic
scene between him and Carlotta。 The despatch was in cipher when I
received it; but was translated by the telegraph operator at my
headquarters; who long before had mastered the key of the French
cipher:
〃PARIS; January 10; 1867。 FRENCH CONSUL; New Orleans; La。
〃To GENERAL CASTELNAU; at Mexico。
〃Received your despatch of the 9th December。 Do not compel the
Emperor to abdicate; but do not delay the departure of the troops;
bring back all those who will not remain there。 Most of the fleet
has left。
〃NAPOLEON。〃
This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French。 The rest of the
storywhich has necessarily been but in outlineis soon told。
Maximilian; though deserted; determined to hold out to the last; and
with the aid of disloyal Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring。
When taken prisoner at Queretaro; he was tried and executed under
circumstances that are well known。 From promptings of humanity
Secretary Seward tried hard to save the Imperial prisoner; but
without success。 The Secretary's plea for mercy was sent through me
at New Orleans; and to make speed I hired a steamer to proceed with
it across the Gulf to Tampico。 The document was carried by Sergeant
White; one of my scouts; who crossed the country from Tampico; and
delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr。 Seward's
representations were without availrefused probably because little
mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to
fall into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his
Empire。
At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of
Mexico。 Indeed; till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande
there was none。 Our appearance in such force along the border
permitted the Liberal leaders; refugees from their homes; to
establish rendezvous whence they could promulgate their plans in
safety; while the countenance thus given the cause; when hope was
well…nigh gone; incited the Mexican people to renewed resistance。
Beginning again with very scant means; for they had lost about all;
the Liberals saw their cause; under the influence of such significant
and powerful backing; progress and steadily grow so strong that
within two years Imperialism had received its death…blow。 I doubt
very much whether such; results could have been achieved without the
presence of an American army on the Rio Grande; which; be it
remembered; was sent there because; in General Grant's words; the
French invasion of Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as
to be essentially a part of it。
CHAPTER X。
A。 J。 HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXASASSEMBLES A
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONTHE TEXANS DISSATISFIEDLAWLESSNESS
OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATIONEX…CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING LOUISIANAA
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONTHE MEETING SUPPRESSEDA BLOODY RIOTMY
REPORTS OF THE MASSACREPORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON
SUSTAINED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEETHE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS。
Although in 1865…66 much of my attention was directed to
international matters along the Rio Grande; the civil affairs of
Texas and Louisiana required a certain amount of military supervision
also in the absence of regularly established civil authority。 At the
time of Kirby Smith's surrender the National Government had
formulated no plan with regard to these or the other States lately in
rebellion; though a provisional Government had been set up in
Louisiana as early as 1864。 In consequence of this lack of system;
Governor Pendleton Murray; of Texas; who was elected under
Confederate rule; continued to discharge the duties of Governor till
President Johnson; on June 17; in harmony with his amnesty
proclamation of May 29; 1865; appointed A。 J。 Hamilton provisional
Governor。 Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a
Constitutional convention; the delegates to which were to be elected;
under certain prescribed qualifications; for the purpose of
organizing the political affairs of the State; the Governor to be
guided by instructions similar to those given the provisional
Governor of North Carolina (W。 W。 Holden); when appointed in May。
The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among
the people of Texas。 They had assumed that affairs were to go on as
of old; and that the reintegration of the State was to take place
under the administration of Governor Murray; who; meanwhile; had
taken it upon himself; together with the Legislature; to authorize
the election of delegates to a State Convention; without restriction
as to who should be entitled to vote。 Thus encouraged; the element
but lately in armed rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the
State to the Union without any intervention whatever of the Federal
Government; but the advent of Hamilton put an end to such illusions;
since his proclamation promptly disfranchised the element in
question; whose consequent disappointment and chagrin were so great
as to render this factor of the community almost uncontrollable。 The
provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of Governor Murray;
prohibited the assembling of his convention; and shortly after
called; one himself; the delegates to which were to b chosen by
voters who could take the amnesty…oath。 The proclamation convening
this assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in
governing the State until its affairs were satisfactorily
reorganized; defined in brief the course to be followed by the
Judiciary; and provided for the appointment; by the Governor; of
county officials to succeed those known to be disloyal。 As this
action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could not take the amnesty
oath; and of course deprived them of the offices; it met at once with
pronounced and serious opposition; and he quickly realized that he
had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored people;
particularly as in the transition state of society just after the
close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness; which vented
itself chiefly on the freedmen。 It was greatly feared that political
rights were to be given those so recently in servitude; and as it was
generally believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race
war unless the freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of
subjection; acts of intimidation were soon reported from all parts of
the State。
Hamilton; an able; determined; and fearless man; tried hard to curb
this terrorism; but public opinion being strong against him; he could
accomplish little without military aid。 As department commander; I
was required; whenever called upon; to assist his government; and as
these requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent; the
result was that shortly after he assumed his duties; detachments of
troops were stationed in nearly every county of the State。 By such
disposition of my forces fairly good order was maintained under the
administration of Hamilton; and all went well till the inauguration
of J。 W。 Throckmorton; who; elected Governor in pursuance of an
authorization granted by the convention which Hamilton had called
together; assumed the duties of the office August 9; 1866。
One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal
or non…interference of the military。 This was not all granted; but
under his ingenious persuasion Presi