Edward L. Plumb to William H. Seward, March 13, 1867

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have received to-day, under date of the 4th instant, from the consul at Matamoros, an extra of the official paper published at Monterey, Mexico, of the 28th ultimo, which contains a proclamation purporting to have been issued by Maximilian on placing himself at the head of his army, at Queretaro, on the 17th of February; and also what purports to be a formal representation, addressed by the French, Prussian, Spanish, Belgian, English, and Italian representatives in Mexico, to Maximilian, denouncing the president of his cabinet, D. Teodosio Lares, and the general-in-chief and second in command of his armies, Marquez and Miramon, and protesting against his placing power or trust in such hands; at the same time intimating that any farther struggle on his part to maintain his position will prove useless, and, in the interests of humanity, should be abandoned.

This latter document, if authentic, is of such importance that its text should be taken from some other source than an interior Mexican newspaper, and I send herewith the translation only as a matter of information in case the document in an official form shall not yet have reached the department.

I am, sir, with the highest respect, your most obedient servant,