John Bigelow to William H. Seward, April 10, 1866

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward

Sir: I bave the honor to transmit a copy of a communication received at this legation on the 28th ultimo from the minister of foreign affairs, and marked enclosure No. 1, in reference to certain steps taken by the consul at Marseilles for the distribution of a pamphlet emitled, Lois pour encourager l’emigration, pour la protection des passagers, et pour garantir un asile aux colonisateurs actuels, &c.

I immediately addressed the consul a communication, of which enclosure No. 2 is a copy, and in a few days received in reply enclosures Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

After a careful perusal of these documents, I addressed a communication, of which enclosure No. 8 is a copy, to the minister of foreign affairs. I made no comment upon the reasons assigned by the minister of the interior for refusing the application of our consul—

First. Because it was apparent from the whole tenor of the despatch that this government does not look with favor upon any efforts to induce emigration from France; and

Secondly. Because it was specially requested by my predecessor, Mr. Mason, as I have discovered in the course of my researches in the archives, to prohibit contracts being made in France with emigrants going to the United States, on account of the fraudulent abuses to which the practice often subjected them.

I think the recent political reaction of the emigrant population from Ireland against the mother country has had its influence in determining this goverment to guard itself against a similar inconvenience. I the more incline to this opinion from the gratuitous rigor with which naturalized Americans of French origin have, in repeated instances, been treated by the authorities here, under the pretext that they were liable to military service. I shall soon have occasion to invite your attention to a correspondence which has passed between this legation and the minister of foreign affairs upon this subject.

The brilliant reports which emigranes bring back from the country of their adoption, and which personal vanity often tempts them to exaggerate, have a very unsettling influence upon the minds of ignorant peasants, to whom they are generally addressed. It is not strange, therefore, that the police soon find some pretext for removing these eloquent apostles of democracy from the reach of those likely to be rendered discontented by their revelations.

I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,