The Writings of Carl Schurz/To Secretary Seward, November 16th, 1861
TO SECRETARY SEWARD
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, Nov. 16, 1861.
Sir: The English papers which went to America by last mail have probably already informed you that, instead of General Serrano, General Prim has been placed at the head of the Spanish expedition to Mexico. As soon as the appointment was determined upon, I endeavored to inform myself of the causes and the significance of this change of program and will give you the result of my investigations.
General Prim is a very important man in this kingdom. He occupies a high position and sustains it with considerable talent. As a military leader he excels by his address and the brilliancy of his exploits. His popularity is as great with the people as his prestige is in the army. His instincts are liberal, and the political opinions he professes identify him with the Progressista party. He is generous and frank, and his character is somewhat of the romantic turn. But he is supposed to be very impressionable and apt to shape his course according to circumstances. His elevation to the position of a grandee of Spain is said to have had some influence upon his way of thinking, as it certainly had upon his social relations. In his private life he is magnificent in the extreme, princely in his expenditures, careless in the administration of his affairs, apt to run recklessly into debt and almost always sadly in want of money. A few years ago he married a Mexican lady of great wealth, spent her available means in a marvellously short time and is now overburdened with enormous pecuniary liabilities. These are his elements of strength and of weakness. I have been thus minute in the description of the man, because his character may determine the nature of his operations in Mexico.
His appointment to the leadership of the expedition is differently explained. I had a conversation with the Chief of the Progressista party, Mr. Olozaga, who thought that England had made certain concessions to Spain in stipulating the program of action of the three powers on the express condition that General Prim be placed at the head of the enterprise—because Prim had made a very strong speech in the Spanish Senate against the Clerical rule in Mexico some two years ago and would now be likely not to favor the intrigues of the party he then had so emphatically denounced. This, however, plausible as it may seem, was not confirmed by what Sir John Crampton subsequently told me. The latter professes to be entirely ignorant of such an arrangement and thinks that Lord John Russell knows probably very little of General Prim and his political opinions. It is likely that French influence has had more to do with General Prim's appointment. He is known to be a great favorite at the Tuileries and in intimate relations with the French Ambassador here.
Another explanation of this event was given me by one of the principal leaders of the Moderado party. Prim, he said, was so overwhelmed with financial embarrassments that something had to be done for him or he would do something for himself. The Government feared that Prim, pressed by his necessities, might some day place himself at the head of a few regiments, issue a pronunciamiento, call the people to arms and upset the Cabinet and the dynasty together. Prim was not only capable of doing such things, but his popularity furnished him also the means for doing them. The Government, therefore, in order to get rid of a very dangerous man, had placed him at the head of an expedition which would remove him from the country and at the same time give him an opportunity for filling his pockets. This somewhat uncharitable explanation, although coming from an opponent of General Prim and undoubtedly colored a little by party feeling, may be not quite unfounded as far as the views of the Government are concerned; for it is currently believed that Spanish generals are somewhat unsafe persons when out of funds. It is by no means unlikely that the Government, after having undertaken the Mexican expedition in order to relieve itself of a political embarrassment, should have seen itself forced, in order to relieve itself of another embarrassment, to place the same expedition under the control of a man whom it is exceedingly difficult to govern.
Last night I had a long conversation with General Prim himself. He expressed himself with that frankness which is one of his characteristic qualities, and I will give you the substance of what he said. He assured me that he would use all his power to insure to the Mexican people full liberty in arranging their own affairs. He considered it absurd to think of the establishment of a monarchy in Mexico; all the traditions of the people were republican and he was sure there were but few Mexicans who seriously thought of introducing monarchical institutions. He knew well that the misfortunes and the demoralization of the Mexican people were largely owing to the influence of the clergy, and this conviction would not be without influence upon his actions. He would endeavor to secure to the Mexican people a fair opportunity to express their will at the ballot-box and then with his whole power sustain the Government of their choice, whatever party might carry the day. As between Miramon and Juarez, he was in favor of Juarez, and he believed that at a fair election a majority of the people would be on Juarez's side.
I remarked that, according to Mr. Calderon's statements, the three powers were not in favor of calling a constitutional convention or taking a vote of the people. The General seemed surprised and gave me clearly to understand that he did not care very much what the Government might think of it, and that, as he was the political as well as the military head of the expedition, he would act as he thought best. He had been a liberal all his life and would be as true to his principles in Mexico as he had been in Spain; he would not have accepted the command of the expedition, if he were not permitted to play a generous and disinterested part in the business.
I thought it proper to inform the General of the offer of mediation, made by the United States through me to the Spanish Government, and explained to him the views expressed by you in your despatch on that subject. I informed him further, that the United States had undoubtedly great influence with the Juarez Government, and that, if our good offices were accepted now or at a subsequent stage of the proceedings, great complications might be avoided and all difficulties settled in an amicable manner; I had made that suggestion to Mr. Calderon but received no satisfactory answer.
The General replied that nothing would afford him greater pleasure than to operate in good understanding with the United States; the great American Republic had his hearty sympathy; he loved her institutions and esteemed her people, and if her Government would do anything to bring about a satisfactory solution of the difficulties under which Mexico now was laboring, he would meet it with a corresponding spirit. It was his object to do what might be best for the liberty and independence of the Mexican people, and he would be obliged to me if I would inform my Government of what he had said.
Permit me a few remarks as a commentary to this conversation. I have taken pains to obtain the most reliable information about General Prim's character and views, and according to the opinion I have thus formed, I am convinced that he was perfectly sincere in what he said at the time when he said it. But he is versatile and changeable and, therefore, not absolutely to be relied upon. But about two things there is no doubt: first, his impulses are thoroughly liberal and he will act accordingly unless biased by his material interests; and, second, he feels his power and importance, does not entertain a very high regard for the present Government and is naturally inclined to act as he pleases. He is not inaccessible to flattery, feels proud of having a great political task as signed to him, will please himself in the part of a great pacificator and restorer of the liberty and independence of an unfortunate nation and will by no means be disinclined to listen to overtures made to him directly by the Government of a great and powerful country. He is not quite unknown to the Mexicans. He has spent some time in Mexico and has, by his wife, great property interests there and extensive family connections.
What I wrote to you in my despatch No. 22, the receipt of which, to my surprise, has not yet been acknowledged, is confirmed by information subsequently obtained. The demonstrations in favor of the Spanish flag made by one of the insurgent generals in Mexico seem to indicate what influences are at work there. As to the candidates for the Mexican throne, whose merits and chances are canvassed at Court, there seems to be a discrepancy of opinion. Don Sebastian was most freely spoken of while the Court was at La Granja; but a few days ago one of the Government journals stated that the Mexican throne would be occupied not by a Spanish prince, but by a prince who would marry a Spanish princess. It would seem that the aspirations of this Court have not received the anticipated encouragement from the Governments of France and England, and it is possible that the Queen is endeavoring to reconcile discordant interests by some family alliance. She is said to be in search of a throne for her daughter, the Infanta Isabel, and this circumstance has probably given rise to the mysterious statement of the above-mentioned journal.
But the wishes of the Court will probably be considered as of secondary importance by General Prim, especially if the right influences be brought to bear upon him. With regard to the manner in which this might be accomplished I beg leave to offer a suggestion. Mr. Corwin will probably be confined by his duties to the City of Mexico, at a large distance from that part of the country which, at the beginning of operations at least, will be the principal field of action. The United States will, as you have informed me, send a little squadron to the Mexican waters for the purpose of watching the proceedings of the three Powers. Would it not be possible to attach to that squadron a diplomatic agent? I have no doubt, if you select a person of ability, sufficient knowledge of human nature, good social qualities and conversational powers, who speaks Spanish or French fluently, and instruct him to attach himself to the person of General Prim, he will not remain without influence upon the course of events. General Prim informs me that he intended to visit the United States after his Mexican campaign, and it is very probable that he will endeavor to make himself agreeable to the American people.