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allied expedition of France, England, and Spain, which, assuming pretexts utterly insufficient and unjust, disembarked at Vera Cruz, in December, 1861.
When the English and Spanish Generals and Commissioners, after having resided some time in Mexico, saw that the state of things in that country was entirely different from what the Church party emissaries had represented to their respective Governments, they decided without hesitation to withdraw, with their forces, from the country; and so clear to them was the deception practiced upon their Governments, that they took the delicate step of withdrawing from the alliance of their own accord, without consulting with their superiors, and without waiting for instructions from their Governments, although acting in an affair so full of difficulties and of ulterior complications.
We have thus reached the actual situation in Mexico; and under this head it will be necessary to say a few words more.
The French army did not retire from Mexico, with the armies of England and of Spain, for the French Government had other objects in view, and it was fully determined to accomplish them. The Emperor of the French believed at that time, and perhaps he still believes, that the United States were permanently divided, and that circumstances might take such a shape as to afford him the opportunity of acquiring Texas, of recovering Louisiana, and of possessing the mouth of the Mississippi.
To accomplish this end, it was necessary to obtain a
