In the midst of the rejoicings instigated by the jubilant conservatives after Maximilian's resumption of power,[1] news came that the United States envoys had arrived off Vera Cruz. They came with the impression that the emperor had departed, and were prepared to enter the country to meet Juarez, yet with a friendly spirit toward France. Finding matters different, they turned back at once.[2]
Maximilian left Orizaba for Mexico in the middle of December 24[3] lingering at Puebla for nearly three weeks, and taking steps above all for the campaign. The country was divided into three great military districts: the western, comprising the provinces north of Colima, including Durango and Chihuahua; the eastern, stretching from Aguascalientes and Tampico northward; and the central, embracing all the vast remainder to Chiapas. Miramon, who took command of the western district, had already set out to create his army, with little regard for the means to be employed, but Mejía in the east stood at the head of nearly 4,000 men; and Marquez, controlling the centre, had 4,000 under Mendez in Michoacan, and fully 2,000 at Puebla. Maximilian assumed the supreme command, and issued orders for the active formation of the new national army as well as militia, and for
that if Maximilian chose to remain, the French troops would stay according to the former terms fixed by Drouyn de Lhuys. This new resolution must therefore be attributed to the anger of Napoleon at Maximilian's stubborn opposition to his plans. The officials had already placed obstacles in the way of French efforts to assume control of the Vera Cruz custom-house, and protests and reprisals took place which seriously interfered with business. See observations in Diario Ofic., Jan. 7, 1867, and other dates, also in Ère Nouvelle, the French organ, and other journals. Several French writers condemned the forcible encroachment by their government on the few available resources of an empire which it had 'condemned to death.' See Kératry, Max., 273 et seq.; Détroyat, L'Interv., 293–4, etc.
- ↑ Attended by salvos, ringing of bells, illuminations, etc., greatly to Maximilian's annoyance, as Basch declares.
- ↑ Touching at Tampico, but failing to communicate with Juarez from the gulf coast. They arrived Nov. 29th, in the Susquehanna, and retired during the night of Dec. 21, after receiving friendly invitations from the French.
- ↑ On the 12th; yet with half an intention to let Orizaba remain the seat of government, or even to cross to Yucatan. Rivera, Hist. Jal., 1, 697. He was still preparing plans for improvements at Miramare. Busch, 153.
