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an opposition from the Government that seemed to imply an
understanding with Napoleon which was different from his own； he
withdrew his motion （in July）。 Once more the scale turned against
the Confederacy； and Gettysburg was supplemented by the seizure
of the Laird rams by the British authorities。 These events
explain the bitter turn given to Confederate feeling toward
England in the latter part of 1863。 On the 4th of August Benjamin
wrote to Mason that 〃the perusal of the recent debates in
'Parliament satisfies the President〃 that Mason's 〃continued
residence in London is neither conducive to the interests nor
consistent with the dignity of this government；〃 and directed him
to withdraw to Paris。
Confederate feeling； as it cooled toward England； warmed toward
France。 Napoleon's Mexican scheme； including the offer of a
ready…made imperial crown to Maximilian； the brother of the
Emperor of Austria； was fully understood at Richmond； and with
Napoleon's need of an American ally； Southern hope revived。 It
was further strengthened by a pamphlet which was translated and
distributed in the South as a newspaper article under the title
France； Mexico； and the Confederate States。 The reputed author；
Michel Chevalier； was an imperial senator； another member of the
Napoleon ring； and highly trusted by his shifty master。 The
pamphlet； which emphasized the importance of Southern
independence as a condition of Napoleon's 〃beneficent aims〃 in
Mexico； was held to have been inspired； and the imperial denial
was regarded as a mere matter of form。
What appeared to be significant of the temper of the Imperial
Government was a decree of a French court in the case of certain
merchants who sought to recover insurance on wine dispatched to
America and destroyed in a ship taken by the Alabama。 Their plea
was that they were insured against loss by 〃pirates。〃 The court
dismissed their suit and assessed costs against them。 Further
evidence of Napoleon's favor was the permission given to the
Confederate cruiser Florida to repair at Brest and even to make
use of the imperial dockyard。 The very general faith in
Napoleon's promises was expressed by Davis in his message to
Congress in December： 〃Although preferring our own government and
institutions to those of other countries； we can have no
disposition to contest the exercise by them of the same right of
self…government which we assert for ourselves。 If the Mexican
people prefer a monarchy to a republic； it is our plain duty
cheerfully to acquiesce in their decision and to evince a sincere
and friendly interest in their prosperity。。。。 The Emperor of
the French has solemnly disclaimed any purpose to impose on
Mexico a form of government not acceptable to the nation。。。。〃
In January； 1864； hope of recognition through support of
Napoleon's Mexican policy moved the Confederate Congress to adopt
resolutions providing for a Minister to the Mexican Empire and
giving him instructions with regard to a presumptive treaty。 To
the new post Davis appointed General William Preston。
But what； while hope was springing high in America； was taking
place in France？ So far as the world could say； there was little
if anything to disturb the Confederates； and yet； on the horizon；
a cloud the size of a man's hand had appeared。 M。 Arman had
turned to another member of the Legislative Assembly； a sound
Bonapartist like himself； M。 Voruz； of Nantes； to whom he had
sublet a part of the Confederate contract。 The truth about the
ships and their destination thus became part of the archives of
the Voruz firm。 No phase of Napoleonic intrigue could go very far
without encountering dishonesty； and to the confidential clerk of
M。 Voruz there occurred the bright idea of doing something for
himself with this valuable diplomatic information。 One fine day
the clerk was missing and with him certain papers。 Then there
ensued a period of months during which the firm and their
employers could only conjecture the full extent of their loss。
In reality； from the Confederate point of view； everything was
lost。 Again the episode becomes too complex to be followed in
detail。 Suffice it to say that the papers were sold to the United
States； that the secret was exposed； that the United States made
a determined assault upon the Imperial Government。 In the midst
of this entanglement； Slidell lost his head； for hope deferred
when apparently within reach of its end is a dangerous councilor
of state。 In his extreme anxiety； Slidell sent to the Emperor a
note the blunt rashness of which the writer could not have
appreciated。 Saying that he feared the Emperor's subordinates
might play into the hands of Washington； he threw his fat in the
fire by speaking of the ships as 〃now being constructed at
Bordeaux and Nantes for the government of the Confederate States〃
and virtually claimed of Napoleon a promise to let them go to
sea。 Three days later the Minister of Foreign Affairs took him
sharply to task because of this note； reminding him that 〃what
had passed with the Emperor was confidential〃 and dropping the
significant hint that France could not be forced into war by
〃indirection。〃 According to Slidell's version of the interview
〃the Minister's tone changed completely〃 when Slidell replied
with 〃a detailed history of the affair showing that the idea
originated with the Emperor。〃 Perhaps the Minister knew more than
he chose to betray。 From this hour the game was up。 Napoleon's
purpose all along seems to have been quite plain。 He meant to
help the South to win by itself； and； after it had won； to use it
for his own advantage。 So precarious was his position in Europe
that he dared not risk an American war without England's aid； and
England had cast the die。 In this way； secrecy was the condition
necessary to continued building of the ships。 Now that the secret
was out； Napoleon began to shift his ground。 He sounded the
Washington Government and found it suspiciously equivocal as to
Mexico。 To silence the French republicans； to whom the American
minister had supplied information about the ships； Napoleon tried
at first muzzling the press。 But as late as February； 1864； he
was still carrying water on both shoulders。 His Minister of
Marine notified the builders that they must get the ships out of
France； unarmed； under fictitious sale to some neutral country。
The next month； reports which the Confederate commissioners sent
home became distinctly alarming。 Mann wrote from Brussels：
〃Napoleon has enjoined upon Maximilian to hold no official
relations with our commissioners in Mexico。〃 Shortly after this
Slidell received a shock that was the beginning of the end：
Maximilian； on passing through Paris on his way to Mexico；
refused to receive him。
The Mexican project was now being condemned by all classes in
France。 Nevertheless； the Government was trying to float a
Mexican loan； and it is hardly fanciful to think that on this
loan the last hope of the Confederacy turned。 Despite the popular
attitude toward Mexico； the loan was going well when the House of
Representatives of the United States dealt the Confederacy a
staggering blow。 It passed unanimous resolutions in the most grim
terms； denouncing the substitution of monarchical for republican
government in Mexico under European auspices。 When this action
was reported in France； the Mexican loan collapsed。
Napoleon's Italian policy was now moving rapidly toward the
crisis which it reached during the following summer when he
surrendered to the opposition and promised to withdraw the French
troops from Rome。 In May； when the loan collapsed； there was
nothing for it but to throw over his dear friends of the
Confederacy。 Presently he had summoned Arman before him； 〃rated
him severely；〃 and ordered him to make bona fide sales of the
ships to neutral powers。 The Minister of Marine professed
surprise and indignation at Arman's trifling with the neutrality
of the Imperial Government。 And that practically was the end of
the episode。
Equally complete was the breakdown of the Confederate
negotiations with Mexico。 General Preston was refused
recognition。 In those fierce days of July when the fate of
Atlanta was in the balance； the pride and despair of the
Confederate Government flared up in a haughty letter to Preston
reminding him that 〃it had never been the intention of this
Government to offer any arguments to the new Government of Mexico
。。。nor to place itself in any attitude other than that of
complete equality；〃 and directing him to make no further
overtures to the Mexican Emperor。
And then came the debacle in Georgia。 On that same 20th of
September when Benjamin poured out in a letter to Slidell his
stored…up bitterness denouncing Napoleon； Davis； feeling the last
crisis was upon him； left Richmond to join the army in Georgia。
His frame of mind he had already expressed when he said； 〃We have
no friends abroad。〃
Chapter IX。 Desperate Remedies
The loss of Atlanta was the signal for another conflict of
authority within the Confederacy。 Georgia was now in the
condition in which Alabama had found herself in the previous
year。 A great mobile army of invaders lay encamped on her