Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/67

 serious campaign, with a view of driving back to the American frontier Juarez and his government, who were now installed in the capital of Nuevo Leon, about two hundred leagues from Mexico. Although always pursued, and always conquered, the president of the Mexican republic remained unshaken, and resolved never to let slip his lawful rights.

As a reward for their services, certain generals in our army found themselves calumniated to the sovereign, and the ministers, jealous of our well-merited influence, made themselves the mouthpieces in high quarters of the impassioned complaints emanating from certain hostile political prefects, who had taken care to nominate themselves in the provinces, so as to reserve a chance of safety for the future. In the month of September 1864, the charges which had been brought to the ears of the Empress Charlotte, whose ardent temper would probably be affected by them, redoubled the prevailing acrimony. The commander-in-chief, on being apprised of the matter, did not hesitate to address himself to the empress herself, and loyally denounced the intrigues of these high functionaries, as being both injurious to the dignity of the crown and to our reputation.

2em

To Her Majesty the Empress.

Madam,—The commander-in-chief again calls her majesty's attention to the complaints which he has several times been compelled to make against the exaggerated, not to say untrue, reports, made by functionaries high in the administration.

The military commandants act only under the direction of the commander-in-chief. The measures complained of, the fines imposed on the people at large, and even on individuals, have all been carried out by order and on established rules,