Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/327

Rh In order to sound him, Escobedo expressed his readiness to listen to any proposals; whereupon Maximilian offered to officially abdicate the crown of Mexico, to promise never to meddle in Mexican affairs, and to order his armies to lay down their arms and surrender all strongholds, on condition of being escorted to Vera Cruz, all foreign prisoners also to be sent to this port for embarkation. His Mexican adherents he recommended to the generosity of the government. No answer to these proposals was returned; but on the following day appeared an order from the minister of war to arraign the 'so-called' emperor and his two leading abettors, the 'so-called' generals Miramon and Mejía, before a court-martial, in accordance with the bloody decree issued by Juarez on January 25, 1862, against traitors and invaders. This in itself was equivalent to a death sentence. Time had above all to be gained; and to this end Maximilian addressed Juarez for a postponement to allow the selected lawyers to arrive from Mexico. He also asked for an interview, wherein he hoped to make an impression. The former request was granted, after some hesitation, but the president declined to enter into any direct communications.

From the first, friendly republican officers had expressed the view that their government was obdurate; and the order coming for a court-martial, the project of escape was pressed upon the emperor. At first he objected to so undignified a proceeding, but finally yielded, on condition that Miramon and Mejía should not be left behind. It was argued that as Juarez had refused to admit the conditions under which they