"Now, gentlemen," said Captain Roe, "those are my written orders, and I give you my word that I have none unwritten."
Captain Aynesley immediately jumped up, exclaiming that his were practically the same, and he produced them. The French officer made a similar reply, regretting that he had not brought his with him. They were all there on the same mission; the fact that the governments of all but the American had acknowledged the Empire in Mexico in place of the Republic did not materially influence the main object of their presence, which was to simply watch over the interests of their individ- .
"Given at Mexico, the 9th day of July, 1866."
And whereas The decree thus recited, by declaring a belligerent blockade, unsupported by competent military or naval force, is a violation of the neutral rights of the United States as defined by the law of nations, as well as of the treaties existing between the United States of America and the aforesaid United States of Mexico. Now, therefore, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare that the aforesaid decree is held and will be held by the United States to be absolutely null and void as against the government and citizens of the United States, and that any attempt which shall be made to enforce the same against the government and citizens of the United States will be disallowed.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, the 17th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1866, and of the independence of the United States of America the ninety-first.
By the President.
Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.
This proclamation defined to Captain Roe the position taken by the United States in regard to the war in Mexico.