Reply #51: It's the other way around...

[Xipe Totec]

He helped the Confederacy to help himself.

To create a buffer zone, and to weaken the Union.

Divide and Conquer.

Nothing Altruistic about his motives.

And I'm sure that taking back the Louisiana Purchase was not too far from his mind either...

Grand Scheme for the Americas:

Napoleon III envisioned a "Grand Scheme for the Americas," which would consist of three general points. The first involved recognition of the Confederate States of America and a military alliance with them. The second involved reintroducing monarchical rule to Latin America, such as Maximillian I in Mexico, and increasing French trade throughout Latin America. The third and final point involved control over Mexico with the creation of a large buffer state from the Rio Grande to the Californian Baja.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_III