The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-15 00:00:00

I—This Day.

Letter of the Emperor Maximilian of

Mexico.

PARIS, July 13.
The last French mail from Mexico brings the
following letter, addressed by the Emperor Maxi-
milian to the new Minister of the Interior, Senor
Esteva, tracing out the programme which his
Majesty desires him to follow :
" Puebla, June 7, 1865.
" My dear Minister Esteva,—Confiding in your
intelligence and patriotism, I have to-day appointed
you my Minister of the Interior. You will under-
take a difficult task, and it cannot be doubted that
you will have to coritend against many obstacles.
To triumph over all you will have to act with jus-
tice, firmness, and the most complete impartiality,
thus following the line of policy pursued by the
empire.

" The work of the empire and its most sacred
duty is to unite all parties, since it is only in union
that we shall find the strength to be independent,
and to develope all the material and physical gifts
with which God has endowed our beautiful country.
" With me I expect you to use the most sincere
candour. Never disguise from me the faults that
my Government may commit, nor the desires of the
people, based upon justice.
" With your subordinates you will always be firm,
and you will compel them to follow the same course
of justice and impartiality. You will check and
punish them if they deviate from this line of conduct
and act with partiality or caprice.
" One of your most essential duties will be to
produce uniformity throughout the country in the
course of government, and the development of the
administration as of the unity of principles. Very
precise instructions in this sense will be ncessary for
all the departments.
"To put these instructions into practice you will
have to seek capable and loyal men, wholly devoted
to the new principles, in order to place them at the
head of the departments. If you have good pre-
fects matters will proceed immediately with regula-
rity, and we shall see the spirit of the Government
extend into the most distant districts.

;(3 you.

" Once good chiefs are placed at all points, it
will be easy for you, by uniting the good regula-
tions already existing, and adding those yet defi-
cient, to establish a complete and universal system
of political administration.

"It is a grave fault on the part of the Govern-
ment officers to act under the sole guidance of their
goodwill, and not upon previously fixed principles;
this fault ought to be checked as soon as possible,
for goodwill constitutes a rather dangerous state of
things, and affords no durable guarantee to the
governed.

" I also call your attention to another essential
point in political life, that is, 'a good and definite
municipal organisation.

" After individual liberty, which is ordinarily
the principle of the development of sound liberty, a
just municipal self-government benefits the people
and extends political spirit. An evil'under which
all our municipal districts are suffering is the com-
plete want of resources. Hence the decadence of

our magnificent cities
sand the desertion of our vil-
lages. The settlement of this question will be a
great step towards bettering the condition of our

country. I request you, therefore, to lay before
me, as soon as possible, propositions to that effect.
..

" You will propose to me henceforth the recom-
pences merited by the prefects, sub-prefects, and
alcades in the departments and districts where in-
dividual security and public order is best preserved,
in order to extirpate the terrible scourge of the
bands of malefactors who, under a political banner,
are the greatest evil afflicting our dear country.
" Tell your subalterns also that with such there
must be no compromise. It is an evil which must

be cut off at the root, without any compassion.
That it is possible and easy to accomplish this has
already been proved to us in those departments
. _

presided over by intelligent and energetic prefects

—I am, &c.,

6 MAXIMILIAN."

Railway Traffic Returns for the Week,

Mlles Opened.
Railways: ,--

Receipts.

1805.

18C5 1864
2,Z89 1.V13
1,131 1, 13
2,631 2,112
7,016 6,885
19,173 18,891
2,399 1,779
41k -
331 273
423 407

rim SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 165.

East Surrey Election.

Mr. PEEK said he had been asked the following question
in writing:—" Her Majesty's Government having reduced
the duty upon tea, are you prepared to support a measure
to reduce her Majesty's income according to the consump-
tion of the article in the royal establishments? " (Laugh-
ter.) Ho begged to inform the querist that he was not
prepared to do anything of the kind.
No other gentlemen being proposed,
Mr. W. L' 'ILL, jun., moved, and Mr. DIVES seconded,
the following resolution :—" That having heard the ad-
dresses of the Hoa. W. Brodrick and Mr. Henry W. Peek,
it is the opinion of this meeting that they are fit and proper
persons to represent this constituency in Parliament."
Carried by general acclamation.
The proceedings then terminated by a resolution of
thanks to the chairman.

EX-PRESIDENT BUCIIANAN, who is, perhaps, more
unpopular just now in the Northern States of America than
even Jefferson Davis, is about to publish a history of his
administration.—The Reader.

Last evening a largo and influential meeting of the elec-,
tors of East Surrey was held at the Lammas Hall, Batter-
sea, the objects being to hear the addresses of the Conser-
vative candidates, and their political views upon the leading
topics of the day. Amongst tho gentlemen on the platform
were Sir George Pollock, Mr. Cazenove, Mr. Whiting, Mr.
Burney, Mr. Dines, &c.
Mr. W. Baker having been called to the chair, introduced
to the meeting the Hon. W. Brodrick and Mr. Henry W.
Peek, as the Conservative candidates for the representation
of the eastern division of the county of Surrey in the new
Parliament. They were received with the most enthusias-
tic acclamation.
Mr. Brodrick then proceeded to address the electors in
an eloquent an argumentative speech. lie said from the
first moment the Conservative party did him and his
friend Mr. Peek the honour of selecting them as the chosen
candidates for the representation of East Surrey in Parlia-
ment their object had been one alone, and that was to
win. They did not, however, think that they were likely
to win if they came before the constituents without pre-
viously acquainting them with the circumstances under
which they asked for their suffrages, and telling them
something about the results of their canvass which they
had now successfully completed. (Cheers.) They had
gone into every division of this great constituency, and
endeavoured to make acquaintance with the constituency
in such a way as to afford them every opportunity to put
any questions to the candidates they pleased. It was
their wish to visit the electors personally, and it was their
intention, if they were sent to Parliament, to know every
one of them, and to do all in their power to promote their
interests. In this respect they intended to take a directly
opposite course to that followed by their late member, Mr.
Locke King, who never thought it necessary to communi-
cate wi them for the whole six years he was supposed to
represat them in Parliament. Their political opponents
were not enabled to lay hold of anything in Con-
servative addresses to find fault with, Mr. Locke
King merely observing that ho could not understand
them. Well, there were none so blind as those
that would not see. He (Mr. Brodrick) would
take care to express his political views so clearly that the
dullest comprehension could not fail to understand them.
Ho would take two questions that appeared to agitate the
public mind very much. The ballot was one of them.
Surely it could not be said that either he or his colleague
had spoken with any ambiguity or uncertainty on that
point, although Mr. Locke King and Mr. Buxton shirked
that question when put to them at the Clapham meeting.
They (the Conservative candidates) told them distinctly
that they were opposed to the ballot (Cheers.) They would
never vote for a measure that would enable any English-
man to sneak to the poll with a secret vote, to give the
general impression that he had voted one way, and then to
go home to his family and friends and tell them that ho had
voted another way altogether. The next question for
consideration was that of reform—a qnestion which had
been meddled with in every possible way by every Govern-
ment that had held power for the last twenty years. Mr.
R. Lowe, once an eminent member of the present adminis-
tration, summed up the whole case regarding the ques-
tion of reform in a most argumentative and conclusive
speech. The object of those who advocated reform was
evidently to establish the superiority of mere numbers over
wealth, intelligence, and education. Ho did not moan to
say that the English constitution was absolutely perfect,
any more than any other human institution. So far from
it, he thought the electoral franchise might be extended in
one or two points. For example, it appeared to him that
the franchise might properly be extended to the class of
lodgers many of whcm paid £4O to £5O, and even £lOO a
year. If any practical measure to embrace that class within
the sphere of the constitution were brought forward he
should be willing to support it. He was certainly opposed
to any attempt to lower the franchise, although ho most
heartily wished to see somo of the working classes within
the pale of the franchise—he meant that class that com-
prised sober, industrious, and saving men. But these mon, if
they pleased, could secure a vote under the present system.
A person residing outside a borough, having saved £5O,
might invest that sum in a freehold land society, whore he
would get bettor interest than in the savings bank, and at
the same time obtain the qualification entitling him to vote
for a representative in Parliament. And it was still easier
for a man living in a borough to obtain the franchise. He
(Mr. Brodrick) joined issue with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer when he called the franchise a right to be exercised,
and not a privilege. He considered it to be a premium for the
industrious, intelligent, and sober man, and not a gift to be
thrown away on every reckless drunkard. He had the
highest respect for Lord Palmerston, but not for his Govern-
ment. The noble lord had shown himself to be one of the
best Conservatives by the tact and ability with which he had
conducted the affairs of the country for the last throe years,
at all events. But Lord Palmerston was now an old man and
it was impossible that he could live many years longer, to
guide the destinies of this great country. Who was to suc-
ceed him ? He (Mr. Brodrick) never would support such
a shifting politician as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Ho could never follow a statesman who avowed himself in
favour of Paine's "Rights of Man," and an enemy to the
Irish Church. He could not give his adhesion to such a
man as Earl Russell, who deluded Poland and deserted the
Danes and the Schleswig-Holstein people, retiring like a
craven hound from tho professions which ho had made.
(Cheers.) He would never be the man who, like their late
representative, would go into the lobby for the purpose of
whitewashing a Lord Chancellor. (Hear, hear.) The
Conservatives might take courage from the political
events that had just happened; Although the people of
Tiverton had acted properly in returning once more
Lord Palmerston to Parliament, they had given him
a Conservative as a colleague, instead of a so-called
Liberal. There were four prominent members of the
Government sent by tiieir respective constituencies about
their business, and the hopeful son of Earl Russell had
just been well beaten by the independent electors of Leeds.
Those were signs of the times well worthy of observa-
tion. He had nothing to say of Mr. Locke King or Mr.
Buxton in their private characters. The former appeared
to have learned nothing and to have forgotten nothing
during the last 17 years he represented East Surrey in
Parliament, but was prepared to disregard everything
that he might be able to indulge in his one crotchet.
Mr. Buxton said he solicited the support of the consti-
tuency as an old and tried member ; but he omitted to
show them how he was an old and tried member. Abseil,
ten years ago ho was elected by the constituency of New-
port. But after a brief experience they sent him about
his business. lie next induced the constituency of Maid-
stone to look with favour upon him, but after a little time
they also were glad to get rid of him. He (Mr. Brodrick)
did not hesitate to call Mr. Buxton the nominee of Mr.
Locke King. (Cries of "No, no.") They called themselves
the supporters of Lord Palmerston, and yet they had voted
repeatedly against the noble lord's government. In solicit-
ing the support of the electors of East Surrey he (Mr.
Brodrick) had no private ends to serve. Whether he lost
or won his services would still be heartily at their disposal.
He had retired from the profession to which ho had been
much attached, and at which he had not been unsuccessful.
His whole energies would be devoted to them. If the pro-
mises given to him and his friend were kept he had not the
smallest doubt but they would stand in the proud position
of being their representatives at the conclusion of the poll.
The hon. gentleman concluded amid general cheering, by
thanking the electors for the reception they had given him.
Mr. PEEK then proceeded to address the meeting. He
echoed many of the sentiments expressed by Mr. Brodrick,
and made a similar exposition of his political opinions. In
reference to the 'question of reform ho said he could not
help thinking that that cry proclaimed the condemnation
of many of those who uttered it, inasmuch as they said
that a certain thing should be dano which was not done by
them whilst possessing the power of accomplishing it. Ho
therefore thought it but fair to suppose that such mon were
not the proper persons to be entrusted any longer with
parliamentary power, because they had a sufficient majority
to support them if they really wished for reform. (Hear,
hear.) It was evident that they were not really in earnest,
and that it was but a hollow cry iror reform they raised.
He considered the bankruptcy laws as a gi-,?at blot upon our
statute book. It appeared for the last two years there were
16,000 bankrupts in England and Wales, 13,900 of s,,l'°'"
did not pay a penny in the pound, whilst £200,000 was ex-
pended in carrying their estates through the court.
In reply to questions from electors,
Mr. Brodrick and Mr. Peek severally declared their
opposition to the abolition of church rates, unless some
other measure was adopted for supporting the fabric of
the Church. They also avowed themselves favourable to
the estabishment of many more polling places than at pre-
sent existed for each division of the county.
Mr. Bnonnrox said that a paper had just been put into
his hand containing this very extraordinary question :
"Will you support a measure for withholding half-pay from
majors in the army when absent from duty for more than
six months ?" He said he was at a loss to know what
what was the reason for the writer's antipathy to the poor
majors in the army. In reply he would say, he should be
exceedingly sorry to be a party to the depriving of those
officers of the paltry half-pay, or scarcely £l5O a year, after
a 20 years' service in perhaps the most distant parts of the
world.

Armstrong .
M'Donogh ~