The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-25 00:00:00

military tribunal. This is in direct violation of the
Constitution, and is denounced by every respectable
newspaper in the United States, whatever may be
its political bias. The Democratic World and the
philosophical 7ribnne are agreed upon the impro-
priety of such a course of procedure ; even the New
York, Times and the Evening Post, which have seldom
since the war began found an occasion to say a
word in opposition to the policy of Mr. Lincoln's
or of Mr. Johnson's Administration, are unspar-
ing in the expression of their displeasure at so
unconstitutional as well as so unnecessary
and invidious a mode of trial. The Court,
or Commission, has been in session for three
days, and not a word of the evidence has been per-
mitted to transpire. The counsel nominated by the
several prisoners to defend them, or see that they
have a fair trial, have each and all refused to accept
the office, some pleading pre-engagements, and some
flatly refusing. It does not appear that the Com-
mission has appointed any one on behalf of either of
the prisoners, some of whom, if not all, may perhaps
be innocent, to cross examine the witnesses, or take
care that the forms of justice be preserved. And
what must be considered a suspicious, or at best an
unfortunate feature in the case, is that the War De-
partment, or the Military Commission it has created
for the purposes of this trial, has appointed as its
sworn stenographer and reporter, pledged to secresy,
a person known to fame as the impudent forger of a
proclamation by Mr. Lincoln. For this offence or
crime Mr. Joseph Howard, jun., was committed by
authority of the late President and Mr. Stanton to
Fort Lafayette. A person so branded in the eyes
of the public should not have been entrusted with
functions like these, or with any functions what-
ever in the gift of the Government.
The question of the immigration of the disbanded
soldiery of North and South into Mexico has lost
none of its interest within the last few days. On the
contrary, it has excited much speculation as to whe-
ther the President, known to be a thorough devotee
to the Monroe doctrine, has either stimulated the
movement, or designs to give it any encouragement.
There can be no doubt that the idea is exceedingly
popular, and that with slight effort such a rush for
Mexico could be organised as would seriously
threaten the relations of the United States with
the Emperors Nipoleon and Maximilian. Under
the circumstances it is gratifying to know, not
only for his own sake, but for that of the peace
of the world, that Mr. Seward is rapidly recover-
ing from the combined effects of his severe
accident and the infamous and cowardly attack
upon his life, and that he is already in a position to
advise the President on the affairs of his department.
Mr. Seward, like Mr. Lincoln, has always been of
opinion that one war was enough at a time, and does
not, it is asserted by his friends, admit that the time
has yet come when the Federal Government can de-
vote other than its whole attention to its own affairs,
to the mighty task of a reconstruction of the Union,
and the obliteration by wise statesmanship of the in-
evitable ill feeling and animosities engendered by a
war of such bitterness and duration as that which is
not even yet at an end throughout its whole territory.
It is understood that some assurance of this kind has
already been given to the new French Ambassador,
the Marquis de Montholon, and that the President is
preparing a proclamation to warn the people of the
illegality of anyinvasion of Mexico, under the pretext
of aiding. President Juarez to restore the Republic—
or any other whatever. If Mr. Johnson will go a step
further, and formally recognise the Government of
the Emperor Maximilian, by despatching an ac-
credited Minister to his Court, he will do more to
satisfy Mexico and France of his peaceable intentions
than even by the issue of a proclamation.