The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-18 00:00:00

The American Congress on Mexico.

The Hon. Mr. Colfax, in his late lecture at Philadelphia
on Brigham Young and Mormon polygamy, in touching
upon the approaching Congress, truly said that it will be
" the most important Congress ever assembled at Wash-
ington." It will mark a new epoch in our national his-
tory—a new epoch in our domestic and foreign affairs—
and we hope the results may be eminently conducive to
the harmonious restoration of the South and the prosperity
and stability of the republic.
From the disturbed and threatening condition of things
on the Rio Grande, from the strong indications that Louis
Napoleon has been deluded by the past forbearance of our
Government, from the well-known views of President
Johnson, and from the universal public sentiment and ex-
pectations of the country, we look for early and decisive
work from this new Congress upon the Mexican question.
" One war at a time" was the inflexible and sagacious
maxim of President Lincoln during those long years of
our late dreadful domestic struggle, when England and
France labored so zealously to entangle us in a supple-
mental war with themselves for the benefit of Jeff. Davis.
Hence the late Administration submitted to numerous
affronts both from France and England, which, under
other circumstances, would not have been given, or, if
given, would have been reduced to a speedy settlement.
Most conspicuous among these insults stands Louis
Napoleon's usurpation and attempted subjugation of the
Republic of Mexico under a prince of the Imperial house
of Austria. General Logan, in a recent speech, aptly de-
scribed this Mexican usurpation as an outgrowth and fruit
of the rebellion. Therein lies the offence for which there
is no atonement but the removal of Maximilian, and that
atonement must be made. There is no other question
upon which there is such unanimity in the public opinion
of this country as upon this. There is no Anti-Monroe
doctrine party in the United States, nor will there be any
such party in the coining Congress. The Monroe resolu-
tion, which passed the last House of Bepresentatives with-
out a dissenting voice, but which,. for prudential reasons,
was suffocated in the Senate, will, we guess, meet with
different treatment in the Senate this winter. If Mr.
Seward's late remarks at Auburn concerning Mexico mean
anything they mean that the day of temporizing and apo-
logising has passed away, and that the day of settlement
is at hand.

Accepting this interpretation, we anticipate from the
President's Message such representations and suggestions
in relation to Mexico as will materially shorten the diplo-
matic labors of Mr. Seward in the way of protestations and
explanations. Congress is the war-making power. A posi-
tive notice to Maximilian to quit Mexico would necessarily
involve the alternative of war. This notice, therefore, has
doubtless been withheld by the Executive for the conside-
ration of Congress.

What, then, is the prospect ? Unless the Governmen

shall have received assurances from Louis Napoleon of his
intended relinquishment of Mexico within a short time,

we expect a formal notice to this effect from Congress.
It is possible that there may be a sort of understanding be-
tween the two Governments involving the withdrawal of
Maximilian and his Imperial establishment in some way
and at some reasonable time agreed upon ; but such a sup-
position can hardly be reconciled with Maximilian's present
savage course of warfare against the Mexican Liberals.
Ii he were possessed of instructions from Napoleon com-
prehending an early retirement he would hardly be shoot-
ing as outlaws the officers and soldiers of the Liberal cause
as fast as they are captured. No such barbarous extremi-
ties of war would be deemed necessary for his temporary
security. His evident purpose is to establish himself and
his dynasty in Mexico permanently, and it is difficult to
imagine that he is acting in these outrages without the
advice of his Imperial master.
In any event we look for a satisfactory presentation from
the President's Message of this Mexican problem, and for
a satisfactory settlement from this Congress, without
involving any very tedious or protracted negotiations and
without war. We expect, in a word, an early re-estab-
lishment of the Republic of the city of Mexico, and that
the old General Santa Anna, sent away by the French,
will return with Juarez, the fast and abiding friend of the
United States, never to be exiled again. —New York Herald.

EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMOTIVE.—A locomotive ex-
ploded on the Blyth and Tyne Railway at Newcastle-on-
Tyne on Friday forenoon, which killed two men. It was
standing near to the New-bridge station when the boiler
burst. The engine itself was completely turned round by
the explosion, pitched upon its side, and nearly destroyed.
The rails in the immediate neighbourhood were wrenched
from their chairs, and a deal of mischief was done. The
fireman of the engine, Robson Heppell, was thrown across
the rails against some empty waggons, which were standing
there. The guard, George Hudspeth, was pitched on to a
manure heap, and the engine-man, James Whitehead, was
badly scalded. The engine-man and fireman died during
the course of Friday night, but the guard, who was not so
much hurt, is recovering.
A frightful attack of neuralgia in the face and
mouth cured by a few doses of MORISON'S PILLS, the vege-
table universal medicine of the British College of Health,
Euston-road, London, after other means had failed. §old
by the hygeianiagento and an medicine vendors.;