The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-16
THE FRENCH IN SONORA.

per of Frenchlsen, headed by one Count Boul-
bon, have beaten the Mexican General Blanco,
seized upon Sonora. and formally abaexed it
to France. This proceeding seems to have
been pure ouir, sc, justified by no crcum-
stance whatever. Boulbon had been employed
by the Mexican Government, according te some
accounts, 10 make war on the Apaches. lie
succeeded in driving off the Indians from a
circuit OF fttv leagues, when he was called up
on by the military commandan, OF Sonora, who
certainly, we should suppose, was his senior
officer, inasmuch es he was &C ting under the
orders of Mexico, 30 render an account Of his
proceedings. Instead of obeying, he issued 4
proclamation, in which he threatened TO pun
ish the comma ndani, (Blanco,) and advised
she inhabitants TO remain neutral, as he had
force strong enough 10 accomplish his object.
Selling on train of mules which had been
sent TO the Apache country, with provisions
for the Mexican forces, he continued his march
10 Ar!sps. The report that battle had been
fought, in which Blanco had been routed, and
tina, the conque1or had annexed the State Of
Sonora to France, seems to DE unquestionably
true.
Ihat France cannot hold this acquisition, we
mold to be indisputable. She has moi held any
colony, with the exception of a few insignif.
cant West India islands and Aigier,, beyond
tie sea, nor will she ever be able TO hold them,
without the consent of this country and Great
Britain, and that consent, so far as Sonora is
concerned, she Fever will get. Lock at the
III I
OF been obliged to sell, to keep them out of her
snemy's hands. Where is Canada Where
is Louisiana Where is St. Domingo Where
IS Egypt Where is the isle of France 3
Where are her settlements in the East Indies9
How long will she be enabled to keep even Al
geria, after the declaration of war against
Great Britain The French are gallant PEG.
pie, as their whole history amply testifes.-
They are. indeed, the most extraordinary mill
tary nation since the Romans. The tread of
France upon the continent Of Europe, must
always shake the Nations. But high-water
mark is as far as she can go. Her people are
not nautical. They never have made sailors,
and they never will. 1t was by beating them
everlasting at see, that England acquired
the false halo of naval glory, which so long
surrounded her, and which the first gun fired by
American sailors dissipated forever. She may
send brave soldiers to her colonies beyond the
sea. bat England or the United States will
heat her at sea. cut off the supplies Of her
tgoops, safee them into mummes, and then
beat them al their leisure. As for obtaining
i0othoid in Sonora, that is one Of the wildcat
dreams that ever entered the Imagination Of
tha Great Nation Not the vision Of the iii
colored flag floating in triumph. at the same
time, over the rock Of Lisbon, the battlements Of
ST Petersburg, and the mina;ets Of Constan.
t!nopie-not the magnificent dream Of on
empire extending all the way from the
Bosphorus to the Gauges, from the Nile e
seaegambia, were 80 extravagant as is this
conception of dominion on the Western coast
O. the American continent, within gun-shot Of
California. Not more than two years ago.
there were at San Francisco alone, ten thou
sand Americans, out CT all employment, The
most daring of the American miners, men who
live with the rifle in their hand, amidst continu-
sl danger, ready for any military enterprise
that could be suggested. There are, doubt
less, as many now, and TO them il would be de-
lightlul to hear that the United States had de-
5ermined against this disposition ofthe Mexi-
can territory. They would sweep away the
conquerors, before they should have ascer-
tanned that they were coming down upon them.
OF course this government will never consent
20 this occupation, and il has but to say the
word in order that an end may be put to it. 1t
has been the policy of the government ever
since the Monroe declaration, or If it has not
II should have been. to allow no European
power to plant new colonies, or to obtain
stronger ioothold in America. This policy
must be adhered to. 1t is one which the whole
people demand, and is one which no Admins
sratI0n can resist. France must seek for con-
quests, ifNapoleon III thinks they are desira
bic, In Europe. She cannot be permitted to
make them here. Nobody annexes in America
cat ourselves.
Eg Mr.. Websters late residence on Lou
s'ana avenue, Washington. it is stated, has
been rented by Mr. Gales, of the Intelligenoer,
who has also bought portion ofthe furniture.
Mr. Gales was for more than 80 years firm
and constant friend Of Mr.. Webster.
- Thomas c. Atkinson ESQ. has resign
ed his situation us Chief Engineer on the Or
enge and Alexandria Railroad-,he resigns,
ton to take place from the LIST of January.
- Lieut. Davenport arrived at Savannah,
Iva nm tkn IL