The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-13
FRANCE AND MEXIC o.

Lieutenant Maury has written letter to Mi.
J. J. Trezyant, of Memphis, Tenne ssee, en-
closing speech, delivered by the Hon. Mr..
Cabell, of Florida, upon proposition TO forti
fly Key West and tho Tortugas, in which that
gentleman takes for granted the disposition at
trbuted to US, by the French Emperor, to &C.
quire footing in Mex leo. We think, indeed,
there can be very little doubt upon the subject
TO strengthen the position OF MIR. Cabell, Lit.
M. quotes from a recent memoir of ID. DOM
martin, in which he says, that 1S49, he de-
manded of the States of Sonora and Chihua-
hua, a vast grant of desert lands, TO be settled
by French emigrants, who were to constitute
q rail between the United States aud Mexico.
He says that the Congresses of these two
States acceded to his proposition, but that the
negotiation had been transferred to the CEN
trail government, where it was still suspended.
We find this letter of Mr.. Maurys in the
Wing of yesterday morning.
From what we had seen within the last
few days in the newspapers, we had been in
duced to believe that the razzia upon Sonora
had no connection whaieye r with the French
Government but this memoir places the af
fair in light altogether different. 1t revives
the original suspicion in all its force. The
Emperor of the French is determined, appa-
rently, beyond do ubt, 10 curb the young gi-
ant, and this is the way in which he common
ces operations. There happen to be two
words TO that bargain. In the first place, the
young giant will be very sure not to allow
himself to be curbed without resistance; and
in the second place, we doubt very much
whether the Emperor Of the French has force
enough TO curb him against his will. To talk
of French colony on this continent, is lit
tie too absurd at this time of day. France
had magnificent possessions, century ago,
on the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. Did
itnever occur to Mr. Dommartin to ask where
they are now7 She is, at present, engaged in
preparing very pretty colony in the North
of Africa, for Eng land, tho is not yet ready TO
take possession, bat will be at the next gene
raj war, which, according to Mr.. Cabell, is not
very far off If necessary, We can send FIVE
huodred thousand men into Mexico, and what
is more we can furnish them with the means
of subsistence. We hardly think France can
rail out such host as that.
But it is time we were preparing for those
events which are already casting their sha-
dows before them. We cannot play an insg-
nifcant part in general war il we would
Oar position and our greatness forbid it. Let
us therefore follow the advice of Mr.. Maury
as rapidly as we can. Let us fortify every
point at which an enemy can thrust in his
hand, al ong the Gulf of Mexico. Let US have
a railroad to California at once, or at least as
soon as il can be made. Let US reform, reno.
del, and increase, enormously, our navy. All
this will cost money, but not so much morey
as a very few years of general war would
consume. Let the country, therefore, assume
the formidable att tude which, from its size,
strength and enterprise, it is entitled to as.
sumo. Mr.. Cabell lays Louis Napoleon will
Very well. Let US be prepared to meet him,
60 to war before 1853 shall have EXPIRED
and to drive him back to France as sorn es
he shall dare to show his nose on this CONT
nent. Let it be recollected that we have never
yet lost by war, though we have often lost by
treaty.