The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-17

Tue Return or Mr.. meLane--What Our
Government should DO in Mexico.
We learn by telegraph that Mr. McLane our
Minister to Mexico, has arrived at Mobile. di-
riet from Vera Cruz but we have no advioes OF
the state of affairs 10 that republic, nor whether
Mr.. McI.ane intends to return to his post.
Wig he should return there we cannot con-
ceive. II is now much more than year siuce
he went 10 Mexico, during which time be has
labosed assiduously to accomplish something
towards establishing policy in the relations
between the two countries that should be con-
ducive to the highest interests of both. He
has been untiring in his efforts. He has gone
back and forth, between Washington and Vera
Cruz. in season and out of season; he has con-
suited with the President and conferred with
the Cabinet of Mexico; he has argued with
United States Senators and Mexican leaders;
and after all, when be has consummated a
treaty calculated more than any other to give
peace to Mexico and benefits to our commerce,
and safety and progress to that portion of our
country contiguous to the Mexican republic, a
vile spirit of faction and party greed consigns
il to the sleep of death in the Senatorial Com
mittee tombs.
If any policy could have been wisely aud
skilfIlly devised to annul the influence Of an
American Minister abroad, and to overthrow
the good be had achieved, it would have been
that which has been pursued by the Senate Of
the United States towards the recent treaty
with Mexico. Hope delayed has marked every
step Of that body in its consideration of that
instrument and finally, when party motives
had prevailed over craftsmanship and public
spirit, and killed the treaty, good care was
taken to prevent divulgation of the ignoble
reason which had triumphed over the national
policy of the President, by refusal to remove
the seal Of secresy from the debates.
Why, then, should Mr.. McLane be forced to
return TO Mexico? He has long since urged
upon the consideration of the government the
fact that the influence of our national name was
diminished, if not destroyed, in Mexico by the
factious course Of the Senate, and that even his
personal influence there was endangered by the
marked discourtesy that had been exhibited to-
wards the treaty he had succeeded in nego-
tiating. He has asked to be relieved from such
an anomalous and useless position, over and
over again, pointing out the evident fact that,
as the moral force of his official representation
had been destroyed, by acts to which he was
not party and over which he had no control,
the interests of the country and of our citizens
in Mexico would be advanced by permitting
him to withdraw aud sending some new man to
the scene of labor and of disappointment.
In this Mr.. McI.ane is in the right. New
combinations are now necessary in Mexico, and
though our Minister sees the fact clearly he
feels that the Senate has wilfully destroyed his
power to make them. The great objects to be
attained have been clearly pointed out by him.
and they may yet be achieved by proper
course Of action. A friendly policy and
moral support to the liberal cause in that re-
public, which shall contribute to restore peace
to its borders; the removal of present bars to
trade; the establishment of regular mail COM
munications by steam between our ports and
hers; the opening of routes Of ingress and
egress for our rich mineral regions in Arizona.
across her territory to the ports on the Gulf Of
California, and a reciprocity treaty for the ex.
change of products and mails along the ex-
tended boundary line between us and that re-
public. These are feasible things, and worth
millions Of dollars yearly to the industry and
commerce Of each country, and We commend
to the government the common sense advice of
Mr.. McLane to send some fresh man to finish
the work he has SO handsomely begun.