Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-20
JULY 20, 1863.
The french occupation of mexico.


The announcement of the occupation of the
city of Mexico by the French army Is an event
which, were the United States not engulfed in
civil war, would agitate this country from the
center to the circumference. In fact, did this
war not exist, this French scheme of invasion
would not have been devised; or, il persisted in,
would have been opposed by tens of thousands
of armed men, leaping over the borders of the
great neighboring republic. By seeming to ac-
qniesce, this Government apparently abaDdons
the Monroe doctrine" which, from the earliest
days Of the republic, has constituted a cardinal
point in the creed of every American. We SUBJ
NIT to what viii eventually prove, in all proba
bility, the establishment of monarchy our
southern boundary. We suffer the Democratic
principle in Mexico to be crushed out, while the
old ecclesiastical, or church party, is reinstated
on its ruins, through the aid of Louis Napoleon
Its Representatives already offer their allegiance
though this was hardly necessary, inasmuch as
Marquee. their acknowledged military leader
has, from the first Appearance of the French
forces, co operated zealously with all the troops
at his command, laboring to place a despotic
yoke ON the neck of his countrymen. r
But Louis Napoleon reiterates the assurance
so often given, that he does not desire to i'm
pose on the Mexican people, government of
their choice In the letter to General Fo
rev. congTatulating that officer on the success
achieved at Puebla, the French Emperor says
yet again:
'Our object. as you are aware. is not to i'm
pose on the Mexcans a government contrary to
their wish, or to make our success a triumph for
any party whatever"
He knew that there existed within the republic
faction bitterly opposed to President Juarez
which would welcome the eonqueror. Agreea
bly, to the assumed wish of the Mexican peo-
pe," thus expressed, he could establish Gov
eminent precisely in accordance with then de-
sire. The platform OF this party. now des-
tined to enjoy the royal favor, may he thus cpl
tomized: tf
/. The inviolability Of all church property and
church revenues. and the re establishment of
former exactiOns.
2. The establishment of the fueros, or spe-
cial rights of the church end the army.
3. The restoration of the Roman Catholic re-
lgion as the religion of the State.
A. The censorship of the press.
D. The maintenance of a hight
6. The exclusive system of emigration. discrim
mating against those who are not of the Romish
faith
Z. The establishment of central dictatorship,
subservient only to the church
s. The restoration of n monarchy in Mexico,
or the establishment of a European protectorate
This is better known as the Plan of 1'acubaya
French Emperor, and no doubt its adoption. or
something equivalent, will be expected to exert a
happy effect upon the ecclesiastical relations of
Louis Napoleon and Plus TX.
By the latest advices from Mexico we are in
formed that the garrison of the national capital
numbering about 2O,0 600 men. have taken posi-
tion in the neighborhood of that city, while the
government has been removed to San Luis Po-
tOsi, some 200 miles north, and nearly due west
from Tampico This course is one evidently
suggested by military prudence The utter ex-
hausti0n of the resources of the people renders it
impossibleto to protraet an organized resistance to
the French arms. Therefore guerrilla warfare
is resored to with the evident design of harrass-
ing the French by cutting up their communca-
tons with the seaboard, and plundering trains
Ii persisted in, serious annoyance may be occa-
stoned, especially should any considerable num-
ber of the States long withhold their allegiance
rendering necessary the employment of large
army The occupation of the capitals likely TO
prove only step preliminary to the work of sub
jugatiOn: but everything depends on the spirit of
the Mexicans. Probably they can be much easier
cajOled, than forced, into enthusiastically. Y.
Journal of Commerce.