The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-03
Developments Of the De-
sagns OF Napoleon Against Mexico and
tho United States.


the Unfted States.
The emperor Napoleon has at last stated
openly what are his intentions regarding the
conquest of Mexico. His letter, addressed to
General Forey, who commands the French
forces now invading the Mexican republic, is
sufficiently explicit to remove all doubts from
the minds Of our people as TO the nature OF the
Mexican expedition. Napoleon writes to Gen.
Forey:-"ln the present state of the civilization
of the world the prosperity Of America is not
matter Of Indifference TO Europe for it is she
who feeds our manufactures and gives life to
our commerce. We have an interest in this
that the republic of the United States be power
full and prosperous but we have none in this
that she should seize possession of all the Next
can Gulf, dominate from thence the Antilles, as
we'll as South America, and be the sole dispen-
ser of the products of the New World
That is, Napoleon is engaged in Mexico
combating the spread Of our influence and
power on this continent, and he Is fully deter
mined to conquer that country for the purpose
of erecting it into barrier against our future
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thus his pretended. desire to
benefit the people of Mexico is sham. his real
purpose, as he now expresses it, being to check
the growing prosperity Of the American repub
lie. The correspondence Intercepted by the
Davis government relating to the intrgues
Of France for the possession Of Texas
goes to prove how firmly Napoleon is
decided upon obtaining a foothold on this
continent. He no doubt argued that, were the
Union reconstructed or even separation
agreed to, he would by the possession of Texas
be enabled to check all tendencies towards the
occupation or protectorate of Mexico by either
North or South.
The avowals of Napoleon as to his real designs
in Mexico and his expressed determination to
increase the power Of the Latin races on this
continent, are forced from his Majesty BY the
discussions of his plans which have just taken
place before the Spanish Cortes In these de-
bates General Prim, who has always been ad
verse to the policy Of Napoleon in Mexico,
doubtless because he foresaw that France
wished to make catspaw of Spain and reap
for herself all the solid advantages to result
from the expedition General Prim, we repeat,
endeavored to show that any joint action in the
matter was injudicious. He did not succeed
we are at liberty to suppose, as we now hear
that the Spanish Ministry is dissolved, and
that O'Donnell is charged with the construction
Of new Cabinet. This means that Spain is
likely now to act in concert with France. and
that the intrigue against the spread Of our power
will be all the more formidable from the fact
that France will have an ally in her inimical
measures.
The explanations given in the Chamber of
Deputies at Madrid by Mr. Mon, 50 lately Spanish
Ambassador at the French Court, and at present
a member Of the above mentioned Legislature,
prove that for some time Napoleon has desired
to interfere in Mexico, and that it was only the
| great power Of the United States which deter
| red him. Mr.. Mon asserts that five years ago
the Mexican question was a subject of daily dis
cussion between himself and Count Walewski,
the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs He says
that France afraid to act in the matter with
out the concurrence Of England. Mr.. Mon re-
| viewed the conduct Of France and England as
| regards their desire to mediate in Mexico in
| pacific manner, and states that call inter-
ventions begin in . pacific manner, but all
end in war;" Mr. Mon sent, while he was
Ambassador in Paris, the foil owing despatch
| to Senior Colantes, the Spanish Premier =
| 81 know that the idea Of monarchy pleases
the Mexicans The occasion is favorable one
| for solution. We are all offended and can
all intervene in Mexico now, as the United
States are. much weakened" He sent the de-
spatch to Madrid, and few hours after re-
ceived an answer directing him TO ascertain
beyond doubt what were the intentions Of
France towards Mexico. He was enabled to
| report to his government that France would
act with prompt decision, and was informed in
return that Spain would join France in the
Mexican expedition. We all know that Eng
land and Spain withdrew from any farther joint
action with France when they ascertaned the
real motives of Napoleon in undertaking the
invasion of the Mexican republic, and we sup
pose both these Powers were actuated by the
fear of an inevitable conflict with the people of
the United States in case Napoleon's plans for
conquest and domination on this continent were
adhered to. The secession of England and
Spain did not, however, deter. Napoleon in his
invasion Of Mexico. He had fully made up his
mind to overrun the country and establish
monarchy in the place Of the weak Mexican re-
public. He saw that we were enfeebled by
intestine war, and so he persevered in his origi-
nal plans.
Wepublish in another column reports from the
French yellow Book" showing what Baron Mer-
cier, French Minister at Washington, is doing to-
wards "accustoming the government of the
White House to the recognition of the South by
France" The Emperor Napoleon is in diplo-
macy the great genius which his uncle was in
war. But history teaches us that Napoleon the
First became ambitious from long continued
success, and that he undertook to overrun the
mighty empires of Russia and Central Asia.
There must ever be . limit to the power Of
man, and Napoleon the First was ruined by the