Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-17
Ominous Signs.

Archduke Eaxmlan. IL Is sbateu nVfto'cIJ shot snu
A,caduke will visit Paris in the quality Of Emperor
of Mexico
Simultaneously with the receipt Of this news comes
the announcement. through Atlantis, Ga pSper, from
amy correspondent at DAltoD, that Brgsdier GEN
efal Preston is aaey his way Mexico as Minister
/ PenpotentiAry to ,ha. Court! /. is statel a. he
sailed early in January from Confederate port, and
that he goes instructed to mako treaty with haxmiar'
based upon the mutual recognition Of the two Govern
msuts with commercial clauses granting reciprocal
| privileges OF trade and commerce.
General Preston it will be remembered, Minister
to Spain under Buchanan, and addition his other
qualifications dipomatisL, possesses the peculiar
Advantage Of being accomplished Spanish scholar.
This news his undoubtedly a strong signifcance.-
TIE coincidence which marks these movements, while
entirely casual is important insomuch Is furnishes
intelligent grounds Of speculation in respect to tbs
probabilities Of uitiaCry step being taken to CON
summAte the long deferred acs Of recognition. II we
are recognized by Macmillan, our recognition by
France, Austria and Spain viii inevitably follow, and
thai inmtd iately; for VIC must presume that such
movement on the part Of the Mexican Emperor win be
the resu. of qua furnished By these powers to
sustain this aot OF recognition By similar movsment
on heir part Those thIce powers are directly interest
ed in the maintenance Of Mexican Integrity under TIE
nes regime-FrsRcs BY the creation Of new ally on
this continent, ua6er whose auspices monopoly OF the
1 rich trade # Mexico can be ste1Ted Spaip by the
creation of friendly powers i'll proximity 10 Cubs, and
Austria by ties OF intimate family relationship, the pride
Of imperial prestige and the spread Of imperial sway
undor the auspices of nobls descendant Of the Rouse
of .psbrrg. With the two former sroag motive
4 as Tor the establishment Of friendly relations vita
| Us auce with viez 10 commercial benefits aud
tho incorporation of friendly power between Mexico
asd tho North Spain with view to the peaceful pcs
session OF CUBA. The latter has, moreover, Ia the
mater Of identity of institutions with NJ, strong
motive of sympathy. Oar subjusation would involve,
If no. the loss of Cuba her, the abolition Of slavery
ia TIA. Island SIS almost inevitable consequences OF
emancipation in ibis cOnfedsrscy.
| With these motives snimatiDg France, Austria and
SpAin We can but regard recognition by them, upon
the heel Of such q movement by Aaxni Al, as rstu-
ral-nay, Imperative. Our independence Ia the first
oopdon of secure and peaceful reign by MsIimilian
ia Mexico. Recognition by France IL esJenda con
dol OF the fuRment of his grand idea Of monopolsng
tae rich priz, of Southern trade Our independence
csn furnish to Spain tho oily available guarantee for
the continued possession ef Cuba and tse integrity o.
her slave institutions, without which that Island would
fbe barren WIS e. tina. she Gao ever hope to had.
We are no. aware whether General Preston has been
ss1 TO Mexico By cur Government In conformity with
any preconcered arrangement between itself and these
three PAYERS The movements who's we nets would,
at least 80 indicator and If the deductions which they
justi!y prove TO bs well founded, congratulate
the country on the glorious ISSUE which they fore
shadoa.
We have l,ng supposed tina; the policy OF France
would be Just such as the circumstances herein given
so plainly deveope. Reconstruction Of the old Union
OF Southern sabugiian would be equally slbvefsive
of Napoeoas schemes of conquest in Mexico. Had be
deemed either contingency possible, he never woad
have entered upon enterpz, Involving SO much loss
OF blood and treasure Nov that ho has accomplished
the work OF conquest he vii render il frulless BY
furhsr passive policy ia respect to this war, which
nav possibly Isad to either of taess contingencies
We have very little doubt bu: that his plans in re-
spec TO u.s. whatever trey ars will attain their maturity
With Maximans elevation TO the Mexican throne. That
event will be the signal for their development; ana the
presence of General az The Mexican capital, We
might well presume to be part of tho arrangement by
which this great national league is to 90 Perfected
The wo:k if done at all, will be done promptly, SO as
to impart eaIuiary restraint upon the Yankees, and
| admonsh them OF the danger OF IesstsLce to COM
bipaon so formidable. Better ]. should be so than the
work should be done By piecseal aud an encourage
meat given to Sswsrd to follow up his protssia which
he will, no doubf make by hottie displays. Better
spare him the necessity Of thi, foeisi parade By
promp. intimat;on of what he s TO expect should he
| ..srlr ,aso-t In anch an exneiia,lt
This coolress manifested by Franc, towards The Yam
KEGS as has been displayed in the interviews between
Dayton and n DrOuyn de L'Tiuys, accounts OF which
have been lately published, is sgufcant of the En-
perors desire hold ous hope OF non-ntervention
as his red policy. Mr. Dayton, in bis correspondence 10
I.SeHsrd, remarked that n Drouyn do LHays, |, an
sEer 10 his QUESTION the policy Of the Emperor in
reference to the SJuth, stated tbs. he had none he
united on events" Tkis signifies diplomatic parance,
that when events should occur Justify recognition or
intervention, he would be ready to act upon them
These events are douatlss on the o. occurrence,
and his purpose to oct upon tbem, thus negatively
ayowed will b, faithfully carried out. B, determined
is the Emperor understood to be- to yield netting 70
Yankee nsolencs that 30 has, as ne leer1, gwen lm
sanction for the constitution Of Confederate war veg
eel, in French pors and Of their depar-
ture thence untranmslIsd by cficia intsrdcs This
very much the pursued By an individual Who In
view Of the probabilities Of future disruption with an
insoent bawisr, induces him TO hope for no friendship
but rather to infer that his sxsggsr and parade viii nos
be tolerated Avriter in aats number of Bsckwood's
HaOasins indignantly remarks that while Rngand has
diseracefuy submitted TO every ulreasonabs demand
which Yankee insosncs could make, France did mot
only not yield bu. was nsysr asked Tor Any concess0r
save ia the potest language that policy and lear
suggest This fact was recorded Ia tones oil dsgas' '0f
the base subserviency Of Russell and his party
What Francs has long forsshadowed, she u nov, as
events would sirongnjndicst' about to eecompiisn-'