Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-11
Macmillan and the Yankees.

The Yankee papers have lately been made happy by
report, brought over from Europe, that Macmillan,
while in Paris had declined TO grant al interview to
Mr.. STdsl and that he bad proclaimed the policy OF
neursfty between the Tilted States and the Confede
rate States. We have no MEANS at present. Of testing
the truth of this tt>ry. may be one OF those foun-
datonless reports which are Often propagsted even by
the well informed correspondents Of the English jour
nails, or a mere invention of some ignorant Yankee
scrbber Il cCrtaly is not very likely that Maxim J.
ian would publicly proclaim his policy on 70 important
question before taking possession of is new Govern
msnt; before arriving in Mt1co in advance even Of
formal acceptance of the crown Il Ia hard to see what
could have led for open expression OF his inten-
tons and it il scarcely probable that he would give
utterance to any pri'ate views he may entertain, or
that much, If ary consequence is 10 be attached to
them even they have been expressed in the form re-
ported to us by the Northern papers. Nor IL there
more YER smuie in the story tina! he has refused 10
grant an interview to Ar. Siidell. Fha: gentleman is
accredited to Fance and not 10 Mexico; still less to
the irchoate Emperor. II he asked Tor an interview,
he very probably accommodated with just such
meeting as one gentleman has with apother-a thing
which Yankee editors and letter Writer'S may not COM
but which is very well understood by Mcmillan
and Mr.. Sliden As to an ti;al interview betFeen
Slidell, Amba ,sado-, and MaximiliaD Emperor, such
could not have been asksd by the one and consequent
w. could not have been refused by the other But even
if the reports alluded to correct, nothing more
could be inferred from such facts than that Macmillan
does not consider msef justified in discussing MeIi
can affairs until he nds himself established in Mexico,
and tba. he does not intend to depart from the policy
of impArtality which neutras owsto begerents. Bus
this does not by any prove that he takes the Yankee
view Of impartiay and .ralty. He nay very well
determine for bimstl what neutrality MEANS and bis
Interpretation of the word may involve quite differ
ent meaning from that attached to il by the Yankees
For instance, with that nsolsnce and ignorance for
which they are so remarkable, They declare that they
recognize no sor of neutrality e1cep. that which admits
all their rights and denies our rights which admits
the United States to DO nation, and denies the Con-
fedora States to be nation; which confesses them
to be masters and declares 10 be rebels which re-
cognizes Their right but rejects right to
resst which places them enrelyin the right, and US
entirely in the wrong
Now, Macmillan may consider that. neutrality means
something very different from this. He may think it
embraces recognition Of equal rights, Of equal prvi-
leges and of equal status as to both parties before
the world. He may suppose that neutrality will be
demonstrated and not by any means infringed by re-
cogn zDg the fast that the Confederate States cons
tuts quite different county from the United States;
and BY according to the South the same rights which
be accords 10 the North.
In.the mean time the Yankee Houss.of Represents
tiyes has unanm ously adopted resolution resfirm
a a. a. "a
Stats Government will not recognize, the Imperial
Government in Mexico. This only another ilustIa
tioa Of the Yankee propensity TO call things by the
wrong nam; as il, il such way, their nature could be
changed. Just as they imagine they can delude the
world and reverse the respective position Of the two
countries by calling rebels against liberty, and by
asserting themselves TO be the champions Of freedom
or that they can hide the shame of defeat by calling
it victory; so they think they conceal their in
tenton to recede from the Monroe doctrine, by
ing" to ''rearm" it. But the truth IL that the reso-
luton Passed by their Representatives ia in no aense
reairmaton Of the Monroe doctrine. That doctrine
declared that tie United Stes would not tolerate but
would oppose any attempt to introduce European sys-
TENS upon the American continent The Yankees want
10 convince the world that they stick to the doctrine, by
declaring that they will not recognize MaIimlian.-
There is wide difference between the two positions
a. they would discover if they should attempt to eIpe
Macmillan from Mexico, which would be the logically
practical application of the Monroe doctrine The only
effect Of their refusal recognize the new government
of Mexico viii be to aaord the Emperor an additional
motive for recognizing the Confederate Sates-an ale
tentative which will thus be forced upon him,
were he otherwise averss from it and che adoption of
which, under such circumstances, could sf,rd pre-
text of offence to the Washington Government.