Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-16

take on "this Mexican question, wewill
be made to know her, in manner not
very greeahle to our foreign commerce.
As regards the question of France asking
our consent to establish a. monarchy in
Mexico, Mr.. Stewards diplomatic CORES
pondence shows that all the purposes Of
Napoleon towards Mexico We're plainly
and frankly unfolded by him, in public
do euments, in eighteen hundred and
sixty-0ne and eighteen hundred and
siXty-two, and that the former admins
tration acquiesced in the Justice and pro-
priety of those purposes; it also shows
that, with his army on the spot, NapleOn
waited a whole year (the year
eighteen hundred and sixty-two) to
see if we would interfere or OBJ
iect No statesman, who values his
reputation, viii say that the question is
simply between US and the Mexican Re
public. There is another party TO the
question, whom our Government is wise
enough not TO ignore. II, as Gen. Grant
says, We are bound 20 accord To the
Mexican Republic the protection Of our
arms, - why do we not do it? Why, on
the other hand, has our Government de-
termined not to do it? Gen. Grant sneers
& a
men NAV not set the little value that he
does upon human life. The circumstance
of his having made the road from Wash
ington To Richmond white with the bones
of so. 900 heroic soldiers furnishes no rea-
son to the mind Of a statesman why we
should rush 10 a war with a maritime
p0wer that in three months could sweep
our commerce from the ocean.
TNJUDICTOUs ACTION OF THE DOMINANT
PARTY N CONGRESS.
Let me beg the readers Of the NeaCS
not to be deceived By the false hope that
the present Congress will vindieate the
Monroe doctrine. What is to be eN-
pected from the present Congress, in the
way Of craftsmanship, was seen by the
ouening rOceedings. There area few
statesmen in both Houses. The voices
of Reverdy johnson, of Mr.. Brooks,
Of Mr. NOorhies, and of a few oth-
ers, viii be heard, pointing out
what our course ought to be. But the
action of the dominant party will put it
out Of our p0weTer to take that course.
For thirty years before the war the
Ab1litionists tried their test 10 drive the
Southern States out of the Union. They
drove them into war Now they are
trying TO keep them out Of the Union
and yesterday they began to legislate for
them like conquered provinces. And
they intend 10 humiiate them more and
more.
At the same time they are acting in
the most injudici0us manner in regard To
France. Il is they who have encouraged
Gen. Grant 20 make these foolish
speeches. Ii is they who have encOur-
azed the recent violations Of our neutral
ity on the Rio Grande. 1t is they who
caused the appointment Of Gen. Logan
TO be made, as "a menace - to the EN-
perOr Napoleon. They are now doing
all in their power TO bring about
actual hostilities on the Rio Grande.
between our trO0psaud those of Maximil-
ian. Ia Congress they propose, if posi-
bic, 10 procure the passage Of a resolution
declaring, in substance, that MaXimilian
must leave Mexico at once, and pledging
the United States Government to assist
Juarez in driving him out, in case he does
not 90 in given time. They profess TO
believe that that viii be all that is neces-
sary, and that Macmillan will abdicate
his throne and leave his empire, sooner
than be involved in war with the United
States.
THE SITUATION BRIEFLY SUMMED Up.
But any such action as that on the part
fishing the Mexican Republic, Will not
only fail Of vindicating the Monroe doe /
trine, but It viii surely involve Us in a
war with France. On this point the fol-
lowing propositions may be set down as
absolutely certain:
l. The Mexican Empire is firmly es-
tabli>hedi il is acqWesced in by nine
tenths OF the Mexican people; and, ex-
cept on the frontier. the courts are in ope- /
ration in every Mexican State, and all |
the machinery Of the Government is 1
carried on by the authority Of .
the Empire.
?. MaXimilian's army, composed of /
French, Austrian, Belgian and Mexican I
troops, Is between twenty-five thousand I
and thirty thousand strong and is amply /
large enough TO repress all demonstra- {
tons On the part of the Liberals, 10 de- /
feat all parties Of Liberal troops which |
may yet be left, and TO clear the roads |
and the whole country Of gueTTillas and
robbers.
3. There are no Liberal troops in Mex
leo except those recently besieging Mat
amOras, and a few with Juarez-in an /
not over five or seven thousand; and
they could not raise ten thousand troops
in all Mexico, because the Mexicans are |
heartily sick OF their endless wars and
qUarrels. Neither can they receive any
arms or ammunition from the United |
States, on account Of our neutrality laws.
and the recent strict orders to see That
those laws are strictly obeyed
4. MaximiIian himself Is devoted to
his empire. He believes that it is in his
power 10 make Mexico a great and pow
erlul nation, ami 70 make her people I
D. q r.rl-ar,g.v1r.-
authority Of his Government is firmly /
and is every day growing /
stronger; and he knows that in case of a |
war with the United States he will be .
supported by the whole power Of Napo- /
leon, and by Austria and Belgium. In /
case Of such war, therefore, he VIII de- 1
fend his throne and empire with all his /
power.
Napoleon regards the establishment of 4
the Mexican Empire, and the deliverance 4
Of the Mexican Nation from its former 1
condition of anarchy and weakness, As |
one Of the greatest acts of his reign. and /
a. one Of the greatest achievements Of /
modern times. He believes that history
Will so record il. He regards his honor I
and the honor Of france as deepiv in 4
volved in the stability Of the Mexican
Empire. He believes the authority
Of the empire to be now firmly estab- /
lished, aud as he wishes 10 preserve 1
friendly relations with the United States
be recently offered TO withdraw from /
Mexico all the French troops if our Gov /
ernment would assure him that we would 4
continue our neutrality toward Mexico.
But Il our recent hostile demonstrations /
on the Rio Grande are not stopped: if I
Napoleon sees that Juarez is getting ma 4
q q d 4
the French troops in Mexico win be aug (
nented instead Q. being Withdrawn; |
and II Congress demands that Max 1
imilian shall abdicate, and de- 4
clares that If he does not 90
We viii make him 20, or if We invade /
Mexico, and attempt 10 re-establish tine 1
republc there IN the manner that Gen.
Grant suggests, in that case we Will have 4
WaI, not with Mexico alone. but wi h 1
France also. Napoleon has an army ii
four hundred thousand troops and navy /
superior 20 that of England or the I-nit.,t /
States. We cannot make a CONQUEST of
Mexico until We have defeated, on Mex /
lean soil, the com bined armies Of Austria
and France; and it may well be imag- 4
ined that during al this time the Fren,-D /
navy will not be idle.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON on MEXICAN 1
AFFAIRS,
Nor is this all, In a war between
France and The United States it cannot 1
be expected that England will remain 4
neutral, We have grounds Of complaint /
against her, and she has causes of com /
paint against us. II would take very |
little TO fan these into an open flame. 1
then, in this great continental 1
war, would range herself in the ranks 1
Of our adyerssries. How would such a
war result, even if we were united and /
powerful natioR? But we are not united.
The plots Of the Radicals have been sue
3ess1ul, and the Southern States are to be
lept out OF the Union for years, and leg
siated for as territories and conquered
provinces. How viii the Southern peo-
pie feel under wrongs like these? NiH /
hey feel much attacnmenttoa Union
winch treats them thus Doubtless.