The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09
The Duke OF Sonora.

Durin 6 the war, public attention was 30 much
absorbed in our domestic affairs, that foreign
politics Was all but sealed letter to US. This
| was natural. What cared we for revolution in
Greece, the expulsion Of King OHIO, and the cleo
ton and coronation of Danish prince now ruling
under the title of GEonaE II No. we had the
Greeks at our door; and God knows they knocked
loud enough for admission. Occasionally the
newspapers would give n stray paragraph about
the French and their doings in Mexico, or about
Sir JOHN BowRINa and his ready method of deal
ing with the pig tails-a regular b,iu in china
shop. But desultory items like these made no
impression upon the reader, and. the close of the
war, as it found most of us uncomfortably inno-
cent of anything like an available circulating ME-
dunn, also forced US to the confession Of total
ignor rance Of anything that had transpired in
the outside world during the past four years.
Ono Of these topics, frequently alluded to, was
q colony to be formed in Sonora by DR.. GwHy, late
United States Senator from California. We had
heard that he was the right-hand man OF the EN-
peror MAxIAIL1AN and that the latter, in token OF
recognition of the valuable services he expected
from DR.. Gw1N, had conferred patent Of nobility
upon him, under the title Of Duke Of Sonora.
We met many Of the noble Doctors old friends,
who had known him well in his old ante-ducal
California days, who, Of COURSE were much pleas
ed to hear of their friends prosperity and hoped,
in case of the worst coming to the worst" if we
should not succeed ngaining our Independence
that some fat crumbs would fall for them from
his Grace's table.
We now learn that there was some room for all
this speculation and that the facts are as follows:
DIR. GwIN, who seems to be considerable Of poll
tician, and possessed of most insnuatng ways.
succeeded i'll persuading tho Emperor NAPOLEON
that he could WELD great influence in California
and the adjoining territories, also in the then
Confederate States. He proposed to colonize
Sonora-an outlying Mexican province-and use
his influence in furthering the interests Of France
and of MAMMALIAN. NAPOLEON seemed pleased
with the Doctor, and gave him letters to MAx1M1-
LIAM, nominating him, as we should say, for the
Duchy Of Sonora.
| Bnt it seems MAX has will Of his own, and is
| rather jealous of his prerogative, regards
French dictation; and DR.. Gwn, already secure in
his rank and position, was in the city Of Mexico
for months before he thought it worth his while
to call on the Emperor-all the while engaged in
the affairs Of his nascent colony. Agents Wore sent
to California, Nevada and Oregon, to encourage
immigration to Sonora. When at length he
sent his credentials to MAX, the latter referred
him to his Minister. DR.. Gw1N took this in high
dudgeon, saying that he was not in the habit Of
| treating with subordinates-that at Paris he al
ways negotiated with the Emperor himseR Bu
this produced no change In the angry MAxrhdrIIAN
GwN goes back to NAPOLEON, and complains II
| the great Pasha Of his Emir's miBbehaviour. Ma
PoLEoN gave him another letter. But on the Doc
tors return to the Mexican capital he still found
! the imperial door closed. The Emperor refused