Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-26
From the London Times, December y.
THE ENGLTSU VIEW OF OUR RELA-
IIONN WITH NApOLE0N-

{ displayed by the Federal Assembly, a
amy sufficient indication of the settle
purpose of the American people. Nor
especially is this the case with the Con
- gresS now sitting at Washington, il
, which the most violent of American par
Ties possess temporary majority, Whicl
is ohvi0uslyan inadequate representation
Of the general feeling of the country. A
the moment when we are assured tina
. the violent policy Of the radical party
i'm regard 20 the south is i'm opposition e
the more temperate wishes of the North
ern people in general, aud that the NOR,
prudent course pursued by PreSiden
p johnson does but express the real wishe.
? of the nation, We shall hesitate before vs.,
attribute o very serious importance {,
the display Of "a similar spirit by Con
orass in reference 10 other subjects Sc
lGa1 as il is not supported by the act.
or words OF the Executive Government
Moreover even when there is no reason
% suspect this partial divergence be-
tween the settled disposition of the
American people and the mOmentary
excitement OF their Representatives, il Is
generally necessary TO receive American
language with a certain allowance fOI
constitutional eNaggeratiOn. The Fede-
raj Congress is not accustomed Ia
practice the subdued tone of diplomacy,
and we should he greatly mis-
taken if we interpreted their pro-
ceedings bv the same rules which we
apply 10 the sigaiiicant reserve which is
customary ln the spOndenCe of Ed
T ropean nations. Il would De premature,
f therefore, 10 attach any definite import
/ auce TO the resolutions relating TO Mexico
which have been introduced into both
/ houses Of the Federal Congress. They
have not, indeed, as yet heen passed, but
neither have they, in American phrase,
been laid over - or postponed. They
have only heen referred 60 lhe committees
OF the two Houses upon Foreign Affairs,
and il is TO be feared, therefore, that
thev are but too much in accordance with
the feeling Of Congress. THeV are, 70
must Dc confessed, very far from being
sUtisf0otGry. They commence by citing
the letter addressed in eighteen hundred
and siXty-twO to Marshal FOTney, in
which the Emperor UnfOlded the idea
with which he attempted 10 give a
dignity, and, as il now appears, a some
what dangerous DreteusiOn 10 his very
justiiiable interference in Mexican az
fairs. his object, say these resolutions,
WIS TO subject one of the republican gov
emments Of the American continent 10
"a foreign power, and 10 establish upon
lis ruinsa munarohial constitution. They
recall, moreover, two recent acts of the
Emperor Maximilians domestic policy
which are obnoxious to Northern princi-
,iss, These proceedings are denounced
in no measured language as opposed to
the declared policy of the Federal Gov
ernment, offensive 90 the people, and
contrary to the spirit Of their iustiu-
ti0Rs, f" and the President Is finally re-
guesied Ito take such steps concerning
,..is grave matter as VIII vindicate the
recognized policy and protect the honor
and interests of the Federal Govern
menL "
Il these resolutions should he passed
they viii certainly be the most outspOken
expressions OF American feelings on this
subject which have yet been uttered 10y
any public authority. II lrW be OJserred
that they do Cracfiy trh0t the President
yrHoHHV ubEiained .frOm doing They
do not scrupte 90 danuunce the Emperor
Napoieon's Intervention as a designed
attack upon American institutions, and
in the interest Of a European power,
government hostile t0 the spirit OF the
people upon which il IS imposed. The
President, on the other naud, confined
himself to laying down in guarded
language the general principles ol his
policy. as though with a view Of Offering
timely caution ta foreign nations not 10
try the American temper too far; and he
abstained, in marked manner, from
asserting that the conduct of France was
directly OhuOXi0u7 to those principles. IL
had ever, he said, been the rule of
American policy 10 abstain from
acting as the pr0pagandists Of repub-
'icanism iH the kingd0m Of Europe,
and they had right 10 expect a cor
responding moderation On the part OF
European Powers towards the republics
OF America. 1--WE should regard it, he
said, "as "a great calamity 10 ourselves, 10
the cause Gl good government and to
the peace Of the world, should any Euro
Deau Power challenge the American pe0-
ple, a. Il were, % the defense 0f repubii-
canisn.1 We may reasonably infer
from such language that 10 is European
Interference in this form OfforGihie prop
agandism which the President would
consider 10 the duty Of the Federal Gov
eminent % resist. lie viii not recognize
that any attempt Of such character has
vet been made awe can not % he adds.
"foresee, and we are unwiiliugtO consider,
ghat opportunities might present them
selves, Wslai combinations might offer,
to protect ourselves against designs inim-
zeal 10 our form of government and he
appeals I'D "the wisdom and Justice OF
European Powers to RESPECT the system
of nOn-iuterierence which has - long
been sanctioned 10y time, and which, by
It's good results, has approved itself to
both continents"
This is dignifed aud slatesmanlike
language and viii, We San not hut be-
lieve, commend itself to the American
peopie in preference tD. the nasty resolu-
lions which have been proposed 70 Con-
gress. The truth is that q war at the
present moment between France and the
United States would open such disastrous
prospects 90 both countries that prudent
men Oh both sides viii resort 10 every
possible means in order to avoid pushing
matters 10 so calcmii0us an extremity.
strong as is the power of France, and
stable as Aay be the kmparGr's Govern
meni, the shock Qi war with the United
states might prove a serious trial both to
Fuuce herself and TO her institutions.
Even II sAs siiporeded 10 carrying il 70
successful CONCLUSION, II could only be al
q ruinOus charge, for which no
acquisitions in the thankiess soil Of
Central America = aOuld cites aHybdequate
compensation. Nor, on the other hand,
could any thing be more unfortunate for
the United States az the present moment
than a war with powerful foreign cOun-
try. j. IS evident from ths iaMenable
accounts which reach Us nom Jhe South
ern states that nothing but complete rest
and q close attention 30 matters Of do
laestic policy can afford any chance Of
recover tQ tbs South, apd tho United
States IS but half Itself until that great
wound Is in fair way Of being healed.
They, too, might find that a war with
France on their southern border would
ineTss5H shPir domestic dimfulues, and
thew are a. little able a. trance 10 afford
10 add another vast item TO their national
debt The interests, therefore, ST the two
Governments are exactly Identical. IL
Is the interest Of France % Withdraw
as soon as possible from a perilous
position, and ii is the interest of the
United States to render That withdrawal
as fai 90 aGssihle sHGn'anfqgs ,nsiF&a OF
having " enforce IL Whatever Ian
guage the Emperor may have used IN
eighteen hundred and siXtY-iWpi the
people Gf AEerioa inay Be sure mat ne
can have no intention Of sustaining an
Austrian prince in Meyiooby French bay
oueis against the wish Of the MeNieans
az the risk Of serious embodiment with
the United States, and, il may be added,
m spite of the constant murmurs Of his
Own subjects HfpY m0tamluY indi-
Gales thal he viii peaceably Withdraw
sooner or later Either 0he Government
Of the Emperor Macmillan will nrove
50 welcome 10 the Mexicans as H. ,,e,'j
no foreign SUPPORT OF else Il win demand
an amount oi support which the En-
per0r viii be unable 90 give. In either
case The FRENCH cannot aU la with
draw. and it IS the interest or ~
United States i0 suffer the difR-
cultv 20 be thus solved bv nai,l-
ral means. The only course which
would tend 30 prevent this natural soln-
lion would be the adoption Of a hullying
tone on The part " the United States
which would rouse the sensiuveness Of
I French honor. The Emperor could not
{ consent 10 retire from Mexico under a
! threat, nor. # he were disposed 10 do so,
would the French people allow him. 1t
I IS, therefore, essential 20 american inter
ests and 10 the interests If the world that
! American statesmeR should abstain al
/ the present time from ihc0nsiderate eX-
| pressious Of feeling on this subject. II
4 would be worse than folly 10 eXpend
blood and treasure in the pursuit OF an