The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-28


The hope expressed by the Empe-
ror Of the French in his address to
the Corps LegisLdtjf, that the an
nouncement of his intention to with
draw the French troops from Mexico
would pacify the public mind in Anne
rico, does not seem to have been
entirely realized. Mr.. Bigelow's de-
spatch enclosing the EmperorB speech
has been replied to by Mr.. Seward,
and when that reply is published, we
shall be able to discover whether the
Government of the United States
shares the dissatisfaction manifested
by q portion Of the press. The Wash
lngton correspondent of the New
York Herald asserts that Mr.. Stewards
reply, which has been printed, and
was to be forwarded by the steamer
OF the 22d, is devoted to q review
and commentary npcn the ;-.;car::!!
address, and scores with especial Sc
verify the assertion of the Emperor
that this Government had been in
vlted to join France in her Mexican
intervention before the introduction
OF French. forces into the army of
Macmillan. The "reminiscences of
the Premier relative to the part which
France has taken in Mexican affairs
are said by the Herald's correspon-
dent to be so very caustic that they
chnno5 fail to suggest to Napoleon
the idea that we do not receive the
imperial excuses for that sinister
move with any degree of equanimity.
1t IS little singular that the New
York Times, which, from its semi
official relations to the Department of
State, might be expected to have
better Information of Mr.. Stewards
foreign correspondence, publishes no
intelligence from Washington refer
ring to the. subject
Whatever opinion may be formed
OF the credibility of the Herald's
statement, the announcement by the
Emperor of his intention to withdraw
the French troops when that step can
be taken without injury to the inte-
rests of France, cannot be relied
upon rs indicating any immediate ac-
tion. tits, perhaps, not forgotten by
the American Secretary that there oc-
CURED in the Emperor's speech, q
year ago, this paragraph: s'Thus all
our expeditions are drawing to an end.
Our troops have evacuated China.
n The army of Mexi-
co already returns to France" If
chat was the fact then, it may be so
now. If the French troops were
leaving Mexico year ago, they are q
long time in leaving, and may be
leaving, for aught we know, o year
hence. Perhaps Mr.. Seward is of the
opinion that they would better not
stand upon the order of their going,
but so at once.
1t is also worthy of note that the
diplomatic dispatches of Drouyn de
THuys, received from Europe since
the speech of the French Emperor,
though written before that speech,
help in some measure to interpret the
speech, and throw light upon certain
obscure features of it. The most
important of these dispatches is that
of January 8, two weeks prior to the
delivery of the Emperor's address.
In this document, there is labored
defence of the policy France has pur-
sued towards Mexico during the last
four years. It assumes that France
has only carried out the rights of war,
and that the Government of Maxi
milan in Mexico was based upon the
national will, and founded with the
assent of the Mexican people. There
is no need of comment upon such an
audacious statement. The public is
more interested in chat portion of the
despatch which throws light on the
present purposes and future action of
the French Government. Whilst the
Imperial announcement of the evacu-
alton of Mexico is foreshadowed in
the despatch, it also states that ''it
depends greatly upon the Federal
Government to facilitate" the evacua-
ton, and subsequently reiterates:
''We return, after that period,
(after the evacuation, to the princi-
pies of non-intervention, and from
the moment we accept it as our rule
OF conduct, our interest and honor
require us to demand it's equal appi-
cation by all. Relying upon the equi-
table spirit Of the Washington Cabi-
net, we expect from it the assurance
that the American people will con-
form to the law they invoke by main
tanning strict neutrality with regard
to Mexico. When you shall have in
formed me of the resolution of the
American Government in this mat
ter. [ shall be in q position to ac-
quaint you with the result of our
negotiation with the Emperor Maximi-
Ian for the return of our troops.''
This can only mean that the EN-
peror, before Withdrawing his troops
from Mexico, desires our Govern
anr,f 10 49, L. 1 q II