The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-16

y.
Wm. Moore, Abbeville c. H.
Julius Poppe, Anderson C. H.
a London Letter.
We extract the following paragraph
from the London correspondence of
the Richmond Times:
In the first part Of this week, the
European public was looking with
unusual interest to hear what the
Emperor of the French wonld say at
the opening of the French Legisla-
ture, on the Mexican question, the
refusal of the United States Govern
ment to recognize Maximilian, "even
it the French troops should be with
drawn from Mexico, =" having led some
to believe that some very important
announcement would be made. by
Louis Napoleon. Well, the ssSphynx
of the Tuilleries' has spoken, and
what does it amount to? In cautious
phrases, the Emperor speaks SEN
tences which remind us of one of
Oliver Goldsmith's political maxims,
''The use of language is to conceal
our'thoughts," IA sentence sometimes
enormously credited to Taneyrand,) J
and forthwith the elaborate leaders
of the London press, from the wea-
thercock Times down to the sanity
Star, explain the words in their own
way, and come to Numerically oppo-
site conclusions We then learn from
the same journals that the Emperor
has, In hot haste, despatched amen
voy to the Court of Maximilian, on g.
secret mission, which was of so much
dehcacy that it was not to be COM
mitted to paper. The envoy was not
even to have any credentials to show
that the Emperor had sent him, but
to go at once TO the newly-made
Mexican Emperor, and to make
known to him Uiua uoce the wishes of
Napoleon the Third. One or two
things, at any rate, seem to be clear
enough from the Emperor's speech
i. e., he regards the Mexican Empire
as "un fat accomph," and that he
does not mean, at present, to tell the
world what he will do in case his pet
scheme for the revival of the fortunes
of the Latin race in the Western He
misphere should be disturbed by Bro
ther Jonathan's legions In connec-
tion with this Mexican question, the
extravagant claims of certain section
of the American press have recently
afforded subjects of discussion for
English newspaper writer's, and the
message of the Governor of Ohio,
quoted in the Richmond Times, of
the I'd instant, is cited with approba-
ton, as embodying the most reasona-
BILE view of the matter. These writer's
also quote the speech of Calhoun, de-
ivered in the United States Senate.
on the 18th of May, 1s4s, in opposi-
ton of the views of the modern poll
tical fanatics on this subject.
President johnson has been win
ming golden opinions from nearly all
classes Of English politicians, since
his first mishap on the day of his in
auguration, and it is matter of no
little amusement, to men who have a
memory, to read the words of COM
mendation which some of the aristo-
cratic British papers use concerning
one who was once reviled by them as
''the drunken tailor of Tennessee. "
It is now matter of admiration with
uuclA tuttC OA0 VI Gilc 0OuGQocO
"mean whites" should be able to
write such State papers and apply
himself to the herculean task of re-
construction with such decided
ability And they ask if American
affairs are so well managed by men of
this class. what would the country be
if it were governed by its best men?
I hope President johnson will not
allow his administration, which has
thus far been characterized by SO
much humanity and common sense,
to be forever disgraced, as it will be
before the most thoughtful men of
England, of Europe and the world,
If through the intimidation of North
ern radicals he should suffer himself
to swerve from that lenient policy to
the late Confederates, which he has
thus far pursued, and especially if he
should countenance harsh measures
/ towards that illustrious but unfortu-
aate gentleman who, while conduct
Ag the affairs of the Confederacy,
the admiration of the whole civil
world.
are $50 political prisoners at
EortugaS-