The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-04

working OF tho several Executive Departments
during the last year, an interesting, instructive
and satisfactory State paper, while upon the
great issue Of Southern reconstruction II reads
like chapter from ssThe World before the
Deluge." Mr.. johnson devotes two tedious
newspaper columns to . defence Of his last
years measures and general ideas Of Southern
restoration, including some beautiful extracts
from washin0ton's Farewell Address and rom
Jefferson and Jackson, in support Of his theory
Of State rights and the powers Of Congress, and
then he drops the subject Il Is an argument
to the court after the jury had rendered their
verdict 1t may be compared to history Of
France, emitting the revolution which over
threw the Bourbons-as a trivial matter not
worth mentioning in pleading their claims to
the throne.
1t ID indeed remarkable that after deliber-
ately submitting his Southern policy against
the plan Of Congress to the people in tho late
elections the President should not have
word to say Of the will OF the people, az made
manifest in these elections. He talks Of "the
ancient landmarks,' as il none Of them had
been swept away by the late Southern deluge
Of fire and blood, as IL the war had changed
nothing and as il the recent elections had
decided nothing. In word, Mr.. johnson for
gets that we have passed through the fiery
ordeal Of a mighty revolution and that the
pre-existing order of things is gone and can
return no more-that great work Of recon-
structiOn is before u.s. and that we cannot
escape 1t. Taking it for granted, however,
that this superauous argument of the Execu-
tive on his exploded policy is only an ingenious
device, with his colors flying. for turning over
the whole matter absolutely into the hands of
Congress, where it belongs, we may dismiss
this branch of the Message without further
remark
Passing over his summary Of the depart
mental reports and the recommendations in
connection Herewith, the Presidents brief
statement of our relations with England and
France next challenges onr attention. He
says "it IL a matter of regret that no consid-
cradle advance has been made towards an
adjustment of onr difficulties with England,
arising from Anglo-rebel depredations upon
our commerce during our late civil war; but
be thinks the delay in this matter may be
charged Gin no small degree" to the embar-
easements resulting from the late change in
the British ministry aud he expects that as
the attention OF the new ministry has been
called to the subject, it "will he now taken
up and considered in becoming aud friendly
spirit" In regard to France it appears that.
expecting the removal OF the November install
ment Of the French troops from Mexico, as
promised by Napoleon, our new Minister 10
Mexico, Mr.. Campbell. with General Sherman
NJ his confidential adviser, was sent of on the
9th Of November to look up the republic,
under the impression that with the exit OF
the first instalment Of French bayonets the
republic would displace the empire. 1t
further appears, however, that on the ed Of
November information was received from
France that Napoleon had decided not to
withdraw his first detachment, as promised,
in November. but to wait aud withdraw the
whole of his troops in the spring. Hence the
moustratng against this nonfulHlment Of Ma
poleon's pledge in the premises.
No answer to this despatch we infer, has
been received. Thus. then, the matter stands
Mr.. Campbell and General Sherman, sucking
oranges. are awaiting at Havana the retirement
Of Macmillan with the first instalment Of the
French troops before venturing into Mexico,
while spoor Max" Is fOrcibly detained by Mar
shall Baxaine. and the French troops are kept
in the country intact for some ulterior purpose.
What is il. The President hints at IL in
proposition from France for "a mutual conven-
tion for the adjustment OF all claims Of citizens
and subjects Of both countries arising out Of
the recent wars on this continent" This
proposition is thought not unreasonable; but il
Is turned over to the consideration of Congress.
We conclude that Napoleon is holding his army
and his man Macmillan in Mexico in order,
through some arrangement with the United
States, to get certain claims fixed upon the re-
public "a the price or his Withdrawal
Of the empire. There may be even deeper
designs than this contemplated by the French
Emperor His former entente cordiole with
England, which seems 10 be now revived, may
result in common purpose between those two
Powers to arrest the growing influence Of the
United States in the British provinces, the
Spanish American States, and the West India
Islands; for the empire Of the seas Is involved
in this American balance OF power and the
conflict between republican and monarchical
ideas the world over
This is great subject. and next TO the para
mount business Of Southern reconstruction, Il
should command the attention OF Congress.
Mr.. Seward. in his efforts to solve our foreign
dificulties. has signally tailed, and the admin
isiration falls back upon Congress-. Indeed,
The gst Of the Message may be summed up
In the simple remark that il turns over to
Congress the settlement Of our domestic and
our foreign troubles, and we can only hope
that the two houses will rise to the demands