Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-08
France and the United States-French In
terests in Virginia.

On the 81 day of July, 1862, as Marshal
Forey was about setting out for Mexico, at the
head of French army, the Emperor Napoleon
addressed him a letter Of instructions, in which
his policy in regard to Mexico was frankly I'M
folded. Six months later, when the purposes
of the Emperor, irnot accomplished, appeared
to be in the course of complete and satisfactory
Accomplishment, he ordered the publication
of this letter in the MoRtaT. We subjOin the
most significant portion Of it, as follows
=. The object TO be attained is not 10 impose upon
the Mexicans a form Of government which they dlS
like but 70 aid them in their endeavOrS 10 establish
according 10 their inclnations, government winch
NAV have some chance Of stability, ana Whlch can
secure to France the redress Of the grievances oil
which she has had "a complain. IL Is obvious that Il
they prefer monarchy it is the interest OF France to
support them in that view.
There lciH not be lr1Etiug people tchO riH ask
tou tghy zee 60 to larjSh men and money TO found d
regular government m Nerico.
In the present state Of cjrilsGtlon Of the tr0rld
the prosperity Of AmerIca Is not matter o. iHay'
ference 20 EHrOpe for as she rhOt feeds our manu-
factories and gires life 20 our commerce. We hare
an interest IN the republic the United States be Hs
Docerful and prosperous, but not that She should
fcke possession Of the irhOie Guf u Nerlc0, thence
command the AntiieS as ireH as South Amerlcd' and
be the sole 0tNOLTNcF tI tNe Pft4@ttN ~ ttt NtN
lrord We see, By sad experience, holr PTecG-
rous is the fcte IF industry chch IS reduced q
seekng itS chief rae material gle market q
al the riciSsitades Of lrhich Il has to submit.
If on the other hand, Mexico maintains her in
dependence and the integrity Of her territory; If
stable government Is there constituted with the As
sstance of France, re shall hare restored % ne
Latin race on the other side ef the Atigntc az Us
strength and prestige; ace shall acre guarantee
security % Vest LgdiG colonies ana % t4oSt ~
.fr a.. h..l1 hanoi sIaUf n
Auence in the centre of America and that influence
by presenting immense openings for our commerce
will procure Us the raw materials Indispensable .
our industry. Mexico, thus regenerated' VIII al
ways Dc yell disposed tOrGrd rs, not only iron
gratitude but also because her interests lril DC ~
harmony nth ours, aud because she will find q
powerful support IN her friendly relations with th'
European Powers
This letter is revived by the New York
Herald, which reproduccs it from the column,
Of the London TuseS, in which it was pub.
lshed on the 10Th January, 1868, accompanied
BY editorial comments. said the Times. We
cannot but feel that we now learn the tru,
"reasons of the Imperial policy, and the yer,
"meanS by which it will be carried out =
This letter, though six months old, represent
ga matured policy Of France"
ASS reminiscence, this letter Of the Empero
is certainly interesting, and worthy, like ever
document that emanates from that able rule
of being kept alive. But it is not as menu
rial or Renaissance that it is raked up froi
dusty files by the Herald. The object Of th'
sensational journal is to deduce from this II
motely dated paper the menace and the prob
bility Of present war between France and u
United States. 1t suits its purpose to igno
the fact that we have something onthis subje
from the Emperor Of much later dste-h
speech to the Corps Legislatif Of date 22n
January, 1866, in which he said:
"The emotion produced in the United States
the presence of our troops on the Mexican soil "
he pac6ed by the frankness Of our declarations
The American people will comprehend that our e
,1editiOn-tO which We invited them-was not o
pOsed to their interests.
81 am coming 70 an understanding with the En-
Oaror Macmillan to fix the epoch for the recall
P1r troops, to the end that their return may be
Ssctsd without compromising the French interes
,SS;cb we have TO defend in that distant country.
II appears to US to be much more ratiOna