Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-09
Two sDeeks Upon the Horizon.

Two ugly SpeckS 1--WE will not cN1gserate 10y
giving them high-souuding uaIne) appear up
on che horizon OF our foreign relations. Tho
wonder is, considering the aggressive and de
rsut temper which we have for years exhibited
towards foreign nations, that We have had such
signal good fortune in Keeping ont of dill
culties. There Is much less danger from this
source now than at former periods OF our his
tory. Our arrogance Is now backed by a Co
iossal power that the first nation OF Europe
might well shrink from cucouutcvlug. For
this arrocauce-or, TO call it lay gcntler name
shirt orndcpcudeuce, there J., some juNtlh-
tion. We have built up oar great. free empire
I'm >pitc of the frowus, the enmiticS, the macm-
nations and the sarcasm and ridicule OF all the
European monarchics. So powerul have we be
come that no single nation would be likely to
nick q serious quarrel with us, or to accept a
tender of the wager of battle IL it were possible
o., avoid il. We are like q man who has risen
IN wealth. influence and power by his own in
nate strength, energy and genius, IN spite OF
,I,. c,f,rts of those around him to keep him
down bv impositions, rebuilS, insults and
sncers. Having risen superior 90 all these de-
pressinc and discouraging influences, lac sur
vcv, his opponents with the feelings that in
s,,ir,J ord Chancellor TuURLOw when, i'm his
famous speech from tho woodstock, i'm reply To-
tho Duke Of Grafton, hc describe, the proud
mobiles as the men 8. whom 1 now look down
upon." Soft is with the United States. To
foreign nations it owes l;,lc, and from them T.,
not disposed to bear much. More than match
for any one, IN q just quarrel We believe il
would not shrink from contest with all ct
Europe combined.
The two Spec.S we refer 90 we now proceed
more particularly TO designate. Tn response
10 a resolution ct the Senate calling upon the
President for information in regard 70 the
decree Of MACMILLAN, issued ON the 81 o..
October last, the correspondence between Nj.
SEWARD, Senior RoNEEo, tho JrAEEl Minister
atWashington. and the French Minister of State,
VI. DRorYN DE LIUYS, has been furnished.
This decree denounced the punishment Of
death against all MeXicans taken in arms
against the Imperial Government, aud under
it, some distinguished Mexican officers were
executed, namely, Generals OErEGA and SA-
LAzA, and Colonies DAz, BORACHO, VILLA
GoSEz, PENEz, MELEANIA, five Lieutenant
Colonies, eight Commanders, and number Of
subordinate officers. When, in pursuance Of
instructions from Mr.. SEWARD. tho American
Minister at Paris, Mr.. BICELow. communicated
on this subject with NJ. DRoyYN Dy L,Vrys
addressing enquiries designed To ascertain tho
connection of .he French Government ,,i,,,
these transactions, and whether they were ~
reported by Signor RoNERo, he received tbi.
haunting reply:
MIR. Bigelow, under date Of PaIil- November 81
$50 writes to Mr.. Seward as follows
SR-HelM DrouyD ne i-Iluysl here referred o.
the representations lad made in regard o. ti,.
shooting a tie Mexican PRISONERS taken IA war aus
also . tLe case ol Madame de lturbilp Wl,v a..
said do you not go % President JuareLl ", ars
not the government OF Mexico, aud You DO T. L.,
much honor to treat such. We aad IL 90 4,
Mexico with an army 20 secure certain important IN
terasts; but arc not responsible for Macmillan
or his government. He l. accountable ta YOU As ta
any other governueSA If he violates Is rights, auI
you have the came remedies there That we had"
This HAY be legitimate diplomaticPleasantry
and acetiousness, but 70 unprolySSonal eyes IL
looks very much like a rude rebuff. There is
strong spice Of temper in il. Il is known all
the world over that MAxINILIAN owes his Ia
perial honOrs TO French influence and French
armies. If France abandons him, lis cause
will soon be lost. But her minister does not
say he abandons him. lie retiyes to the back
ground, puts MACMILLAN forward ss the prip-
cipal party, the one TO DO questioned and held
responsible, but dOes not say that France will
not back him.
The other speck is as follows 1t is rumored