Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-02
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER ?. 1896.
A RADICAL VIEW
Secretary Stewards Mexican
Policy.

-
At last the long-concealed schemes
Secretary SEWARD, relative 70 Mexico, begi
TO put on form and substance. They han
been skillfully kept hidden-the eunnin
Secretary has been plotting in the dark
yet his plans and his work have not bee
wholly unknown. While he has been pa
tering with the honor and interests Of th
Republic, in order 70 secure his own privat
gain and subserve his personal ambition, n
has been sharply watched, and nearly ever
winding ofhis devious track is known. tn
history Of his plotting is nearly as follows:
As soon after the breaking out Of our civi
war as NAPOLEON began 20 act in his Mex
can schemes, the attention Of Secretary SEW
ARD was called 10 that country. For a tim
he confined himself to stating the position
OF the Administration and the people upor
the question, only expressing the sentiment
he was ordered 10 express in the SEwARl
style. Pretty soon it became evident tina
MAxnNILIANs fate depended greatly upor
the result Of our civil war. England am
Spain Withdrew from the invasion, bu
France persevered. Ii was shown, however
that Mexico was in a condition TO fall com
paratively easy prey 10 the spoiler, for I
time, at least, and Mr.. SEwARDs cupidit,
and natural love Of intrigue began to be ex
cited. Why not secure a slice of the spoi
for the United States, and pocket the profits
himself2
A private company was formed, Of which
CLARENCE SEWARD and TURLOw WEEI
were the brains, which private company, BY
management, secured bargain for the sale
to them Of portions Of the State Of Sonora
and chihuahua, bordering upon the gulf Of
California Then, as our readers all re-
member, certain public organs began tc
sound the country with the idea Of a foreign
war, which it was claimed would be the best
way to unite the North and South after the
rebellion should cease. Seductive pictures
were wrought Of the veterans Of LEE and
GRANT marching shoulder to shoulder
against the French in Mexico, and forgetting
their own past quarrel in the common glory
of a new enterprise. For this service 10
Mexico, of course she would gladly give US
the territory bordering upon the Gulf OF
California, after receiving which, the Sc
wARD-WEED Joint stock company would APP
pear with their claim and pocket their mil
lions.
This plan did not work. Under President
LINCOLN the willy Secretary found il neces-
sary 10 be rather careful as to his conduct
His master was liberal, and allowed him 10
plot and plan, so long as he did not attempt
10 commit the Government, because Mr..
LINCOLN, more than any other statesman in
the country, relied upon the good sense OF
the people, and Mr.. SEwARD's scheme be-
ing discussed in the public journals afforded
very good means Of ascertaining public
sentiment, besides keeping public opinion
awake relative 10 our foreign affairs.
But, unhappily, Mr. LINCOLN, Mr.. Sc
WARDS master, was assassinated, and sue
ceeded by ANDREW JOHNSON, SEwARD's
servant. At once, the aspect of affairs
changed The schemer was now the power
behind the throne greater than the throne
itself inftead of the mere servant Of the
throne, as he had been uuder LINCOLN. He
at once began to improve the opportunities
Of the situation.
First he committed Mr.. JOHNSON to "my
policy policy which, il it succeeded or
if j. failed, would, in either event, need TO
be followed by some foreign complication 10
distract the attention and heal the wounds
Of the defeated victim. If it succeeded,
the South would gladly embrace an oppor-
tunity to seize upon some portion Of Mexi-
co, and lend its votes i'm Congress 10 further
SEwARD's plans, in return for services in
procuring their restoration, and because such
a foreign complication would serve as a
klletN-NdlNe 20 NlklIdtl the dlltnliOu F.nd
carry of the anger Of the Radical North.
Moreover, numbers Of rebel chjSs, at the
close of the rebellion, had emirrated Ia
Mexico and acquired property there. They
had been spoiled and abused bv both the
Empire aud Juarists, and revenge and re-
covery OF thels property would be sweet
Besides, the new States annexed might be
manipU lated so as TO add 70 Southern
gfv NT..,ar.n.. L II Ia,
glory Of conquest might be used to pacify
the North, and tide over the danger Of an
explosion until the country became settled
in its new guse.
Ia case Of the defeat Of my policy" the
Mexican scheme would be necessary-as it
is now being prepared for us--in covering
up the Presidents mistake, and giving to
the last $wo years Of his administration the
glory Of foreign acquisition to Offset the
failure Of his first two years.
Accordingly, Mr.. SEWARD found Mr..
JOHNSON ready TO fall into his plans, and,
about a year Since, he went 90 the West
Indies to hold an interview with SANTA
ANNA. Sho rtly after, SANTA ANNA came 10
the United States and we have seen the
development of that part Of the plot, with
out Knowing precisely what the bargain
beh' nd il was. We arc now told by the
telegraph that
an view of the possibility Of disturbances
in this country, and the anarchy arising from
the numerous factions and Cliques that have
for so long cursed that land, our Govern
ment will be prepared TO protect the recog-
nized Republican Government of JUARE2
aud establish It on firm and secure foot
ing. In consideration Of these services, the
concession Of Lower California and the
northern portion of the States Of Sonora
and chihuahua is made 10 the United States
Ii is no part Of the agreement yet made that
the United States is 20 guarantee the claims
Of France against Mexico, though such a
course may yet appear expedlent and proper,
in which case the Government of this
country will not hesitate 10 take the respon-
sibility.'
In plain language. we are TO take the pro-
tectorate, which France has made n failure
of off her hands. in return for which Next
CO is 70 give us the northern portion Of the
States of Sonora aud chihuahua, the very
propertv for which CLARENCE SEWARD and
THuRLow WEED have made their bargain
and giving us the east side of the Gulf Of
California, and the country and coast south
west of Arizona, as well as Lower California
Moreover, we may yet have the French
claims saddlcd upon us. The moment suct
a bargain is contaminated, this Seward STOCK
Company will be enormously rich. It's th'
most gigantic speculation Of all history.
But Mr. SEWARD may plant and ANDREW
Johnson NAV water, but II is Congress
alone that can give the increase. And wher
the Senate Of the United States saddles upor
the people the additional expense an,
trouble OF a Mexican protectorate, IN orde
10 enrich the SEwARD-NEED spectators
and get ANDREW JOHNSON out of his baC
scrape with my policy We think the PEG
ple will conclude 70 dispense with the ser
vices OF Secretary, President and Senate al
torcther. The scheme will not work An,
the President and Secretary had better be
little careful how far they commit the Gov
eminent II they value their official heads
The people have had quite enough Of plot
AGAINST their interest and honor. They ar
in no mood. 60 use an army phrase, 10 'stan'
a,,v more nonsense MANnlIIAN an,
France have made a bad job Il tie Mexican
protectorate business, and the people will no
consent 10 have the failure saddled upon tn
United States with all its debts, cost an,
trouble.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS CLASSES.
The writer Of an interesting sketch O
GEoRGE PEABODY in the National lHtaiigcl
Ger says: