The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-28

strip Of land in payment for the Mexican debt
and the French authority in Mexico sssents.
Gwin makes grand promises to the Emperor
of France-that countless thousands of Con-
federates will rally ct his call; that they will
make the finest colony in the world; that it
will be at once safeguard to the empire,
source Of uneasiness to the United States and
Of wealth to France, and that, in short, 1t will
be the same a. II France had recognized the
Confederacy, only the United States viii not
venture to take hold of 1t. Gwin, for all these
sangsine views, is appointed Director General
and given extraordinary powers Just as all
is going on swimmingly, notice of 1t Is brought
to the United States government by Mr. Ro-
nero, Mexican Minister, and, as the circum-
stances imperatively require it, Mr.. Seward
writes to Druyn de Lhuys on the subject He
writes mild little note, however, merely sug-
costing that if all this is true, then France is
not acting just as she promised to, and de-
claring that the President confidently and sin
cerely expects, in some form, an as
surance that oil the pretences Of DR..
Gwin and his associates are destitute
of any sanction fr m the Emperor Of France"
De Lhuys replies that as for Gwin it is not the
business of the French government to en-
tighten Mr.. Seward; but as to France, she re-.
members that the United States has spledged
its word" to remain strictly neutral as to Mexi-
co, and that France does not intend to inter-
fere in the questions that divide "the Union"
but to be ''scrupulously neutral" This val
liable assurance was made four months after
Lees surrender. France, however, evidc ntly
caught at the fact that Gwin had been named;
for Gwin, recognized us an enemy OF the United
States and 80 denounced, was thrown over;
but the plan was adhered to, and was put into
the hands of men as VIGOROUSLY our enemies
as the ex-senator. M. F. Maury was raised
into OWNS place. made an honorary Council
lor Of State and Imperial Commissioner of
Emigration, given powers "second only to the
Emperor" and is now engaged in the most
earnest attempt to run his immense machine
and build up nation to make the United
States dreadfully afraid. He even has his ac-
credited agents at wofk in our own Southern
cities, and draws on the imperial treasury for
their pay.
AS for this Franco-Confedera colony, it
will never be very terrible in the hands Of
Maury, Magruder, Isham G. Harris and Daddy
Price. Otherwise the country would have a
new cause of quarrel with the radicals who
are doing so much to build it up. At the start
Gwin relied upon the severe measures of the
government as a means to gil his colony, as q
cause that would certainly push thousands of
fine young fellows out into the world
in search of new homes. The unexpected
moderation of President Johnson was
serious blow to the enterprise; for no
man will leave his home and his country
so long as oppression has not made 1t intoler-
able. We need, therefore, take no very active
measures against Maury, unless the iron sway
Of the radicals shall yet make the Southern
States a place in which no man Of bold and
independent spirit can live. So much for the
colony. AS for the part taken in all this bust
ness by France, that is of great deal more
importance. Although our relations with that
Power have been rcputod peaceful, and even
friendly, and though mutual promises Of neu-
uohty anu SUou iciiOWc"fp uuVc uppuTCuby
passed between the Ministers at Washington
and at Paris, the fact is that there has been an
actual state of war between France ana shis
country. Without any declaration or recogni-
ton Of war, but oil the time with the smooth
est assurances Of distinguished consideration,
France has been in active afiliation with our
enemies, and has been carrying out the very
measures and projects that would have been
pushed most eagerly by an open enemy. There
uas been, oil the time, that distinction between
her acts and her words which DcmosIhenes
pointed ont between the acts and words of
Philip In his enchroachments on the liberties
of Greece. All the words are full of peace
and every act is prompted by hostile spirit,
and Is an act of war; more or less dissimulat-
cd and disguised. II is clear that our foreign
relations need 10 be taken up in "a new and
vigorous spirit, and our dispatches to France
to he written in quite another than the sweet
cned water style that now flavors them through
and through. We ought, at least, to know
whether we are at peace or at war with that
country.
Has THERE BEEN HIGHWAY ROBBERY By
THE PorIcE?--We call attention to the letter Of
the President Of the Greenwich Savings Bank,
Mr.. Il. II. Wheelwright, published in another