Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-01-26
OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.-THE
MONROE DOCTRINE.

The official correspondence on the Mexican
question recently presented to Congress. re-
moves all doubt as to the position of the admin.
istration on this subject, The uliin.a,um pro-
posed to the French Emperor, Is rhe Withdraw.
al of his troops from Mexico as the iudrapensi-
bic condition to the maintenance Of friendly
relations between the United States aud France.
1t appears that so long ago as the l7,h July
last, the French Minister Count Montholou,
who had called at the State Department, in re
lation to the reception of q special agent and
certain explanatory papere from the Emperor
Msximillan. was distinctly notified, that moi
ther the agent nor hiu papers could be received
as this Government was in friendly communi-
cation with the republic Of Mexico. Again in
reply to confidential letter submitted to our
Government through the French Minister, pro-
posing to withdraw the French troops on the
condition Of our recognizing the Emperor Max.
imilian. Mr.. Seward says: that he regrets to
he obliged to cay that the condition which the
Emperor (Napoleon) presents is ono which
seems to be imprac,icable; : and aeein (Dccem-
Der 10y he writes substantially that, while the
United States desires to cultivate sincere friend
ship with France, such relations will he endan.
gered by her pereisting in the Mnximilnn mon
archy, inasmuch as We cannot recognize Maxi
milan. even if tho French troops supporting
him are withdrawn" Our Government thus
distinctly insists upon the Withdrawal Of the
French troops aud at the same time refuses to
recognize the title of the Mexican Emperor.
In thue insisting upon the enforcement of tho
Monroe doctrine, it would seem that the admin
istration entertains no fears If collision with
France, and SO far from making preparation for
war is now disban6ing its armies. The la
test advices oil point to the early withdrawal
of the French troops from Mexico. The En-
peror Napoleon is no doubt very dcairous of
extricating himself from the endorsements of
his position, and is only awaiting seme good
pretext for doing so. It is now insisted that
the French occupation OF Mexico was only de-
signed to be temporary. Says the 3fonitem !:
"When tho French government presented it
self in that country it's object was solely and
wholly to enforce. as the United States them
selves had previously done, a whole series of
claims which had been treated with insolen,
disregnrd. Circumstances which it was not in
tho power of Napnleo III. to prevent obliged
him to declare war against the government
which then held power in Mexico. That gov
erment fell !; another has succeeded 1t, sprung
from universal suffrage France ,uas naturally
obliged to defend against insurreetionary attacks
the administration ,rhich alone could secure the
reparation Of her JUS, grievance. The French
Cnhi"et hss shown by all ns acts, as by all its
declarations. wha. were the objects it pursued.
Il has aims at conquest. and It has taken
n",hing. rcc.pted nu,hing: it desires TO retain
nothing Of the vn-t -Xterl Of country orcupi.i
hy its tr""ps. It's occupation as it is s,o,o under
stood in the Unit States. is purely a temporary
one. and sriH with the causes ,olich created
it,"