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

Emo COuIcOcrate EmterpriS0 In MexlcO-
Cheap Defence for MAMMALIAN Against
the United States.
We give to-day, in extracts from documents
comm unicatcd to Congress by the President,
satisfactory account of the Franco-Confede-
rate plan to colonize on Mexican territory men
lately in arms against our government. By these
documents it is placed beyond dispute that
thoroughly digested scheme for the erection
of hostile colony on our border was ar
ranged between the French authorities and GER
tain prominent Confederates, and that this
scheme, originating with the Confederates in
spirit Of bitter enmity to us, was encour-
aged, fostered and furthered by France, not as
peaceful ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the Mexican en-
pire, but as q war preparation and guard
against the United States Friendly relations
are shown to have existed between the Con-
federate authorities on the Mexican border and
the French imperial authorities early in 1864,
while the Confederatcs were still in arms defy
ing our military power. They expressed them
selves against the United States as against a
Power whose triumph would be equally mimi
cal to either; and Slaughter and Magruder, Con-
federate generals, were not disposed to permit
Ncgrcte, a general of the Mexican republic, to
gain any victories in their immediate ncighbor-
hood, lest in the defeat of the imperial forces the
interests of the Confederacy should suffer. For
not only were there friendly relations between
the Confederate and French forces, but there
was q practical alliance. Negrete, feeling this,
denounced it, and relinquished intended opera
tons solely because he could not fight against
both together. And Slaughter acknowledges
that he Intentionally gave that impression TO
Negrete, and from IL "rcaI'cd The same results
which would have heen attained by actual as
sistance." The advantageous result TO the
Confcderatcs of sustaining The imperial power.
was that thereby they were enabled TO
receive supplies and keep the field. Supplies
came from Matamoros for the Confederate army
in Texas; commerce through Mexico was car
ricd on by consent of the imperial authorities,
whose military force projected 1t, and this
commerce included munitions Of war. "The
imperial commander Of the post of Bagdad "a
Belgian) informs me-" says the rebel Slaughter,
''he has private instructions 10 permit ali arms,
ammunition and munitions Of war 10 be intro
may be desired" Thus the forces KEEP. in the
country by France were the active allies Of
those who carried on war against us; and all
the time Druyn de Lhuys wrote TO Mr.. Seward
honcyed assurances Of the neutrality and
friendship of his government, and said 1--WE
deem the word Of France a guarantee that will
| satisfy any friendly Power" How noble this
sense Of honor! How delicate and admirable
this pride in the unstained repute Of his
| country
| But the confederacy goes down, the more
| virulent of the rebels run away TO escape our
laws, and a period begins, in which Con-
federate relations with the French imperial
Power stand on another fosting. Confederates
are no longer soldiers in arms to whom the
French can lend some assistance in their cam
paigns against our troops; but they are good
military material, ready to assist tho French
against the United States as effectively as the
French assisted them some time before. In
hostility toward us IL Is the same on both sides,
only the Confederacy has passed out Of view.
That disguise for all the operations that France
could assist against US is no longer at hand
|
settlement, is good and plausible one, and
France Immediately proceeds to organize
colony between us and the Mexican
empire, as sort of buffer 10 break
the blows that may come by and by; and that
colony 10 neither more nor less in material
and spirit than the reorganization Of the Con
fedsrate force that went to pieces on our owl
soil at the close Of the war. II Is deliberately
cogitated threat All the arrangements for The
organization Of this new and hostile Power on
our borders are made directly with the EN-
pcror Of France, not with the puppet Maxi
milan, who Is treated all through by every
one, from Napoleon to Gwin, as mere form
name, shadow. The territory chosen \
greater In extent, as well as richer agricul
turslly and mincrally, than the part Of Mckee
that would be LEFT II this were taken away
] France proposes 10 Mexico 10 take this hti