Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-06
THE NEW MEXICAN DYNASTY.
Sketch of Emperor Macmillan
From the N. Y. Herald ]

From the ~ Y. Herald.l
Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, Archduke
of Austria, and so-called Emperor Of Mexico,
and the head of the Mexican branch of the
Hapsburgs, was born at the Austrian inn
periai residence at Schonbrunn, on July
6, 1882, and is consequently in the thirty
fourth year of his age. His father was the
Archduke Francois Charles Joseph, Arch
duke of Austria, and his mother Sophie
Dorothee, daughter Of Macmillan /, King
of Bavaria. He had the misfortune to be a
second son, and has, in consequence, become
a sort of royal adventurer. His father was
never Emperor of Austria, as has been
stated, but being, like Max, second son,
was only an Archduke. Ii was Maximilian's
uncle, Ferdinand, who was the predecessor
of Francis Joseph. When this uncle abdi-
Gated, in 1S4S, the father of Macmillan
and Francis Joseph renounced his place in
the line of succession in favor of the present
Emperor. The abdicating Emperor, in
giving up his throne, unequally divided his
power, snd gave an advantage to the Arch
duke Maximilian, to the detriment Of his
elder brother. Such is the origin of the
constant, and at times very warm, differences
which have arisen between the two.
Maximillian was brought up at the gayest
capital in Germany, but does not appear to
have much taste for frivolities. He spent a
greater part of his youth in travelling. He
has been a sailor, and has seen good deal
of the world of waters, at least for an Aus
trian Archduke. In his early years he sail
ed about the Mediterranean, and visited
all the adjacent countries-Greece, Italy,
Morocco, French Algeria, Spain and Portu-
gal-with great zeal and activity. At the
close of twenty-five he was placed at tae head
of what is termed by courtesy the Austrian
coasts of Syria and Palestine. He went also
to the Red Sea, and took great interest in the
works of the Suez Canal, which was then just
beginning. In all this he showed himself
young man of proper manners and active
habits, desirous of emancipating himself from
the fetters of worn out and obsolete habits,
and the narrow-minded principles and pune
tilios of his race ard family. 1t is related of
him that when at Trieste, in 1852, he heard
by telegraph of the elevation of Napoleon to
the Imperial throne, and Immediately as
sembled all the foreign consuls there at sort
of banquet, placing the French Consuls at
his right hand, and proposing tie health of
Napoleon Ill, before he had been recognized
by single European sovereign. Perhaps
the above incident has not been without eff
feet upon his present fortunes.
Besides being Archduke Of Austria, Max
imilian held several other titles and digni-
ties. He was, as has been stated, Vice-Ad-
miral of the Austrian Navy, or commander
of the Imperial marine; commander of the
9Th regiment of Austrian Lancers, and chief
of the Sd Prussian regiment of Dragons.
In 1856 he went to Paris, and spent fort
night with the Emperor at st. Cloud, very
probably confding to him his troubles with
his brother Francis Joseph. The consequence
Of this interview was that Louis Napoleon
took the young man under his protecting
wing, and in the following year he was APP
pointed Viceroy of the Austrian possessions
in Italy, known as the Lombardo- Venetian
kingdom. This governorship-it was nothing
more-lasted until 1862 Maximilian made
himself highly popular with the Italians,
and in consequence still more unpopular
with his brother Francis Joseph, whose ac-
ton eventually resulted in Maximilian's re-
moval 1t is related of the latter that, while
Viceroy of LoI1bardy and Venice he used
to walk about thestreets of Milan and Venice
quite alone during the fetes and among the
crowd, and would never allow the police to
be ON the watch. One day at Venice, when
the Italian mobiles had plotted TO make
hostile demonstration against him on the
Plaza st. Marco, he discomfitted and quite
converted them to his side by tucking his
wife under his arm and coming among them
unattended and on foot, with courage and
frankness that disarmed every one. Another
time, Just after Orsini's attempt at Paris, his
life was said to be also threatened, and his
friends begged him not TO expose himself;
but he Immediately ordered his carriage to
go to the theater, taking with him Count
Stromboli, to whom he said, laughing, "If
am to be blown up, it shall at least be in
good company"
Maximilian remained idle after his re-
moval from the Governorship Of the Lom-
bardo-V Venetian Kingdom until 1868, when
Napoleon decided upon making a cats paw
of him in Mexico. The crown of Mexico
was offered to him by Napoleon in August,
1862, and the diplomats were put to work to
arrange for his acceptance and occupancy of
the throne. Nearly year was occupied in
this work, and it was not until the 10th of
of April, 1864, that he formally accepted
the proffered crown. BY the terms of
acceptance he made conditional renuncia-
ton of the right of eventual succession to the
throne of Austria, and an unconditional re-
nunciation of his share of the family estates,
to about 20,000,000 of forins.
The condition reserved in the remuneration
Of the right to the succession was that such
might be. revoked should
finding his foothold in Mexico
insecure, choose to resign within six years
from the date of his acceptance Of the crown
Of Mexico. Two of these years have now
nearly expired.
Soon after his acceptance Of the crown,
Macmillan left Austria for Mexico. His |
entry into the City of Mexico took place on
June IL, 1864, when he Immediately assum-
ID the disputed purple. His first official act |
vas the offer Of terms to President Benito |
Juarez looking TO his submission; but these |
we're rejected. Since that time his efforts |
nave been devoted to putting down the Re-
publican or Liberal Government; but his
uccess has not been very brilliant. One Of
lis principal schemes for strengthening him.
elf in Mexico has been by efforts of at
racting emigration Of Southern men thither;
,ut this project is already looked upon as
allure. Every day makes his position at
lome still more insecure, while the late
in this country and in Con-
,ress will be understood by him as omens
II rapidIv app-oachino aviIa