New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-13
.JUAREz TO SEWARD-GREETIyG.

The evil effects of the uncertain and feeble
policy of the Administration in regard to Mex
leo are evident in the letter from Senior Alta
mirano. n member of Juarez's Cabinet, pub
lished Gu another page. The official position
of the writer gives it especial value, and its
sentiments are doubtless those of the Mexican
Government, as unquestionably it was not
published without the sanction of Juarez 1t
is reply to ex-Minister Campbelrs note
of April 49, in which that gentleman
endeavorcd to obey the instructions of our
Government Ito make known to President
Juarez, promptly and earnestly, its desire
" that in case of the capture of the Prince
Macmillan and his supporters they may re-
"ceiye the humane treatment accorded 10y
"cvilizcd nations to prisoners of war"
How earnestly this was done we do
not fully know-the Mexican officer COM
plains that the tone of the letter is
unfriendly, and that its style is "far more
"adaptod to an ill-humored pedagogue Gliding
Gan erring pupil than TO a diplomatist;" how
promptly, may be inferred from Mr.. CampbePs
soj0urn in New0rleans. Altamiran0 did not fail
to question the credentials of our Minister he
" has not presented his credentials in accordance
with the laws of diplomacy; he cannot
therefore, be looked upon as an official char
"acterr We fear that the astonishing blunder
which accredited a United States Minister to
Mexico and sent him to New-Orleans. was one
of the main reasons that our intercession was
rejected The way to influence the Liberal
councils was surely not to instruct Mr.. Camp
bell TO write letters from New Orleans. The
Secretary of State should have known
that mock Minister could not meet the emer-
gency, that our Representatives in foreign
countries cannot reside at home, and that TO
gain for the suggestions of the United States
due attention, man of first rate ability and
character should have been sent directly TO
the headquarters of Juarez. Suppose that Mr.
Motley had been our Minister to Mexico
would Juarez have authorized such letter rs
thisl
In effect, the Mexican President tells the
American Government to mind its business,
and though such a message could not be sent
officially, it is conveyed in form scarcely less
emphatic. The blunders of the Administra-
ton are quickly noted. First, the doubtful
official character of Mr.. Campbelrs dispatches
is referred to, and then it is shrewdly observed
that Mr.. Seward appears TO have waited till
the Austrian Minister requested his interference.
Mr.. Wydenbruck based his appeal for our
intercession on the ground that we had the
Fright to ask JuareZ to respect his prisoners OF
war. inasmuch as the greater part OF the
triumph of the Liberal party in Mexico is
due to the moral support of the American
Government" The Mexican dplomatists are
quick 10 compare dates. "Ah," says Juarez,
"this. then, is the Austrian Government that
"begs; if we grant what Seward asks, we
Gin fact comply with our enemies" 1t would
have been seeing and nobler had the Sec
rotary of State made his appeal for mercy
without waiting for the prompting OF the Aus
trian Minister and with quicker perception OF
the cruel tendency of the Liberal victories.
But he gave Juarez the chance to interpret
our appeal rs that of Austria, and the wiier
Mexican has used it.
The Mexican Government comedies that 1t
had the sympathies of the American people IN
its struggle, but undertakes the value of that
moral aid 1t does not think that it owes the
United States debt of gratitude for such
small assistance as "cries of Indignation, and
clears of ink 1t claims that the Mexicans
owe nothing to the United States that gives us
the right 10 embody in our appeals those
of Austria, or to give advice that 10
Mexican ears has the sounding OF
n threat. The letter of AltamiIano breathes
contempt of our policy and resentment of our
suggestions; it asks what the United States
did 10 mitigate the punishment of the prison.
ers whom Macmillan captured, what protest
il made when the heroes of the Republic were
branded ~ banditsf 1t repeatedly refers to the
fact that the United States did not honor the
Mexican Republic even 80 far as to