The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-02


Of Mr.. Seward there is one little pass ,ge-,t-
arms between him sni M. Drouyn de Lhuys,
at that time French Minister of Foreign Affairs,
which is worth reproducing Mcmillan hid
issued his decree of outlawry aga MT the firhf-
ing MEXICAN liberals, numbers of prisoners
captured by the imperialism under that decree
had been execute I, and still the bloody work
continued. In the name Of civilization and
the cause of humanity Mr.. Seward appealed TO
the French government to interpose and put an
end to this savage mole Of warfare. The
facetious French Minister substantially re-
sponded-"Why do You appeal 10 MS to redress
these wrongs? Why not call upon the govern
ment of Mexico-that which you recognize, the
government of Juarez! He is your man,"
The point of this humorous reply will be under
stood when 1t is remembered that jnst then
Juarez was the dimmest shadow Of ruler,
coored up In Ell Paso, on the extreme Northern
frontier of Mexico, with not an inch Of ground
he could call his own, and depending for his
personal safety on his chances in the last resort
Of escaping from the French dragons by run
ming over the river into the United States.
But what a commentary upon this grim joke Of
the French government do we now read in the
terrible ending of Macmillan and his empire
The moral of this scrap Of history which we
commend to the Emneror NAPOLEON, Is this:
how narrow is the vision Of the keenest sighted
diplomat in regard to coming eventsl
We might further pursue this inviting text,
but for the more attractive argument suggested
by the peculiar views o. me New York Tribune
on the fate of Maximi'ian. The Philosopher
Greeley, who in the matter Of human kindness
yields the generous milk of Durham COW.
says that he feels more keenly this cruelty TO
Macmillan "becanse Of our treatment o. JEFF
ferson Davis" We had men among us with
whom, "like the cannibals Of Africa, the only
fruits of victory were the wasted bodies of their
enemies" Horrible thought! "But the better
sense of the people prevailed and the leader
in one Of the greatest rebellions WIS set Free"
says the rejoicing Greeley. The peoplel Whit
had the people to do with 1T Nothing. What
are the leading facts in this case : Simply
these: Jefferson Davis was the chief of the most
formidable rebellion in history. His armies at
length were beaten, and, fearful Of that "sour
apple tree" he fed and WIS heading for Cuba
or Mexico, when proclamation was issued from
President Johnson denounciny him AZ q con-
spirator with others in the assassination of
President Lincoln, and offering q reward of
one hundred thousand dollars for his capture.
He was captured in Georgia by detachment Of
Union troopers; he was brought back to Vir-
glnia, and locked up a. prisoner in Fortress
Monroe.
Months have elapsed, with Davis under lock
and key, when the idea that he is to be tried
as o murderer Is superseded by the general
impression that in the course Of time, If he
lives, be Is to be tried as q traitor But
and the technical quibblngs Of Chief Justice
Chase, and the difficulties suggested by the
Attorney General, and the backing and filing
Of the Judiciary Committee Of the House
Of Representatives, the chief of rebellion
continues to DO held as prisoner for nearly
two years, without any trial, or any pros
poet of . trial a. murderer or traitor. At last
chiefly through the activity In bis behalf Of his
principal legal adviser, Mr.. Charles O'Conor,
Of this CITY, he Is brought up before Judge
Underwood Of the United States District Court,
at Richmond, in the character Of rebel. It
is then found that by law Of 1862 rebellion IL
. bailable offence, and Mr. OConor, beginning
with "the milk Of human kindness" man,
Greeley, between whom and the subjugated
John Minor Bolts, Gerrit Smith Is sandwiched,
triumphantly parades his roll Of bondsmen to
the tune Of one hundred thousand dollars.
Thus released, through the patient and sklful
management of Charles O'Conor, Davis, like q
conqaering hero, hastens from "the Yankee
flag" to the new Dominion Of Canals, that
"hsppy hunting ground" as peace makers, of
jake Thompson, c. c. Clay, Bev Tucker,
George Sanders, Horace Greeley and Colorado
Jewett
These are the leading facts in this case Of
JEFF Davis, from which It is apparent that
O'Conor is the lion Of the play and Greeley
chief Of the donkeys A hundred thousand
dollars is first offered and then paid for the
capture Of Davis as an assassin, another
hundred thousand is expended in holding him
as prisoner, and then he is discharged on the
promise Of Greeley and others to fork over
hundred thousand in case the accused shall
fail TO come to time when called for to be tried
as rebel. In this financial exhibit the govern
ment is out Of pocket two hundred thousand
dollars Does anybody suppose that for .
hundred years to come, by the court at Rich
mond, before which he is bound in that other
hundred thousand, Davis will be called fort
No. What, then, have we to boast Of in this
businessi We can boast that, from President
Johnson down to Judge Underwood, all our
government officials have acted like parcel
of weakheaded and foolish old grannies, that
Greeley has been consistent with his Niagara
negotiations, that the government stands dis