Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, JULY %, 1867.


Maximilian's Avengers.
Ono OF the most idiotic and nonsen-
sical expeditions which has ever been
gotten up in any country, for the pur-
pose OF tllibustering upon another gov
ernment, is now being organized in some
of the principal cities of the United
States for the purpose of invading the
neighboriDg Republic OF Mexico, and
having for its object the avenging of the
death OF Macmillan, the Austrian prince
placed upon the throne of so-called
Mexican empire, who for several years
waged war verging upon extermina-
tion upon that unhappy country.
Macmillan YVES taken as prisoner
of war by the Republican forces of Mex
leo, and after an impartial trial by court
martial, was found guilty OF attempting
TO overthrow the established government
of the country, crime which according
to the constitution Of the nation, merited
the death sentence, and in pursuance Of
the findings of the court, he was, in
company with the traitors Miramon and
Mejia, subjected to the extreme penalty
Of the law on the 10Th ult., and though
we OF the United States who have so
leniently dealt with traitors and usur.
pers, may consider this summary deal
ing as hasty and unwsrranted, sober
second thought will show that he has
been dealt with in just such 8 manner
as the patriotic people Of the United
States wonld have dealt with the traitor
Davis, had he been tried and found
guilty soon after his capture in petit
coats in the swamps Of Georgia, except
perhaps that we would have substituted
the ignominous halter for the soldierly
bullet.
Macmillan was to Mexico what Davis
is to the United States, and if we would
have so summarily dealth with Davis,
why should we censure the Juarez Mexi-
can faction for executing Macmillan,
carrying out as they did, but the find
iDgs and sentence Of legally consti-
tuted court martial, and acting In the
heat OF excitement consequent upon a
restored nationality and an Overthrown
usurper and despot?
There is no excuse for Maximilian's
brutal and inbuman treatment of pris-
oners of war and other similar acts
while holding temporary sway in Mexi.
co, and il his death is to be avenged it
should be done not by citizens of the
United States. but by the armies of Eu-
ropean monarChs who, jealous Of the
strides which America was taking to.
ward Republican government, sought,
while the United States was engaged in
an intestine war, TO endesvor to estab.
lish despotic monarchy over the peo-
pie OF lts most prosperous democratic
neighbor. But there are always and in
every land more or less hair-b Drained men
who will seize upon every opportunity
to join in an unwarrantable adventure,
whether it be in the cause of right or
wrong, who are lured on by promise
of position and wealth, and still others
who are induced to join such enterprises
by the "boOty and beauty" doctrine
and Of these classes the t1llibustering ex
pedltion now being organized in this
country and known as "Maximlian's
Avengers" is composed, and though we
expect some measures will be taken to
prevent their departure from this coun-
try, we can only hope, in case they
should effect landing, with sinister mo-
tives in view, on the soil of Mexico,
that they will be welcomed with hospi.
table hands to bloody graves"