The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-10
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lIIs. SEWARD AND MEXICO.

IL is plain,' even at present. that he has bccn !,
very successful one. There is somcthin very
striking, even TO II Suuthcrncr, in The steady.
unaltcrablc resolution with which, in all his
long and vnried diplomatic correspondence, he
refused to recognize the possibility Of the sue
cces Of the Coniedcrncy. At times he musl
himself have fell tllat the future was more
doubtful than he could admit, but he never be.
trnycd his apprchcnsons, an'l he can claim,
that through that long period Of trial he never
uttered wor,l which now, in the hour ol
triumph, his country would wish lnsa low
far his diplomacy controlled the result cannot
now he determined, but there is in his career
one episode upon which we think the present
judgment will be the final one. and ila, iu.lr-
ment one whicl, secures his place in history.
The very proper instructions which MIR.
SEWARD addressed in 1861 to MIR. Cunwrx the
newly appointed Minister to Mexico, were
scarcely adapted to the contingencies which
| AlcXican affairs developed, and in the issues
Of foreign policy. which events presented, Mrs
SEWARD found himself not slightly cmbNrrnss-
cd. For, as he said himself very truly to
Mr.. DAYTON, in 1868:
at is well understood that, through
long period, closing in 1850, the manifest
strength of this nation sufficient protcc-
tion for itself and for Mexico against ali foreign
| States. That power WIS broken down and
shnt,ercd in 1861 by faction. The first fruit
Of our civil war was - new, and in effect, though
| mol Intentionally so, all mnrrienoIly attitude
assumed by Great Britain. France and Spain.
| all virtually, and the Two first named powers
avowcdly moving in concert While cannot
| confess to fear OH the part Of this Govern
mcnt that any one, or all OF the maritime pow
| ers. combining with The insurgents, could over
throw il, yc, il would have been mallifcslly
prcsumptnous, at any time since this israc-
tion severed the American people, to have pro-
voked such an intervention, or 10 have spared
any allowable means Of preventing H."
Between 1861 nnd lSG', it had become
| Obvious that France had taken advantage Of
| the condition Of the United States to adopt II
policy i'll Mexico that would not lave been
pcrial Government in Mexico, would indrcd
have lutionizcd the future of this continent:
Mr.. SEWARD felt that there was II natural con-
necton between them. lie knew that the
formal recognition Of the Confcdcracy by
France would he an immense gnin, il not an
assurance OF success, to the Southern cause: and
that rash or injudicious action in Mexico
would secure that recognition. At the same
time, il, as he professcd to believe and by
force of his position was bound 10 assume, the
Confcdcracy must ial, then two great Il con-
cessiOn to France in Mexico, 10 prevent her in
| tcrirrencc Mt home, would emharrnss his
position in the future; for lie French policy i'll
Mexico was in direct defiance of NIL the tradi-
tional policy Of the United States Government,
offensive aud violating to the sentiment Of the
people. II is true thnt fortune favored him,
but it must be admitted that dangerous and
difficult position has seldom been better main-
taincd with those two great diplomatic
weapons, an even temper and skllful use
Of words. He never threatened what he could
not execute; lie would never anticipate what
had not actually happened; and he never con-
ccded what the future might mnkc il impolitc,
as we'll as impossible TO grant.
On the 2Gd October, 1868, in language which
was both dignified and atlroit, lie srd:
"liappily the French Government has not.
been left uninformcd that, in the opinion of the
United States, the permanent establishment of
foreign and monarchical government i'll
Mexico will be found neither cnsy nor icsir-
| able. You will inform NJ. DRouYS DE L'IIuYs
that this opinion remains unchanged. On the
other hand, the United States cannot antioi-
pate the action of the people of Mexico, nor
have they the least purpose or desire to inter
fcre with their proceedings, or control, or in
icrferc with their free choice, or disturb them
| in the enjoyment Of whatever institutions of
government they may, in tho exercise Of na
absolute freedom, establish. H. is proper, also,
TINT NJ. DnoUrS DE L'IIUYs should be inform
| cd that the United States continue to regard
| Mexico rs The theatre of war which has not
yet ended in the snbvcrsion of the government,
long existing there, with which the United
States remain in the relation Of pence and sin
cerc friendship; and thnt for this reason the
United States are not now at liberty to con-
slider tho question Of recognizing II Government
! which, in the further chances of war, may
come into lis place. Tho United Stntcs, con-
sistcntly with their principles, can do no other
| hiSc luin lehHc tnc ucStlIlcS OF AleXtc0 Ill Tic
keeping Of her own people, and recognize their
Sovereignty and independence in whatever
form they themselves shall choose Tint This
sovereignty and independence shall be muni-
| fested.
This was between the date Of what was 10
us tho fatal battle of Gettysburg, and the mp
pointment of Gen. GRANT as commander-in
chief Of tho armies Of tho United States. The
foreign statesmen who were "willing to wound
yet afraid TO strikc," continued 10 "let
dare not wait upon, would;" and, the cnuse
of the Confedcrnoy and the Empire both
travelled the road to ruin. As Mr.. SEwAup's
position grew stronger, his language grew
moro courteously imperative. But even then
his first position Ind been so ju,liciously taken
thnt lc could appeal to events rs fulfilling his
prophecies md use with force and effect the
language of friendly persuasion instead OF
hostile threat. And hc Ind finally the sntis
fnction OF obtaining the Withdrawal of the
French troops without sacrificing ono principle
Of his own policy, or making breach of hi.
friendly relations with the government whose
policy ho opposed.
Tho result has been 10 place tho United
States in its relations with Mexico, and in is
relations with Europe in reference 10 Mexico