The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-24


We publish elsewhere defence Of Mr.. o.
terbourg by friend Of his, who disolaims the
report that the newly appointed Mexican Min
lister ever made any attempt to have the en-
pire Of Mexico recognized. II is not our inten-
tion to make misstatements of any kind, and
mayhap, in the hurry Of the telegram, mistakes
crept into it; If so, it is TO be regretted. The
appointment, however. Of Mr.. Otterbourg is,
at this juncture Of Mexican AFFAIRS most mop
perfume, and Mr.. Seward could not have made
q worse blunder. The naming Of Mr.. Camp
bell was sufficiently unfortunate. This is the
worst blow yet struck at our Mexican affairs,
and threatens to throw them into an even worse
condition than they were before. With all re-
spect to Mr.. Otterbourg's private character as
q citizen, he is the last man who should have
received the appointment he is foreigner,
speaks the Spanish language imperfectly,
and even the language Of the country he is to
represent is not Huently at his command Had
the appointment been for some other country
We could not have complained; for We know
that Mr.. Seward is little disposed TO have o.
foreign minister any one who dares to think
for himself and who is other than mere clerk
of the State Department The present appoint
ment is nothing but ruin to our Mexican inter-
ests, and Mr.. Otterbourg can only show his
good sense by refusing . commission which
the Senate cannot rsaify If they have the slight
est respect for our relations with our sister re-
public. At this delicate point In Mexican affairs,
when minister has to grasp and shape the
policy Of our government for the next century,
we want one Of our best, our ablest men. We
want man, moreover, who stands high with
the Mexican people-one whom they can re-
spect, and one whose dignity Of character and
personal attributes will enable him to handle
the great questions that are to arise In our
Mexican contact The liberal government,
although spurred almost to desperation by the
demands Of the nation to shoot Macmillan,
have risked being overturned by the popular
clamor, and, at our request, have retained him
. prisoner, evidently awaiting the arrival Of
proper minister from the United States to con-
fer with us relative to the fate Of the royal
flibuster. The first thanks we give them for
acceding to our request is gross insult by
the appointment Of q man for whom they have
but little respect who cannot represent US as
we should be represented, who speaks neither
our language nor theirs. who understands
nothing Of the great questions which are wait
ing for settlement, who can only damage
American interests throughout Mexico, who
will not receive from the Mexican people that
honor due to our national representative, and
who can only, in fact misrepresent the United
States. We already have sufficient number
Of ministers abroad to damage our contact and
commerce with other countries more than the
next ten administrations can repair; but this
last act Of the State Department in reference 10
q country that requires one OF our ablest men,
il worse than all the rest combined. Mr..
Seward must have experienced an unusual
scintillation Of genius when he made this ap-
pointment II the brain Of the United States
Senate is hit by the same spark truly we shall
despair of the nation.