New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-29

time and would not have been undertaken but FOR tho
great war which was raging and which 10 supposed
by all the Great Powers Of Europe, except probably,
would result In the dsmemDerment OF the COuI
try. and the overthrow OF Republican institutions.
Second Every act OF the Empire Of Macmillan has
been hostile to the Government OF the United states
MatamorUs aud the whole Rio Grande under his control
has been open port TO those rebellion against tis
Government IL Is notorious That every article held ~
the Rebels for export was permitted 10 cross the ko
Grande and from there to unmoiested 10 all parts o
the world and they IN return torccelye III pay all
arms munitions OF war, &c, they desired Rebels ~
arms have been allowed to take refuge Mexican sol
protected oy French bayones French soldiers have hiSu
mal from the south side OF the river IN aid OF me
RebelOnt Officers, acting under the authority OF tue
woud-be Empire have received arms, munitions auu
had become the property Of the United states IL now
reported and think there doubt OF the truth OF e
report that large organized bodies OF teDels
to Mexico 10 join the Imperalsts IL Is further
and too late will find the report confirmed that ION
tract or agreement has been entered INTO win ~
n traitor 10 his country, TO invite INTO Mexico aIno
ful Government Of that country states never COZ Ia
by the lmpenalists IL will not do to remain ,
force will be compelled to leave Mexican soil Rebel I'M
migrants 10 Mexico Will 20 with arms ia ueli ia &c
contrary will become producers Away ready when
emergency arises to TAX. their arms IN defense OF ny
cause OF the Empire, purely out OF hostility TO ts GOE
ernment feel there ~ no doubt 1heie Is n9lo . I
the rank and file may take the opposite sue Al tn'
uSncJ Is aV"id 10 Which allows armed Rebels
TO 20 to Mexico and which keeps out all O1le, lln
biyeremt rigbtsIthe right 20 buy arms and munitions
friendly territory to- their honest chance for
such Influence to be brought TO bear ,o,,r yo,,st
"What I would propose would De solebp P,y T
against me establishment Of mohGrcH,tal g2gs h, s
ereo By me aid Of treg 1ayo,SS IL r s rn ~ hav
ing riumphed aud would guarantee thcm 9nIa9e %
for their grievances Mexico would no doubt AUNT tho's
claim II il did not affect their terrtcry or rights as oo
Sc United States could take such pledges as would
secure her Vapst Oss How all this could DC uOho WIN
out bringing on an armed conflict Others VINO nave bVuu
| led such matters could tell better theh ~ r,5
his
reeoGi7e equal beiigecnt rights 10 LOh parties wOud
rants 20 tbat counry would allow either party tobuy
arms or anything we have to sell aud ntorpose no oD-
\ stacle to their transit
Finally, in September, 1865, having returned home
to Gaena the question much 10 his heart that
no again wrote to the President this emphatic letter.
Seven weeks absence from Washing on and free IN
tercOurse with all parties and classes n people mas con-
WINGED that there Is but opinion az 10 the duty OF
the United States toward Mexico or rather the usuPeIs
IN that country. All agree that besides pednQ 0! me
l0ngproc1iued Monroe doctrine, non interrogation ~
Merriam affairs ,oi ead 70 an expensive and bloody ~ar
hereafter or a yieidng Of territory possessed 6y u.s.
To bf the Empire Of MtTmiH BE- established on our ron
qnire large standing army ,rdteh Military stations
Will be Mt points remote FROM supplies anu therefore eh
pensyc 20 keep The trade OF an Empire VIII be lost 70
our commerce. and Americans instead u being tho most
favored people OF the world throughout the length anu
breadth OF this continent will Ue scofed aud laughed at
by their adjoining neghbors both North and souh-the
| people OF the British Provinces ana OF MEXICO
would have no hesitation In recommending that no
tice be given the French that foreign troops mus! De
eidraisn from ne continent and the people left free TO
govern themselves IN their own way wQHd openly seq
on credit 10 he Government Of MericO all me ammunition
and clothing hey rant, ana ad them 'oh officers 70 conf
maud troops In fine, I would take such measures US
would secure the supremacy OF republican government
| in Mexico"
| However much we may regret the fate OF poor
| Macmillan, and glad as we are to do his memory
honor fol the noble deeds he purpoSed, we cannot
but see that the sentiments here expressed were
those Of a statesman. Maxmilians fall was necessary
tita nf
Gen Grant understood this and with it that cardinal
principle of American progress which We write as the
sixth principle of his craftsmanship:
! w. No interference IN american affairs by the mon
Grchs Of Europe.
| Finally we come to what may be called an illus
tration rather than principle. Our public men have
been given too much to spending monoy-not enough
TO saving it, Gen. Grant for six months in charge
Of ono of tho most difficult and expensive depart
ments Of the Government. lie brought the eye of an
experienced soldier TO the work. and Immediately
began a system Of retrenchment. lie diminished the
Bureaus and consolidated their duties thus dspens-
! ing with large number of officers and clerks He
abolished every sinecure remnant Of the war reduced
the service in the Freedmons Bureau, the Quarter
master. Commssary, and Pay Departments; sold
unnecessary aTmories and arsenals stopped the
making of largo guHs and saved every penny
mat COulu DC saved WITHOUT utlIllltHl 10 puDhC
interests. So thoroughly was this done that oven
President johnson paid him this high compliment
"sautary reforms have been introduced by the secre
tary Of War ad interim aud great reductions Of expenses
have been effected under ms administration OF the War
Department 60 the saving Of millions To the Treasury
So, therefore we may write at the end Of this
summary principle that deserves especial honor and
which IN itself is the hi CHEST craftsmanship:
W. RebeHchmeEt in the DisbwsemeRto Of Public Moneys
Gen. Grant has been before the country for three
years in capacity of almost civil responsibility No
question has arisen in which lie has not taken posi-
tive and decided ground, and in some questions we
! find him far in advance Of the ablest of the men
commonly called Statesmen HOratio Seymour
for instance is man of purely civil attributes and
antecedents Most of the men who deny to Grant
anything more than brutal courage and adult routine
knowledge of war, who regard him IA an orderly
sergeant by mistake made a general-in tactical
science a drone, and in battle q butcher, regard
Mr. Seymour rs a representative Of the ripest and
most emil ghtened craftsmanship. We do not hesitate
10 take our captain as he stands before us in these
volumes. and compare him with Mr. Seymour. The
one never believed in the country nor had any SYM
pathy with its trials and successes. When Gen.
Grant was surely twisting his armies around Vcks-
burg, and performing teatS only equaled by Napo-
leon in his Austerlitz campaign no stood like moan
ing Cassandra and proclaimed our ruin The one
was the minister of victory, the other the preacher
Of defeat-a jeremiah in lamentation shrinking,
timid, purposoless officer when the time for action
came While the one was demanding the
conditional surrender of PembertOn, the other
was daying with q mob Of New-YOrk ruffians,
and virtually negotiating for the conditional
surrender of the Government TO that mob.
While Grant was ordering the military protec-
ton of loyal men at the South, Seymour was
willing that policy OF disfranchsement and