Year: 1866

name f the United States. Another Exec
utive humbug exploded. TIE man who was
SO economical of the peoples money. and so
scrupulous Of power that he refused, on ac-
count OF the expense it would incur and the
addition it would make to the Executive au-
thority. to sanction law of Congress which
gave protection to Unionists in the rebellious
States, has. upon his own responsibility and
without the sanction of Congress, undertak-
en- measure which involves foreign war,
and an expenditure of money which cannot
be estimated. In what part of the Constitu-
ton. as it is, or was do johnson and Sew
ard find their warrant to assume Protector
ate over a foreign country Not in the treaty
making power, for that requires the consent
of the Senate. 1t would seem strange indeed
to us, if their precious exhibitions of incon-
sistency had not prepared US for anything
from them, that these men, who have the
Constitution continually upon their lips, and
who are bowling for strict construction of
that instrument, should coolly attempt an
Executive usurpation like this. Our army
in the South has been for economy reduced
to the lowest standard compatible with the
public safety-some think below that stand
ard-and yet the President is about to re-
duce it still farther by ordering twenty thou
sand soldiers to Mexico. Our public reve-
nues, more than meeting all the present re-
quirements of the Government, are oppres-
sive to the people, and require readjustment
and reduction; but the President proposes
10 engage US in foreign war, which will
render any reduction of our burdens impos-
sible. The President and Senate combined
have authority to bind the Government
in any matter requiring the appropriation
and expenditure of money, for all bills for
such purposes must originate in the lower
House of Congress, nor have they the right
to bring upon US a war. for the war making
power belongs to Congress. What presump-
ton. then, for the Executive alone to origin
ate and carry into execution measure which
involves war of which no man can see the
end. and an expenditure of the peoples mon-
ey which is incalculable And that, too, Just
before Congress is coming into session. We
have but to review our own history to be as
sured that foreign intervention can be of no
benefit to the Mexican people. Even if for


elSn intervention were desirable to them. it
should be at the hands Of those who would
be likely to understand the situation and po-
litical needs of Mexico. 1t is next to impos-
sible for any one who is not in actual con-
tact with people, to understand their feel
lnss and needs, and adopt a policy which
Will meet with their approval and conduce
to their benefit. What assurance have john
son and Seward gwen of their capacity to
conceive successful policy for Mexico, when
they have demonstrated their incapacity to
understand the politics of their own coun-
try? How can they expect to be pacifcators
there, when by their stupidity they have all
but raised civil war here 1t will be plead
ed by them and their apologists, that they
intervene for the good of Mexico, and in the
behalf of peace and order; that she is our
anu II 10 utSlTdOle lIldL IGT internal
dissensions be cured. and security given to
foreign residents within her borders that it
is for our interest that this should be done,
and that we should do it. Grant all this if
you will. but is it not more desirable and
more to our interest if we should first heal
our own internal troubles, and that we
should first secure the safety of our own cit
izens on our own soil before we undertake
any chivalrous enterprise of regulating the
affairs of others Are we not Justly throwing
ourselves open to criticism, and to the advice
of physician, first heal thyself"s The effect
of Johnson's American protectorate and oc-
cupation of Mexico instead of being of ben
eft to that country, would be most disas-
trous to her future progress. A great polit-
ical party of that country-that of the church
has shown that it is there utterly inimical
to republican institutions. The church owns
a third of the wealth of Mexico, and the
myrlnidons of Maximilian own the balance
acquired by imperial confiscation of the prop
erty of the Republicans. The American
Protectorate would but give title to robbers
in possession, and leave the Republicans as
impoverished and powerless as "my policy
has left the Unlonlsts of the South. 1t is not
for the good of Mexico that Seward and
Johnson scheming. Johnson having made
one desperate experiment in our home poll
ties, and disastrously failing, seeks by some
new and foreign enterprise to recover his
broken fortunes. If by throwing an army
into Mexico he can bring it into collision
with any of the factions of that country, he
hopes that the combative spirit of our people
will be aroused, and the question of war OF
peace taken out of the hands of Congress,
and the Executives power again be exalted.
Should he be impeached in Congress for this
, and previous Executive usurpatons, he
would raise the cry that this is no time for
internal dissensions when we are in foreign
war, face to face with the enemy! He would
. proclaim the foreign use of our armies as an
excuse for not giving protection to cur citi-
, zens at home, and demand the unity of the
f States on the basis of his policy. as necessi-
ty growing out of the war. Seward would
, have the same reasons as johnson for under
taking Mexican WARMTH the additional
one personal to himself, that he would have
the opportunity of using our Government to
, do the dirty work of European nations.


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, The Daily Times of which mention has
been made time and agaiI. will make its ap-