Year: 1866

able statesmen In the land, irrespective OF
past political afinities. With such Congress
the Union will be restored and the country
saved But If such politicians as Messrs.
Raymond and Brooks are to be reelected the
radicals will have an easy victory, and we
shall progress still more rapidly upon the road
to ruin.


Napoleon and His Mexican schsme-Nsw


Developments.


It Is very evident that Macmillan cannot rely
upon any further assistance from Napoleon in
support Of his empire In Mexico. The Emperor
Of the French, finding that the complications
are thickening around him in Europe, Is
anxious to strengthen himself as much as pos
sible, and has sent an autograph letter to Maxi
milan demanding that the custom houses of
Mexico shall be placed under French admins
tration as guarantee for the loan to the Mexi-
can empire converted into three per cents.
This demand is accompanied by threat that
in default of its acceptance the French troops
will be Immediately recalled. This certainly
places Macmillan in tight place. To accede
to the demand would be to deprive Macmillan
of great portion Of the revenue necessary
to meet his daily expenses. If he rejects it he
will be left without sufficient force to protect
his crown for forty-eight hours. Either horn Of
the dilemma is ruin to the Mexican empire
scheme, and the only safety for Macmillan
is to beat hasty retreat from the Montezumas
parcntly is to secure additional security for
funds advanced to assist this Mexican project
with the view of an early reimbursement, yet
il is not certain but that the reasons assigned
for demanding the management of the custom
houses is only suberfuge. 1t is not improba-
bic that he has made the demand knowing
tIa! Macmillan will refuse it and thus afford
him pretext to withdraw all his troops from
Mexico at once, and not wait for the delay speci
lied IN The former stipulations.


L would certainly be ruinous to Macmillan
to accode to that demand. He finds it next to
impossible to obtain sufficient funds to keep
the machinery of his empire going now, and
if he turns over the custom duties to the French
bis financial difficulties will be increased
thousand fold. His stay in Mexico under such
circumstances will be anything but pleasant.
Between that alternative and the loss of the
French troops he had better accept the latter;
for in acceding to the demand Of Napoleon he
will be simply acknowledging to the world
that he has no hold upon the people Of Mexico,
that he Is usurper to the fullest interpreta-
tion Of that word, and only retains foothold
there by virtue Of French bayonets. A more
humiliating admission cannot be imagined.
Thus II is that the European scheme to estab-
lish On empire on our border is fast coming to
grief, with very strong symptoms that Napoleon
intends to leave Macmillan in the lurch.


In the meantime General Banks committee
has several propositions before It looking
toward important assistance on the part Of our
government to the republic Of Mexico. The
present would seem to be the opportune mo-
mcnt for the United States to use It's influence
in that direction, and we have no doubt that
plan is now being matured to render this
assistance upon the basis Of General Ortega's
proposition. In entering into a treaty Of this
kind our government would be recognizing
the only legal and constitutional authority in
that country, would rebuke the factions which
are trying to keep Mexico in constant turmoil,
materially benefit our commerce and secure the
triumph Of the Mexican republic without arous-
ing the opposition Of any Of the European Pow
ers mixed up with the interests Of the empire.
Now that favorable opportunity is offered we
anticipate an elaborate report upon Mexican
affairs from General Banks within very short
period. The attention. which his committee Ia
giving this subject and the facts that must
have been gathered, ought to enable the COM
mitteo to present q plan that will meet with
universal approval and secure the early over
throw Of the empire and the triumph Of the
cause Of the republic, regardless Of what the
answer Of Macmillan may be to the recent de-
mand Of Napoleon.


HEAVY DIPLOMATIC CoRREsPoNDENcE.-The
first instalment Of Mr.. Stewards official diplo-
matte correspondence for twelve months prior
10 November, 1866, has just been published.
1t is q volume comprising six hundred pages
and Is exclusively confined to our relations
with Great Britain, including correspondence
with the American Minister In London, ac-
counts of interviews with the British Ministry.