--Public attention — which has been for sometime absorbed by the transactions of daily occurrence immediately around — begins once more to be fixed upon
Mexico.
The alliance formed between
France,
England, and
Spain, the object of which is to oblige
Mexico to pay her just debts, will compel the
Lincoln Government either to abandon the
Monroe doctrine altogether, or to take a decided stand against the allies.
It is true, that the allies, or at least the London
Post, which is the organ of Lord Palmerston, declare that they do not intend to land in
Mexico; that their operations are to be confined to the sea and the harbors; that they mean to blockade the latter, and assemble a large fleet in the gulf, for the purpose off enforcing the blockade.
With great deference to the better judgment of the
Post, we see not how the proposed object can be accomplished by the proposed measures.
To us it seems very like the ancient policy of the debtor, who, as long as the law allowed him, locked up his insolvent creditor in jail, thereby insuring the absolute impossibility of his ever receiving his debt.
Nor will the proposed plan of taking possession of the ports, and themselves collecting the revenues, answer any better purpose.
The vessel going in will pay duties to the power that holds the port; but the moment they land the goods the
Mexican Government will collect an other duty, equal at least in amount to that already exacted.
One or two, or it may be a dozen vessels will come in and submit to this process of abstraction; but they will be all. Trade will at once leave the port, and the high contracting parties, as well as the
Mexican Government, will be deprived for all time to come of their revenues from the customs.
Such an arrangement is not possible as long as the
Mexican Government is allowed to exist, or rather, we should say, such an arrangement must inevitably defeat its own object.
It is possible that the
Mexican Government might consent to the installation of the allies as collectors of the revenue; but if the present Mexican Government at all resembles any Government that
Mexico ever had since she broke of her connection with
Spain, it will none the less be certain to collect a new set of duties upon the goods when once landed.
Even if the present Government be honest — which is hardly possible — there is no security for its continuance until the first day of next January.
And should the allies interfere to prevent the collection of a second set of duties, they must end by planting their standards upon the steeple of the
Grand Cathedral.
Intervention in
Mexico means, in plain terms, the conquest of
Mexico.
To accomplish their object, be it actually what it may, the allies have set on foot a very powerful naval expedition.
The British fleet alone numbers twenty-six vessels, which carry more than five hundred guns, and are manned by six or seven thousand seamen and marine.
Such a fleet as this, united with the squadron of
France and
Spain, or even without their assistance, can easily put down any opposition which
Mexico can make.
Nor do we believe that old Abe and all his Yankees can prevent the allies from doing exactly what they please.
That he will use high language, talk loudly about the
Monroe doctrine, bluster and threater, we do not doubt.
But he can impose on nobody but the miserable
Mexicans themselves, who well remembering the victories of the
Southern troops in 1846 and '47, and supposing then to be so many Yankee triumphs, entertain the most exaggerated notions of Yankee power.--The Yankee Minister,
Tom Corwin, has neglected no opportunity to heighten these impressions.
He has been intriguing with the
Mexican Government to induce them to claim the protection of King Abe, and he graciously accords it, on condition that Yankees troops be allowed to pass over
Mexican territory for the purpose of invading
Texas.
A loan of fifteen million in the meantime has been asked of the
Federal Government, and doubtless, while that Government is squandering five hundred millions a year, it will not hesitate about so small a matter.
The New York
Herald assures us — at least its
Washington correspondents do — that Old Abe has determined to sustain
Mexico, and has caused a note to be addressed to the
Ministers of the three powers, demanding an explanation of their intentions.
If he will shell out the fifteen millions, it will enable
Mexico to pay her debts, the allies will not seize her ports, and there will be no occasion for war. If he will not, he will be compelled to fight the allies, or back out. We rather think he will choose the latter course.
We wish he would try the former.
It may be that this
Mexican imbroglio will lead to the opening of our ports, but we do not think it will.
Our opinion is that
Lincoln will submit to any species of insult rather than go to war with the allies.
