Napoleon's designs in Mexico Foreshadowed
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A glance at the map of Mexico will show the large Senora district, lying close to the gold fields of California. A French commission has already explored and reported on this region, which, in mineral wealth, has not its equal in the world. Mexican greed has alone prevented the working of its fabulous mines. No sooner did a set of men hit on a ledge, open it up, and commence unveiling its riches, than down on them would swoop some mountain lord to levy black mail. Exaction would fellow exaction, until at length the miners were driven away. In this district it is now said that France is to demand or take considerable territorial possession, paying no royalty. In order to place herself in rapid communication with her new colony, in esse, she will run a line of railway, already begun on the Atlantic side, across Mexico to the Pacific port of America. For this port the Forfait has just sailed, with engineers and material for commencing the work. But besides this line, cutting Mexico in two lower down to the South, a ship canal is projected. Perhaps M. Lessops may be appointed, should France, unmolested by England across the Atlantic, suffer the Shez cutting to slip through. The Emperor himself, having written on the feasibility of wedding the Atlantic and Pacific is fully acquainted with all practicable rouses, and has, it seems, decided on one not far from the Southern frontier. In order thus these lines may be safely used the state of Mexico must be greatly improved, and life and property rendered secure. With Miramon and Juarez Governments succeeding one another, this very desirable tranquility would be impossible — The South of Mexico will be intersected in order to keep up communication with the North, and it is not impossible that, to protect the South, the centre will be required.
France has now nothing to fear from the Monroe doctrine; the United States, bleeding at every pore, is weak and attenuated as a sick infant. When North and South are separated, Washington will be far away from the Mexican border and the scenes of its triumphs, and France and the North will only justle each other where California and Sonora meet. The Southern Confederacy, with troops in hand, might prove a troublesome neighbor. It will be remembered that a stir was made in Texas about a year ago concerning some French intrigue in that country. It is now talked of Texas slipping away from the South and trying self Government, under the joint protection of France and England, or, it would be more proper to say, under the protection of France. When the next French Parliament meets the Emperor will make known his intentions, and explain, if he intends to keep and to hold Mexico, all the advantages to be expected from the annexation. He will point out to the Senate and faithful Commons the wealth of Sonora, with its fine port of Guaymas; all that may be derived from holding that place and Acapulce, with perhaps the intervening harbors of St. Blas and Mazatlen; in fact, the whole Mexican coast on the Pacific. To this may be added the destruction of the Panama route, now used for communication between Europe and California. The trade and passengers between these two places will naturally prefer a more expeditions and safer route than at present exists.
It was on the 13th of May that Bazalno pushed forward in pursuit of Comonfort's scattered hordes; from Pusbia and Mexico is a matter of a week's march, supposing the road and the mountain slopes through which it runs to be left undefended; and if with Mexico city falls the Mexican nation, the Emperor's idea will be backed by the French nation, and, after having been the subject of much animadversion, become as popular to-day as they were unpopular yesterday.
