The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-26 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

O a
message n Thursday i
thelast tht o
the
arrest huge
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concerningnK t
of General Walker. He begins by saying that in
entering upon the soil of Nicaragua to capture the
Filibuster the United States' commodore " com-
mitted a grave error ;" but, inasmuch as it was done
ft om the most pure and patriotic motives, and as
Nicaragua has sustained no injustice, and as the
act will, in the language of lawyers, ensure to her
benefit, and as she makes no complaint, the Presi-
dent contents himself wits rebuking the commo-
dore for his excess of zeal. Yet this rebuke, he
adds, is not to be taken as evidence of any falling
away from the faith as promulgated by the Meg-
sage. He is none the less determined than before
to execute the neutrality laws of the United States.
He is none the less convinced of the justice and
importance of those laws. " The crime of setting
on foot or providing the means for military expedi-
tions within the United States to make war against
a foreigu State with which we are at peace is one of
an aggravated and dangerous character." " The
great object of the law was to save foreign States,
with whom we are at peace, from the ravages of
these lawless expeditions proceeding from our
shores." " For these reasons," the President con-
tinues,—

" Had Commodore Paulding intercepted the steamer
Fashion with General Walker and hie command on board
at any period before theY.PPt.E9i thine' Strife, tbis
would have prevented them from carrying on the expedi-
tion, and have been only a justifiable but a praiseworthy
act. This well deserves the severe punishment inflicted
upon it by our laws. It violates the principles of Chris-
tianity, morality, and humanity, held sacred by of civi-
lize,' i atione, and by none more than by the people all the
United States. Disguise it as we may, such a military expe-
dition is an invitation to reckless and lawless men to
enlist under the banner of any adventurer to rob, plum.
der, and murder the unoffending citizens of neighbouring
States who have never done them harm. It is usurp'.
tion of the war-making power, which belongs alone to
Congress. The Government itself, at least in the estima-
tion of the world, becomes an accomplice in the commis-
sion of this crime unless it adopts all the mean.
necessary to prevent and to punish it. It would be far
better, and more in accordance with the bold and manly
spirit of our countrymen, for the Government itself to
get up such expeditions than to allow them to proceed
under the command of irresponsible adventurers. We
could then at least exercise some control over our own
agents, and prevent them from burning down cities and
committing other acts of enormity of which we have read.
The avowed principle which lies at the foundotion of the
law of nations is the divine oommand that all thing: whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them.' Tried by this unerring rule, we should
be severely condemned if we shall not use our best exer-
tions to arrest such expeditions against our feeble sister
republic of Nicaragua. One thing is very certain, that
a people never existed 7eho would sooner call any other
nation to a stricter account than we should ourselves for
tolerating lawless expeditions from their sores to make
war upon any portion of our territories. By tolerating
such expeditions we shall soon lose the high character
which we have enjoyed ever since the days of Washing-
ton for a faithful performance of our international obli-
gations and duties, and inspire distrust against us attong
the members of the great family of civilised nations. But
if motives of duty were not sufficient to restrain us from
engaging in such lawless enterprises, our evident interest
ought to dictate this policy. These expeditions are the
meat effectual mode of retarding American progress,
although to prom.te this is the avowed object of the
leaders and contributors in such undertakings. It is
bey ~nd question the destiny of our race to spread
themselves over the continent of North America, and
this at no distant day, should events be permitted to
take their own natural course.
This Message fell for the moment like a bomb-
shell in the democratic camp ; but after a little
discussion, in which the Southern democracy were
against the President, and Senator Seward, of
New York, took the lead in his support, parties
have rolled back again into their ordinary positions.
The Kansas question overshadows everything else,
and must do so now until it is determined. There
are signs that the Southern democracy will abandon
the contest, If they do it will be a new phase in
the history of American politics. For the present
all discussion is postponed in Congress, awaiting
the returns from the elections held in the territory
on the 4th of January. By this time the readers
of American news must be nearly tired of hearing
of Kansas. It is nearly four years since the Kan-
sas Nebraska Bill was introduced into the Senate
of the United States. Then Mr Pierce's Admin-
istration was just launched—its success or its
failure yet uncertain. The President had been
elected by an overwhilming majority, and the
count' y had acquiesced with unusual unanimity in
a settlement of the agitations upon slavery. The
new measure was adopted as an Administration
measure, and broke up the democratic party in
the North. Mr Buchanan, as the Democratic heir,
although personally unconnected with the Bill,
could carry only five Northern States. During
this whole period the politics and party divisions
of the whole United States have hinged upon this
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El
ySv teadrty one who has been says it
impossible t drawing
winghistochaaptcelrosei.ll political
(13, -u'very governor sent there has found it
o meke it anything else, and has
quarrelled with the Administration that sent him.
Even Governor Wire, of Virginia, a gentleman of
extreme Southern views denounces the attempts to
enforce the Lecompton constitution upon Kansas.

The Earl of Gifford arrived in town a. few days since
from vi3iting Lnrd Ashburton at the Grange, Hants.
Lord and Lady Harry Vane have returned to town
from Brighton.
Lord Dufferin awl Lady Dufferin have arrived at the
Clarendon from Dufferin Lodge, Highgate.
Count G. de Wezele has returned to the Clarendon
from Branston, near Biandford.
Sir G. Suttie has arrived at Claridge's Hotel.