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

'AY&

THE UNITED STATES.

NEW YORK, J.N. Lt -
On Thursday last the President sent to the house
a message with the documents concerning the arrest
of General Walker. He begins by saying that in
entering upon the soil of Nicaragua to capture the
Filibuster the United States' conimodore "com-
mitted a grave error ; but, inasmuch as it wasdone
ft mu the most pure and patriotic motives, and as
NicAragua has sustained no injustice, and as the
language of lawyers, ensure to her
make no complaint, the Presi-
dentc contents
as he
nttsh she
mself with rebuking the commo-
dorefor ewficilto'i, in
and
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 Mes-
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 Lot or providing the means for military expedi-
tions within the United States to make war against
a foreign 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 his command on board
at any period before they entered the port of San Juan
de Nicaragua and conducted them back to Mobile, this
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•
Pee I ations, and by none more than by the people all the
United States. Disguise it as we may, such amilitary expe-
dition is an invitation to reckless and lawless men to
enlist under the banner of any adventurer to rob, plun•
der, and intirdcr the unoffending citizens of neighbouring
States who have never done them harm. It is usurpa-
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 means
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 extrcise 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 command that all things
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 Nicaregua. One thing is very certain, that
a people never existed who would sooner call any other
nation to a stricter account than we should ourselves for
tolerating lawless expeditions from their shores 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 among
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
eu;tit to dictate this policy. These expeditions are the
must effectual mode of retarding American progress, •
although to promote this is the avowed object of the
leaders and contributors in such undertakings. It is
beyond 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 clemecratic cramp ; 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
ell 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 leunched—its success or its
failure yet uncertain. The President had been
elected by an overwhelming majority, and the
csmntly 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 Statts. During
this whole period the politics and party divisions
of the whole United States have hinged upon this
distant frontier State, This chapter iu political
history is rapidly drawing
to a close. Kansas
must be free. Every one who has been says it
must. Every governor sent there has found it
impossible to melee 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 c institution upon Kansas.

The Earl of Gifford arrived in town a few days since
from visiting Lord Ashburton at the Grange, Hants.
Lord ani Lady Harry Vane have returned to town
frow Brighton.
Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin have arrived at the
Clarendon frow Dufferin Lodge, n'ghgate.
Count G. de Wezele has returned to the Chrend( n
from Branston, near Blandford.
Sir Cr. Snttie has arrived at Claridge's Hotel.