The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-31

WAsBINor~n, March %, II


Sfot, of Things in Washington Momsntous
Questions Susgested by the Ns'cs from France
especially on the Slavery Question
The Senate read the bill appropriating $780,
600 for the payment of claims in California,
growing out of the military and civil operations
Of Com. Stockton and 1t Col. Fremont in that
country.
Mr. Dix advocated the passage of the bill; but
his speech was mainly devoted to one great point,
10 wit-the duty of re-declaring and maintain
az relates 10 the independent nations OF North
America, Of the uon-intervention, either direct
~ or iusidiously, Of European powers. From
the rapid. vet almost noiseless encroachments
of Great Britain into the territories AT the Ba-
lie of Yucatan, and along the Mosquito shore,
IN the independently of Honduras and Nj
carauga, he argued IT was time we were
acting upon this principle Of non-interventon
From the testim ouy before the S-a ate commit
tee on the subject of California claims, II wonid
appear conclusiveiy, that the Catholic priest.
Macnsmara, and the British Admiral, Seymour,
of H. B. M ship Collingwood, were in coilusion
with the Mexican government, to prevent the
permanent footing of the Americans IN Cailfor-
MIA The main object of the priest ne declares
TO be to ssve the country from falling into the
laws of the g Methodist wolves" by an lmpor-
tet,on of ten Thousand Irish Catholics, who
would thus save the church and the country 10
Mexico. The object OF the British agents IN the
natter not so mucn TOT the dement, OF tue
church or Mexico, as for British interests and
the British government-the whole of this COM
pound scheme being arrested by the timely move
ments of Commodore Stockton aud Lieut. Col
Fremont. These facts, Mr.. Dix argued, were
sufficient testimony to support the movements
of the brave officers undertaking, and achieving
them; aud coupled with the established policy
of Great Britain in her colonial Entertainments
all over the world, and especl ally at the Belize
and the Mosquito Shore. afforded abundant
ground for calm and decided expression OF the
doctrine OF Neutrality-suspicious. :,
The speech of Mr. Dix was marked by the
d,dactic clearness of argument and beautiful
simplicity of narrative which 80 distinguish
him on all occasions.
Mr. Aliens resolution in behalf of the French
was submitted this morning; but Mr.. Miller OBJ
jected to Its consideration to-day, and II lies
over.
The details of the French news, as reported
to us tor ght, suggest some OF the most momen-
considerations to the interests OF this repub-
lie, upon which we propose WORD or TWO only
for the present
First. The promptitude with which great Bri-
tain ackuow lodges the French republic means
something; and what Is it'll England doubtless
wishes to avoid the maelstrohm which is just
beginning on the continent, by the central bub-
bling up of the elements In France she wishes
to keep out of it, and she is wise to do If she
can. But look again, if you please There is
declaration by the French provisional govern
ment contemplating the immediate emancipation
of all the slaves in the French colonies Had
That QectRratlOn nOtnlug 10 40 With the aCknOW-
ledgment of England? 1t had its influence,
most unquestiouably. What then? Will such
declaration, when carried out, be without Its in
fuence against the "pecullar institution" OF the
Southern States of this Union 1t must have
its influence. The declaration itself will have
it's influence here, and we shall hear OF IT in the
pending discussion In the House on the WIlmOt
proviso.
remarks on the mission of Rome said that he had
not much faith in reforms effected by violence
and force. We suspected that he was limiting then
at the French revolution; but could not guess
his meaning. The declaration by France Tor
the abolition of slavery, interprets the declare
ton of Mr.. Calhoun, and again confirms his
prophetic sagacity.
Mr.. Tompkins, of Mississippi, last night, at
the glorious meeting at Odd Fellows Hall, made
of the hes. speeches of the evening tor
France He was not then spprlsed of this an
ti-siavery declaration by the French, or, per-
haps, he would have put IN saving clause for
the South
With the abstract proposition of the largest
abstract proposit2I6ddn 9nw nj cfa.aeur with the
equal" we all agree, with practical reservation
or two. With the declaration by France, con-
right to disagree. She has the right to make 1t,
and We have no moral right to dissent to it
But, sir, can the South say 'amen" to the ADOLF
ton Of slavery in the French colonies? Can
they do 1t consistently with the object of self
preservation Can the South endorse the prin-
ciple, and yet refuse 10 adopt ii 7!
The slaves of the South are the happiest blacks
on the face of the earth They are in the way
of the white man, we all know. But they are
here. What are we to do with them Z We
cannot follow the subject farther now.
Again. let us hope that this wonderful revolu..
ton of France will hold good-that it will stand
let US try to hope 1t, though 1t may be hard TO
do SO. Let them carry out their entire catalogue
OF reforms-Fourierlte, as many of them appear
to be. Is it not probable, or possible, at least,
that Alexandra Dumas, the distinguished writer
and the popular French citizen, but a man of CO.
lor for all that's 1t not possible that he may be
or somewhere else How are we to manage
him Would Mr.. Polk accept him if sent here,
or could Mr.. Bancroft sit down to dinner with
him al Buckingham palace without an insult to
the South We take things as they exist. How
are we to avoid, then, the consideration of this
difficulty?
These reflections may be premature-the
French may have started upon general scheme
too wild for contamination; but in the present
state OF the case, the foregoing suggestions are
not impairment or Insignificant
Tomorrow we expect an interest ng debate in
the Senate on Mr.. Aliens resolutions, and mo-
difcation Of the enthusiasm for France, at least
on the part of the South.
God speed the course OF liberty and popular
government; God prosper the eople of France !;
dency of which 10 our own confusion, In reviv
ing with increased virulcnce sectional lea ,ousies
which we had hoped were rapidly fading away,
even beyond the reach of political demagogues
The Senate were again, to-day, in Executive
session upon that great question: of who furnish
ed the treaty to the NtU York Herald? We
forbear word OF remark, and patiently await
the result. Respectfully, The Docrok.
WASHINGTON, March %, is4s.
Charge to Rome.
We learn that DR.. Martin, Secretary of Lega-