The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-23
~ q. LI-II I-III..II- -.

emi-oifcial relations with Cen Taylor's Cabinet
ne well known, t0oE'the abduction farce in hand
md fairly wfested it from the original invent
rs Of the plot, we had some idea that telegraphs
lad been received from Washington not intended
or the public eve. Our suspicious have been CON
irmed BY the course Of the Washington Republic
which has endeavofed to manifest as much skeP
ticism IS the Pioayune in regard TO the cleares
and most unimpeachable testimony to the fact that
Rev left New Orleans of his own free will. The
Philadelphia North American, too. which has the
credit Of being the confidential friend and organ Of
Mr., Secretary Clayton, follows in the wake ofthe |
Picayune and Republic, and maniiestly wishes to /
be convinced that an abduction has really taken |
place. Now, whenitis considered that the official |
organs Of an administration are generally inhu- I
efced in the opinions they promugate by the single
desire to increase the power ofthsir party, it ap-
pears 10 Us clear that the Cabinet wish to,seize
hold Of the Rey affair in order to clear themselves
from a little Of the odium which attached to them
for their conduct in regard to tine ship United States.
Our opinions in this matter are strengthened by
the coprse which the opposition journals have Ia
ken. The most intelligent Of the democratic pa
pers, those most conversant with party tactics and
party warfare, have been extremely silent as tothe
abduction case. The Washington Union and the
Philadelphia Pennsylvania, for example, under
stand that an opposition party should always wait
and let the Administration party take position be-
fore the country. Especially isit necessary in
case like this Rey affair for an opposition journal
to be silent and cautious for the business of such
journal is to weaken the powers that be- and
no matter what course the ADMINISTRATION pursues
ID this Rsy matter it WILL from the present snte Of
public feeling, furnish the democrats with good
weapon of attack. If after Sill the hubbub which
this alleged abduction has produced, Gen. Taylor
orders the District Attorney of Louisiana to dismiss
the case against the Spanish Consul, the demo-
cratic press would have fair opportunity to de-
claim against the Generals insensibility to outra
ges on the honor Of the country. If, however,
the Administration continues to treat the Rey at
fair in a serious manner, it will excite ridieule
throughout the country and provoke smiles from
those who have hitherto listened graQely to the
ieers Of its enemies and opponents.
In this last case the Louisiana Courier would be
in a g sad fix Ii would be doomed to political
pfllory Of the most amusing Sort at least amusing
to the boys who throw the stones fnot to the frogs
which are pelted The bIunders, however, of the
representative Of the AngiOSaxon democracy Of
the Second Municipality, may, unwittinglY to him
self, benefit the party he SO clumsily serves. The
higher the excitement in regard to this Rev affair
rises shsmore difficult will it be for the Admins
traton to take the only course which common
sense and common reason dictate, Hence, those
who increase the wrath of the people against an
imagined outrage on the American flag, increase
the difficulties Of the Cabinet and diminish the
power Of the Taylor Administration. Probably,
the veteran editor Of the Courier seeing that the
affair must all end in smoke, has permitted his less
sapaeous o6llaboraor to take the course of inAam-
ing the public mind against the Spanish authorities,
in order that the impulse Of popular feeling might
strike an Administration. which viii be forced, BY
irrsfragable facts, to admit that no abduction has
occurred
Our contemporary, the Bulletin, .too whose edi-
tor, Colonel Hodge, Gas Colonel Wagner Of the Cou-
rier would say has the reputation Of being in the
confidence Of Gen. Taylor came out the other day
and declared for the abductionists. The Bee, af-
ter Mr.. Hunten had-as we thought at the time
very hastily, though it may have benin obedience
to orders from head-quarters-taken upon himself
the whole responsibility Of the prosecution Of the
Spanish Consul, affirmed that commitment was
necessary In the face Of all these facts, it is clear
that the Taylor Administration are interested in
proving that Rey was abducted.
Our Taylor friends will, we think, commit a SCI
rious bunder if they put their foot very far into
this matter. A wise general always keeps up
line Of retreat; and though the Cabinet and its
friends may say that jealousy Of national dignties
prompted them in their course, is quite possible
that they may 60 so far to make people believe
that theiF patriotism is exaggerated, overweight,
and therefore unreal. If the Administration is
anxious to enter on line Of policy agreeable 10 the
country and embarrassing to the opposition party,
we would advise them, as we advised our military
adventurers the other day, to look further to the
South than Cuba Mr. Secretary Clayton may.
find in the Mosquito question subject that will
tax all bis powers of diplomacy and if The Sec
rotary should fail in negotiation and the Admins
tralon be forced into war, the heart of the whole
country, North, soutts East and West, would re-
sspond to the sentiment that q no European power
shall ever increase its territorial possessions the
North American continentS'