The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-19

public. 1t would be rendering the coun-
try more service by telling what it knows
in relation to them, than by specializing
upon, and twisting and analysing any
amount of rumors il may find in the public
press.
The Union says the archives of the State
Department will show the last administra-
ton friendly to the Monroe doctrine. Our
contemporary is little loose in its facts at
times. 1t should inform us what the last
administration did in regard to the particu-
lar matter under consideration. If it
knows that the Department contains evil
dence to sustain the last administration
upon this point, why not say what it isl
Or will the Union rest the claims it sets
up for its friends in this affair upon the
fact that they went for T" fifty four forty or
fight, " and squatted down on 'forty nineW
We scarcely think very favorable argu-
ment can be drawn from the history of that
matter.
But we have strange admission in the
Union's article of yesterday, couched in
the following words:
"The late administration did oppose British ag-
gression in Nicaragua and had it continued in
power or had General Cass been elected, those ag-
gressions would have been resisted at all haxards
How did it oppose it What did it do
And especially what did it not do that
General Cass would now do had he been
electedl And why would it have resisted
at all hazards had it continued in power, if
it did not resist when in poweri The last
administration was in power at the begin
ming of the farce which ended in the dis
memberment of Nicaragua. 1t was APP
pealed to by Nicaragua for assistance-not
"few weeks" but for months, nay,
years before the expiration of its term.
That was the time to ''resist at all haz-
ards" lift designed ever to do So During
the progress of the usurpation, and before
its consummation had put the English in
possession, was the season for bold inter-
vention. Was it nader Was promised'
Were the Nicaraguans encouraged to hope
for aid then OF at any other time : Were
they stimulated to hold out against the de-
spoilers Of their territory, by assurances of
assistance either present or prospective
Had the Government then interfered, it
would have had an ally in possession, and
the sympathes ofthe civilized world would
have been enlisted in behalf of a people
contending for their soil, and those who
came to their aid.
But if General Cass had been elect
ed'' Why was not something done Cor
was there, and what') before it was known
that General Cass would be a candidate
for the Presidency Did the last admin
istration have foreknowledge of General
Cass's nomination, and, fearing to embar-
rass that great man, forbear Intervention
Did they pause in anticipation of the awe
in which his military skill is held by the
world, thinking the prestige of his name
better security than the possession of
the territory by the Nicaraguans' If the
last administration SO argued, they based
their conclusions upon very inadequate
premises; for we must be permitted to
regard the possession of the Mosquito
coast by Nicaragua as more promising
guaranty than General Cass's military eciat
would have proved, though he had broken
two swords, and both of them in two
places.