The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-01
INTELLIGENCE BY THE MAILS.
Our Washington correspondence.

| ana me frestdenfS message, &c, &C.
There has been great deal of mystery relative
to the position of the government on this Nicaragua
| question. The various organs of the cabinet-the
the Inteligencer, the Republic, the North Ameriesw
(Mr. Clayton's own,) the Courier and Enquirer,
and other journals, supposed to have some direct
intercourse with the cabinet, or a sort of SEMI
official connection through some of the clerks have
presented such conflicting and inconsistent opinions,
as to perplex the most sagaclous reader, and to
mystify still more the actual position of Mr.. Clay
ton on this subject. The statements of one Jour
nal have been denied by another, and the position
assumed one day by the same paper, has been the
next day superseded by an entirely different view
of the case. The Republic has been rather nom
commlttal the InteRigenc, as far as possible, has
leaned towards compromise and ''the outsiders"
have been beating about the bush, in vain attempts
| to discover the whereabouts of the Premier.
Within the last few days, however, notwih-
standing the omnous stiffness of the local organs,
the two principal outsiders-the North 1fnierrcan
and the Courier, exhibit coincidence OF opinion
which indicates that they have the clue to the
position of the Secretary OF State.
have strong reasons to believe that this ls a re-
suit of the last intelligence from Europe, and that,
from the attitude OF the British government, the
cabinet has resolved upon the ultima ratio re-
| gum, and Is determined upon war move
| ment IN this affair with the KING of the Mos
quitoes. The slip Of territory dispute Is scarcely
| leabite, compared with the vast dimensions of
| Oregon to 81 40; but the great commercial ques-
| ton involved in the right of way from the mouth
of San Juan river, is of the highest magnitude and
| gives to the controversy far greater importance
| than the Oregon question. The recent iiare'up
| with Poussln, and the contemplate war panic
| sprung upon the country by the mouthplece of Mr..
Clayton at Phiade phIa-on the salvage aud to-
| bacco cases-were scarcely nine days wonder.
| The miserable attempt to make capital out OF
| such pitiful bagatelles, recoiled upon the State
| Department, like the kick OF a horse, upsetting
eur astonished Premier head over heels. This
| Nicaragua question is another sort OF thing;
| fer John Bull, as all our experience has proved,
| is monstrous obstinate customer to deal
| with questions of boundary and territory.
Hence the caution of the cabinet In defining their
| position. They have been waiting tor some loop
| hole of compromise, or for England to back out;
| and finding that she stands fast to King Sambo,
they driven 10 the alternative of direct issue.
| Ii seems that Mr.. Rives, under instructions from
Mr.. Clayton, called in, on his way to France, at
| the foreign Office Of the British government in
London, to sound Lord Palmerston this Nj
| caragna affair. Dispatches have been received
from Mr.. Rives, and they are believed to relate
| to this subject, although the nature OF their con-
| tents has not yet been disclosed, even TO Mr..
Harvey They can hardly. however, relate to the
| paltry squabble with France, tor at the last adj
| vices Mr. Rives had not yet assumed his minis
teral duties at Paris. But when we recur to the
letter of the British Consul, Barclay, and the
SHARP correspondence" between Mr.. Clayton
and Mr.. Champion, there is every reason TO as
| sumo that the dispatches Of Mr. Rves are from
London, that they convey the views of Lord Pal
|
| no other choice than the infexIble support of the
rights of Nicaragua, at all hazards and to the last
extremity.
The policy Of the cabinet. until the ridiculous
explosion with Poussln, was peace, peace, secu-
rng peace, at any cost; and, no matter about the
| principles at stake, il was peace, neutrality,
non-lnieryenlion n other peoples affairs The
| appear 10 have walked up Mr. Clayton. He
seems now TO be IN earnest, and determined
to adopt the policy. Of Monroe-a doctrine
1 ht.h hoa Laa It'd kp ord
and his supporters in both Houses of Parliament,
| within the Last two years, and within the same
time by Mr.. Clayton himself, in the Senate. But
| the sad unpopulariy into which this cabinet has
| fallen, requires a bold effort to prevent total
bankruptcy. They have other resource, and
| II we are not nightly mistaken, they are
| in for it with the Mosquito king, and his ally
| John Bull Our Sir Patrick O'Pienipo, taking
| Washington for his model, found, perhaps, in
the precedcn Of Genet, an apology for the kick
| ing out Of Poussin but unfortunately. Is the
latt example Of Washington, which, at this late day.
Will not apply 10 the busy, busting world around
us, and, very much 10 our relief, we find MIR.
Clayton disposed 10 adopt the policy Of Madison,
and the doctrine Of Monroe-the war policy, and
the true doctrine OF nou-lniervenuon. From allthe
indications OF the day. particularly from the bold
| wurike tone OF Mr.. Clayton's organ in Phad--
| phia, and his subsidiary organ, The New York
Courier, there is serious ground Of belief that the
cabinet are determined 10 get up war with Eng
| land These outside journals seem 70 have an un-
defstand'ng ~ this effect, and the non-committal-
Ism Of the Washington oraclcs gives the thing a
black end scownR complexion.
England has indicated her position. Mr.. Clay
| ton has taken his stand. Onc or the other must
| back out. John Bull, upon such qucstions, VIII
| fight. Our Secretary has as good as sworn To IT.,
that he will no, bulge peg That's his true posi-
ion. Lea him stand 70 h. and ii II comes % war,
let him prosecute IL with yigor; aud will venture
to say, ne may rest assured Of the support ol the
Mar York HcrdH, Of the whole people, md OF such
popularity as wilI give ths wing party the ascend
have some proof that Mr.. Clayton is sound on
the Nicaragua question ] have file Of notes
md letters written by personal TREND Of his,
from conversations with him, ioreshadowlng his
policy. the policy o the cabinet, and the intentions
Of General Taylor. They are valuable. from the
confidential freedom existing between the writer
and the Secretary of state. shall have occasion
to r. Ter 20 thcsc memoranda, in anticipation Of the
Presidents message Meantime, from one OF
these notes, / make the following extract respeci-
log Mr. Clayton's position on the Mosquito
CUSTOM
tie policy Of England upon the Mosquito coast
viii be tie Subject OF calm but firm protest II will
not he permitted II the United States require the
q the river there, must have " At any cost. Mr.
Clay ten t. houever in hopes thai England win yield
20 our remonstraneos II not, che aust take the
! Putting eli the evidence together, you may rest
assured Thar the Secretary Of State has made mp his
I mind be has " screwed up hls courage TO the
sticking place, - and 10 ready 10 fight.
! ] understand that, during the next month, Mr.
Cieytcn will remove batch OF hiiy consuls, pro-
baby w order 10 get their successors out of tho
way before the meeting Of the Senate for you may
RELY upon h., The Senate will make horrible havoc
ct he prescriptions Of the cabinet, and good deal
Of the work IF Clayton, Ewing. Collamer, and
Meredith, will have 20 be done over again.
Mr.. Clayton does not yet abandon the idea Of
sending Colonel Webb on a foreign mission. IL IS
probeblc that Dr. Bird, one OF the editors of the
North dr7oicaH, who secured the loan of $4,000,
may also be sent abroad. The scuples of Ge-
nerel Taylor, a. ~ first, are in the way OF
Colonel Webb. 50 that, m fact there ia precious
llttle bore for him. DR.. Bird may do better.
send him of 70 RUSSIA before December, and
ifrecalled az once, he will make some a2l,0)O by
the ogeraton. lie owes Mr.. Clayioa $4,000, and
here would be The means 10 redeem a large part ct
The bill. In financial view. Dr. Birds would be
first rate appointment
We hear il from an apparently reliable source,
that Mr. Bodisco, the late Russian Minister, has
been exicd 10 siberia The story IA not impro-
bable though We shall wait for further information.