The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-26
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


-
state ssersssTAs Nicaragua mes quito questions.
We have awaited with some sohcitude the develop
ments which have been anticipated from the National
insLgsner, to the course OF Mr.. Clayton and Gen
Taylor in relation to the serious difficulties existing with
the Court Of St. James. touching the Oceanic canal pro-
posed to be made Nicaragua and the claim OF the
British Crown to control Mosquito as British Colony,
under the pretence of right derived from its ally the
Indian boy whom il had created and crowned King oil
Mosquito, subserve its long purposes OF en-
croachment We had anticipated these developments
because in the Integeneer Of the 10Th OF this month,
the public were furnished with elaborate semi official
review p and "deience " (ss caed) OF the foreign pol
icy OF this administration, commencing with the Prus-
sian steamer case-includng the Rey case-and ending
with the Poussin Any reference to the Nicaragua
and Mosquito questions was carefully excludes but IN
closing the article promises to resue" the subject
sat an early day" Yesterday the promised continual.
ton OF the review and "defence!" was furnished us
in an editorial of upwards Of three columns We have
read it with care and we may say with patience We
were sorely disappointed After week, lacking one
day, of reflection and preparation, and, we doubt not OF
consultation also, not single new idea is to be found in
the whole article relating to the Nicaragua and Mosquito
questions 1t Isl rehas OF what has heretofore APP
peared in the minor organ and other wing presses-he
same old dish Of stale evasons and shifts cooked up by the
experienced araes OF the Iaigencer, and presented as
"defeneet!" OF the policy Of Mr. Clayton If anything
wanting to convince the most skepca OF the utter
indefensibfy of that policy these questions, it is the
prosy, long wnded, wordy editorial to which we have
referred Does state what that policy is, has been,
on these quesons' No! Not single fact is given to
the public! Does it clearly and distinctly ayow in
that article that Mr.. Clayton, it has before more
than once nmaed by its course intends to repudate the
Monroe PLATFORM No! 1t has discovered the danger Of
that avowa. though such be the policy OF Mr. Clayton.
But the preceding page OF the paper is TO be
found an article, copied from New York wing paper,
displaying no little diplomatic ability. pretending to give
the causes and history of President Monroes declare.
ton stating it was opposed at the time by the democratic
party and attempting 10 prove that its object was tenn
poary merely and that it has fulfilled its office, and that
was even approved by Great Britain at the time, in re-
ssance to the efforts of the Holy Alliance to reduce to
the Spanish yoke the rebeous States OF this and the
other American continent, formerly colonies OF Spain
At future period may devote brief article TO
correct the errors of the historian Of the New York pa
per- but at present we will conne ourselves to SO much
of the Integsncers emi-ocal editorial as relates TO
the questions referred to at the head of these remarks
In the first place. we would invite the attention OF
readers to the persistence by the Secretary OF State in the
course Of omino silence and coneeame as to his course,
past or future in relation Nicaragua and Mosquito,
indicated by the editorial OF the Integenesr. After six
DAYS deiberaton before redeeming the promise of the
9th is decided that prudence requires he should be
silent as TO that policy. The American people can with
great proprety ask. ,cy hS2 Why does not Mr. Clay
ton deign to let the American people know au,horta-
lively what he has been doing and what he intends
to do, this highly important question Is he afraid to
do SOL Is he fearful that his past course in relation to
these questions, and that TO ~ he committed, would,
il known receive the indignant eprobaton Of his
trymen, except the few whose British sympahies mis-
lead and disort their judgmens' Is not the practice OF
informing the American public Of the policy adopted
by their servants salutary rule In this age, the old
hackneyed, worn.out excuse OF the necessity Of
lete and unqualified diplomatic secresy is secuted by all
except political pretenders designing politicians. The
wise policy Of full and frank disclosure is s,rikngly
empfed BY what occurred in the only instance in which
the present administration has condescended
its views in authentic form in Advance OF its measures.
We aude to an incident that occurred while the Rey af
fair was on the tapis The Integeneer then told the
American people, with than its customary dignity
Deslues tue aDuuCuOn Ol UNI
ted States had serious cause OF offence against Span lit
did not 60 the whole figure, and say il a bei)
because, forsooth she declined allow us to send
envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotenay, di
piomate agent Of some sort, the vce-regal court OF
the Captain General OF the Spanish Antilles at Hava
na When this supremely silly ground for quarrel
with the Queen Of Spain was with great solemnity an
nounced in the major organ, apparently by authority
it secuted by the intelligent Of all parties; and
is presumed the admonion thus given to the Secretary
Of State has prevented him from causing himself and
this government 10 become the laughing stock OF
lghened statesmen by urging such preext When ii is
considered that is young and handsome lady who is
on the Spanish throne that Mr. Clayton, who is preur
cheuaiisr should have raked up such cause Of aront
ungallant as il was indiscreet Since the press
reminded him that the recognition OF the doctrine urged
by the Integenoer would cons,ran us 10 allow all the
courts OF Europe TO send diplomatic agents" to our
territories OF Oregon California, and New Mexico we
have heard OF it. Could the public be satisfied
by consistent information from the wing presses in the
confidence OF the Secretary OF State his course past
and future. on the Nicaragua and Mosquito questions
would be some excuse to them for not afording
more authoritative and authentic information But
this is not the case. Their statements are as con-
Trajectory as il contrved with intent confuse and mis-
lead and confound public opinion and judgment We
deeply regret this In all questions Of foreign policy