The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-19

1t will be by reference to the details of the
English news received by the steamship Hibernia,
and published in another part of this days paper
that Lord Palmerston is avowedly determined to
allow of no American interference IN Nicaraguan
affairs, and has accordingly ordered the British
squadron in the Pacific to cruise the neighbour
hood of Panama, so as to be within call of the
British Charge d'AHares at Nicaragua. This adds
new feature to our relations with Nicaragua, and Of
the proceedings which have recently taken place
there, that will in all probability complicate them to
still greater extent while these things are going on
MIR. Harvey, the private secretary of Mr. Clayton
Secretary of State, and of the cabinet at
Washington, is promulgating sentiments through
the cabinet organs in Philadelphia and in New
York, for the purpose OF inducing the public to
suppose that Mr. Squier, the American minister
to the South American republics, has exceeded his
instructions, IN the course which that gentleman
has taken since his appointment, as well towards
Nicaragua obtaining the cesslon of Tiger
Island from Honduras, which, as our readers are
no doubt aware, has produced COLLISION between
the American and English representatives In that
part of the world. That gentleman, at the lnstga-
ton Of Mr.. Clayton, throws out the idea that Mr.
Squier appears to have regarded annexation as
the special object of his mission, and to have sg-
nalized some part of his diplomatic career by I'M
necessary zeal and incorporate exhibitions.
Now, it is very well known, that from the time
when the present cabinet came into power until
the present, Mr. Clayton has bunged and misma-
naged our foreign relations in such manner as to
create difficulties and explosions with almost every
nation in the world, IN both hemispheres 1t Is un-
necessary to refer to those difficulties IN detail,
for 1t would be like repeating twce-told tale to
do so. Every one who reads the news Of the day,
and takes any interest in national aairs, is fami-
liar with the horrible manner in which our foreign
relations have been bungled by Mr.. Clayton and
his associates. For the purpose of making Fictitious
capital for the cabinet, and himself the leader,
he adopted this extraordinary and unheard Of
course of policy, by exciting the honorable feeling
of nationality which characterizes the whole Amen-
can people, without distinction of party and turn
ing il to his own profit and advantage. This was
his motive and object in producing the difficulty
with M. Poussin, the French representative at
Washington, which, happily for him., has not
amounted TO a great deal, in consequence of a
change in the French cabinet. But he has gone
tso far in some cases, and the Nicaragua business
is an instance Of II. AS soon as Mr.. Spurs pro-
ceedings in relation to the affairs Of that State
were made known, 1t was intimaed that that gen.
tleman had exceeded his instructions, which were
alleged to be merely verbal and as the prospect of
a difficulty with Great Britain increased, Mr.. Har-
vey, speaking for Mr. Clayton, repeated in louder
terms, that the cabinet not responsible for MIR.
Squier's proceedings. This new movement of the
British, IN ordering squadron to the neighbor-
hood Of Panama, SO as 10 be within call of the
British Charge d. Afiaires at Nicaragua, puts
a new and more serious feature this business,
and we shall watch with good deal of interest,
Mr. Chyton's next move in this matter. From
what has already been developed and promulgated
by his private secretary, however, we can readily
guess whai il will amount to- He has got frightened,
and, no doubt, intends TO dsavow Mr. Squer's pro-
ceedings, on the ground that he exceeded his IN
structions, and intends to sacrifice that gentleman.
What a melancholy and humiliating position
does not thus place the cabinet Of Gen. Taylor IN,
and what an exhibition does il not furnish, of the
weakness and imbecllity Of Mr.. Clayton and his
associates! To direct diplomatic agent TO pur-
Sue particular course, and when such course has
been adopted. to disavow his proceedings, on the
ground that he exceeded his Instructions is one Of
the most paltry pieces Of conduct that csuld Be
imagined, and utterly unworthy Of the character
Of an American statesman.