The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-27
NSIEUR TONSON AGAIN.
The war steamer United states.

MONSIEUR TONSON AGAIN.
The war steamer United States.
The Union has broken out afresh in the
matter of the war steamer United States,
and enlightens the world with another ar
ticle, which promises ''more proofs of the
real notifies of the Cabinet" 1t comedies
the propriety of President TAYLoR's course
in taking measures to preserve our neu-
trality, but it objects to his motives in doing
a very right thing. The Union cannot
divine any warlike "intent" in converting
a merchant vessel into war steamer, but
it can see without spectacles, through the
window in the Presidents breast and
discover bad inducements to good action.
The style of the article in the Union, to
which we refer, betrays its origin. 1t is
not in the war-whoop and tomahawk strain,
nor is it exactly in the skim-milk vein. 1t
is rather dainty and old-bachelor like in its
choice of phrases. If we could with pro-
priety put this and that together in such
matter, we should infer, from the appear
ance in the city of distinguished member
of the late Cabinet, that he has had a
finger in it. 1t is unimportant, however,
from what quarter the article comes
quite as unimportant as President TAY-
LoR's "motives" in seeing that the laws
of the country are respected.
But the ex-Secretary imputes two bad
motives to the Administration in the fol-
lowing terms:
We have charged that the present Administration
have attempted to make party capital out of this
proceeding, evincing want of sympathy with the
friends of civil liberty abroad, and especially in Ger
many, and disposition TO concede that their gov
eminent had been wanting in due respect to the
rights of Denmark, for mere party advantage.
Now, so far as the American people
know any thing of the causes which led to
the existing war between Denmark and
Germany, it did not originate in any con-
troversy between the friends and the OPP
ponents of free institutions. 1t was mere
cuntcst between Kingdoms as to the right
Of sovereignty over a particular territory.
To characterize il, therefore, as question
involving the right of self-government, or
as contest between despotism and the
people, or as a question in which either
our interests are involved or our feelings
and sympathies ought to engage, is to give
an entirely false color TO the case. The
charge of the Union on this point is such
transparent nonsense, that our waggish
ex Secretary must revive it merely for the
sake of keeping up joke.
Then, as to the other imputed motive
disposition to concede that the late Ad-
ministration had been wanting in due re-
spect to the rights of Denmark-or a dis
position to Hrehect" on the late Admins
tration. We are not surprised at the pc
culiar delicacy and nice sense of propriety
which this accusation indicates. There is
no doubt, in the view of the Union, that
General TAYLOR ought to have permitted
our neutrality to be violated, rather than
entertain for a moment the idea of en-
forcing laws which the late Administration
had infringed. II is a wanton breach of
that delicacy which public officer owes
to his predecessor. IL this rule. were
adopted, it would be considered improper
to expose any malversation in Office, be-
cause such exposure may be Interpreted
as ''refection" on some official for a
mere party purpose
And this extreme deiicacy-this dainty,
tender footed deference-is inculcated
through the columns Of journal which,
whilst il was the acknowledged organ of
the late Administration, ridiculed General
TAYLOR as a niggard and an imbecile; and
which, as the sole organ Of the opposition,
has denounced President TAYLOR as a
! Nero
The American people will surely con-
slider il grave charge against the Admin
istration, that it does not consent to an
obvious infraction of the laws, lest it might
reflect on men whose sole organ, when it
would be very decent and gentlemanly in
abiding to the President, uses the proper
name of a sanguinary tyrant as a modest
substitute for its more favorite epithet of
bloody Butcher.
.UNDyPENsAR REUNION