The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-29
The Nicarnxu. Question.

lie Moneys at Springfield, Missouri.
The Nicaragua Question.
The Union yesterday contained char
acteristic article upon the treaty said to
have been made by the American and
British Governments in relation to the
ship canal across the isthmus through the
Territory of Nicaragua, and other matters
involved in the negotiations upon that
subject. This treaty, and the correspond
ence necessary to full understanding of
the points in issue and the principles upon
which they were adjusted, are before the
Senate, and at some time, Heaven knows
when! will be printed and published to
the world.
1t has not been our fortune to have had
access to the correspondence pending the
negotiation, or to any other sources whence
knowledge of the exact conditions of
the treaty or the precise questions raised
in the process of its formation could be
derived we must, therefore, remain in
Senate and the public printers will permit
them to see the light From time TO
time, it is true, we have seen, in the
Washington correspondence of certain
Philadelphia and New York presses, in
timations of what was passing between
the United States and British negotiators,
given with circumstantal nicely, and in
such tone of defiant knowledge, as to chal-
lenge the public belief, if not in the personal
and actual inspection of the papers by the
writers, in their possessing means, little
less authentic, of ascertaining what was
said and done in the closest conversations
and in the secretest crypts of diplomatic
intercourse. But as these limitations
presupposed gross violation of the neces-
sary and well understood rules which per-
tain to the discussion of delicate interna-
tional affairs, we paid little heed to them;
whatever credit we might bestow upon
them would be given at the expense of
our confidence in the prudent reserve of
the parties to the negotiation, or the fideli-
ty of those through whose hands the doc
uments passed. Hence we paid them
slight respect; course commended to us
as well from the considerations above
mentioned, as from refreshing our memo
ries with what these same correspondents
and journals aforetime had performed in
heralding monstrous gestations which
were followed by very inconsiderable &C
couchementS.
We have stated that we were not ia
miliar with the details of the treaty or the
negotiations which preceded it; but we
do know that the question was approached
in the wisest spirit, and doubt not that il was
disposed of with consummate skill. This
great work should be, and we have no
doubt il has been, arranged to be bond
Of peace between the nations Of the earth.
The PRESIDENT desired il to be dedicated
to the uses of mankind and cause of hu-
man progress and christian civilization.
No one commercial nation could hold il in
exclusive proprietorship, except at the
point Of the bayonet against the world be-
sides. The apprehension Of offending
foreign powers is no excuse for yielding
any Of the rights Of our own people, and in
this case none have been compromised or
endangered; nevertheless, to contribute
TO the stability of the public peace, and to
remove obstacles to the determination and
good neighborhood Of continents, are am
billions which magnify and perpetuate the
fame Of those who accomplish them. In
regard to this inter-oceanic canal, we be-
lieve this has been achieved as we know
it was attempted. All rights held by for
eign powers-all claims, pretended or 9TH
erwise, of other nations--all pretexts for
adverse occupation Of the soil, or inter.
ference with the people, inconsistent with
the objects Of the enterprise and the Sc
curity of commerce, have been abandoned
by Great Britain in assisting in this great
, design; and we believe that the work will
not rebound more TO the commerce of the