The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-09

Our RELATIONS WITH PoRTUGAL-ln conse-
sutnce Of the Portuguese cabinet having refused
90 pay the claim presented by the government at
Washington, and as indemnity for the destruction
oil the privateer General Armstrong, in the port of
Fsyal, during the last war with Great Britain, our
relations with that country have assumed
pleasant attitude, ard even threaten war Our
representative has Withdrawn, or was about TO do
20 at the last accounts, and diplomatic intercourse
Is, ne doubt, by this time, wholly suspended. The
whole matter will probably be laid before Congress
IN day or two.
There is no doubt that the late Galphin cabinet
committed blunder in this, as it did in all other
matters that ii meddled with The Portuguese
government, from the first, offered TO submit the
General Armstrong claim TO arbitration; and
agreed, in case the offer was accepted to pay such
sum as might be awarded. This course, however,
was too pacific for the Galphins, and, il accepted,
would deprive them of an opportunity TO make
capital OF it. They accordingly rejected it, and
demanded payment within a certain specified
time, Under these circumstances, payment was
refused, and our diplomatic agent, in pursuance of
his instructions, requested his passports.
This is the present situation Of this Portugal
affair. Although il does not follow that war will
be the result, yet cannot but see that difficulty
may grow out Of it, 1t is rather humiliating to
our national feelings, to see a great country
like this assume such a belligerent attitude
towards one of the weakest powers in Europe,
about sach a trifling matter II looks as If We
were DESTROYS Of acting the braggar and fright
ening a weaker nation out of a sum of money,
fearing that IL we submitted TO an arbitration
The injustice Of our demand would be male
manifest This is the aspect which the mat
Ter besrs and IL is useless to conceal il. IL our
claim be good one, other nations will say, why
do you not submit IL to the arbuament Of disin-
eresitd partiesl good claim never loses Us
force by being examined. Bat We will not submit
% any arbitration, says the Gglphin cabinet; you
iAust pay up. Il is really too bad that this coua'y
should be brought into such condition. II Porti-
gal were a iirsi power in Europe, II would be quite
q different matter, although, even then, the course
Of the Galphns would not be justified ia taking the
hostile attitude which they did, as long a. peacca-
BILE means were within our control, TO adjust the
matter. Payment Of the whole claim would not
he =, compensc for the stigma whichthe course of
the Gsphins has cast upon the United States; and
were II not that the demand Of England on Greece
of a similar character. the press Of that coun-
Try would ring with denuuciaio against IA. A
fellow feeling makes Us wondrous kind la the
eyes Of other nations, however. IL cannot but be a
phable spectacle, the American republic bullying
and threatening weak power, for the purpose 81
obtaining Paltry sum Of money.
II must not be supposed, however, that there is
any real danger Of war between the United States
and Portugal We have a different mln ut the
head of our State Department from John NJ Clay
tom siatosman who will do nothing 10 lower the
dignity Of the nation, at home or abroad, and in
whose ability and patriotism the whole world has
confidence. When Mr. Webster takes up the sub
ject Of our claims against Portugal, he will, no
doubt, pursue a course that will relieve Of the
siigma now resting upon the country. We hardly
think he will threaten and try to Tighten Portugal,
or order vessels Of war to the Tagus, to intmdaie
the government Of that country into the payment Of
n claim which they are willing to submit to arbi-
srafion