The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-08
For tAs Southern Press.
Relics OF Scraps and Musings.-No. s.
THE NICARAGUA TREATY.

THE NICARAGUA TREATY.
The late negotiations with Nicaragua an
England seem to have been conducted in rathe
bungling manner on the part of our cabinet
that is to say, if the treaty between the Unite
States and Nicaragua really interferes with tina
previously concluded between the United State
and England II appears also, that the two par
ties to the latter have given different construc
ton to the most important article of that treat,
relating to the protectorate of the Musquitos
and that this point remains unsettled In tn,
mean time, England is prosecuting her intrigue,
and encroachments in Central America. The
truth is, her interference in the affairs of two
independent powers on this continent, is an im
pertinent intrusion. England belongs to an
other world, and has no right to NEEDLE with
the relations of the States on this continent
The protectorate Of the Musquitos involves
great principle of international law, Of the ut
most consequence to all the States of South
and North America, and the principle should
never be conceded 1t is quite evident tina,
England is aiming to play the same game in the
West she has long been playing in the East
1t does not, however, appear that any negocia-
tions are going on to check this insidious system
| Of aggression. Mr. Webster had better look to
it in time, instead of travelling about with Sir
Henry to public dinners. His inclinations to.
wards England are already sufficiently notori-
GUS, and our representative in that country seems
to have been sent there for no other purpose
than to make speeches, administering to the
vanity of the English nation, whose government
has for many years past been conspiring with
the Aboltionists to distract and divide this
Union.
| ENGLISH LIBERTY,
| The broadcast farce in the political world ia
English liberty. By the late acts of Parliament
-courteously styled, the crown and govern
ment security bills" any man in England may
be imprisoned for " compassings, imaginations
inventions, devices and Intentions" which tho
Secretary of State may be pleased to consider
dangerous to the crown and by the indefinite
repeal of the hadeas corpus act he may be keep
there as long as government thinks proper Ir
addition to this, the right of pcaccably asserting
to petition for redress of grievances, hereto
fore always held sacred, hns been entirely taker
away from tho people. This is called English
liberty
COMPROMISE.
Noah Webster, who by the labor of more than
| fu.Qpfy plad tho hos LIFT ~
the English language extant, defines compro-
mise as follows sAn amcable agreement to
adjust and settle differences by mutual consent
Mutual agreement-adjustment. To agree
to accede-to commt-to put to hazard"
Thus it will appear that to make Il compro-
mise, mutual consent is in all cases, but one,
deemed Indispensable The compromise was
not assented to by one of the parties, and was
mere exertioh of the right of the strongest
TIE last definition is the only one applicable
"This great peace offering" OF. Mr.. Clay is only
compromise, because it "puts to hazard"
the harmony and consequent existence Of the
Union.
There are two distinct species Of tyranny
that Of the will of an absolute sovereign, and
that of laws emanating from the will of ma
jority Of the people, constrained by no written
constitution, paramount TO all subsequent legis-
ation. The latter is the worst of the two, be-
cause single despot may be put down by the
people, but majority is irresistible.
PRECEDENTs IN POLITICS.
There is nothing that leads to greater mis-
takes and more dangerous consequences in the
administration of government, than weak and
bgotted adherence to precedents. The wisdom
Of past ages is favorite theme with the dcvo-
tees of presidents, who do not seem to be aware
that their follies as well as wisdom, have de-
seconded TO posterity, and that one of the duties
of succeeding generations is to correct the errors
of their ancestors The state of society, and
other circumstances, are so totally different in
different ages and nations; and The changes con-
stantIy going on so complicated and various,
that it seldom happens precedent is strictly
applicable to present circumstances Besides, it
should be borne in mind that history presents
far more examples of bad precedents than good
ones, and that nothing is more easy than to find
among them justification of all the folies of
weak ness, and all the excuses of tyranny. The
lessons of experience ought not to be disre-
gardcd but at the same time it is necessary to
discriminate between these presidents which
have been sanctioned by their consequences, and
those which instead Of examples, present only
warnings. The practice of relying on ancient
precedents in government so unique as that
Of the United States, which is one Of free PEG
pie, as well as free States, each Of which has re-
served to itself many of the most important
attributes of sovereignty guaranteed by writ
ten constitution, easy Of comprehension when
not obscured by argumentative substitutes
such practice is especially dangerous. IF pre-
cedents have any authority here, they should be
such only as arose under that constitution, and
thus far settled it's Interpretation They should