The southern press., 1851-12-30

{ In reading the instructions OF the Secretary
/ to the firing into the Prometheus. lately com
municated to the Senate, was struck with the
, following passages:
Whatever may have been the merits of the
; question between the Captain of the Pronetheus
and Inc authorities of Nicaragua, the United
States acknowledge no right in the government
or vessels Of Great Britain to exercise any po-
lice or supervision over American merchant yes
sells al Nicaragua, or e,sslolere out # the British
dominions," &c, &c.
The Secretary concludes as follows:
"At the same time you will assure the local
authorities Of the port that the United States
will not justify the non-payment of any lawful
and proper port duties on the part of their mer-
chant vessels and that they desire the most
friendly relations with The government of Central
America and will faithfully maintain, on their
part, the stipulations OF the treaty already re-
terred to-"
1t would seem from this that the government
Of the United States either takes it for granted,
or at least is desirious it should be so understood
by the people Of the United States, that the
outrage on the Prometheus was committed in
vindication of the laws or regulations of the
State of Nicaragua, and not of those of the
King of the Mosquitoes, who is, presume, still
under the protection" of Her Britannia Ma
jesty. This is question of some consequence,
as in the former case the British were protecting
Nicaragua--in the latter, the King of the Mos
quitoes, and of course still claim the rights
which it has been understood were reinqushed
| by the late treaty. have little doubt but such
is the fact, though it may suit the administration
to favor a different opinion. 1t is pretty noto
rous, believe, that the British have not aban-
doned Greytown, and that they still maintain
complete sway over his Mosquito majesty and
his tribe. am therefore, greatly mistaken if
it will not be found that this outrage was CON-
mitted, not in enforcing the laws of the State of
Nicaragua, but those of this pretended sovereign
The distinction is of moment though it will not
change the nature of the outrage, because, if the
latter is the case, it will clearly show that the
government of England is determined to adhere
to the protection of the Mosquitoes notwith-
standing the late treaty; in other words, to re-
tain the control of the only practicable route
for ship canal across the Isthmus. 1t is high
time these questions were definitely settled 1t
is one of great consequence to the present well
as future interests Of the United States, and the
longer it is delayed, the more difficult will be its
adjustment; for in the present apparently total
neglect of the government of the United States
!, Tn la any to fta
of England in this question, the helpless States
of Central America, being left solely to the
mercy of that power, will gradually be reduced
to state of complete dependence, and become
the tools of her ambition. If the doctrine of
intervention on the part of the United States is
applicable anywhere, it is to this question.
Prompt action is almost always better than pro.
I, crastination and many wars have been pre-
vented by the former, which were the conse
, quence the latter. Ii has been most especially
{ so in the case of the United States and Eng
land. The former have uniformly delayed TAX
ing proper measures in the beginning, aud by
their acquiescence in one injury or insult, pro-
voked Others until, at length, they could only
II
resort to arms. England feels our pulse, and if
she finds it does not beat hgh tries another, and
another experiment, until, at last, Brother iona.
than wakes up and finds he must fight or run
This might do well enough in the days of our
infancy; but Hercules has now left his cradle
While on the subject of Executive communi-
cations to Congress-, shonld like to know, if il
is not injurious to the public interest" what
has become of the letter of the Secretary of
State in reply to that of the British charge, an
nouncing the Intervention of England in the af.
fairs of Cuba! | do not see it in the cores
pondence communicated to the Senate Was
nj such letter written and if So why did not
copy of it accompany that to the French min.
ster The cases were precisely the same, and
it would be quite interesting to compare the two
answers, to see which is the most exquisite
specimen of diplomatic courtesy. Everybody
knows that England Is the prime mover in this
interference; and 1t is hardly fair that the French
minister should thus become the scape goat
when, in fact, he is only an auxiliary. The
people of the United States would, without
doubt like to see the correspondence with the
British charge on this subject If it was a,ci.
dentally omitted, it is singular instance of for
getfulness if designedy, there must be some
secret reason for the omission. Without it the
call of the Senate is not fully complied with.
ONE OF THE CURIOUS.
N
correspondent of the ", Y. Journal of Commerce