The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-19

solicitors, notaries, agents, and factors as they
may Judge proper, in all their affairs, and in all
their trials at law in which they may be con-
cerned before the tribunals of the other party,
and such agents shall hare free access 10 be pre-
sent at the proceedings in such eases, and at the
taking of all examinations and evidence which
may be exhibited in said trials" ..,
The objection that this article OF the treaty re-
lates to actions at law, and that Dir. Thrasher
may be arrested upon an offence for which
Spanish subject may be dragged up to drum
head court martial and garoted, will scarcely hold
in case where citizen of the United States
has been arrested in the public streets, in time
of peace and quiet, (for all the Spanish papers
assure us the island is in profound repose and
happiness,) and inearcerated in dungeon, with.
out being permitted to know what he has done,
or supposed to have done, to lose his liberty, or
it may be-his life What security would the
American citizen have, were such plea acknowl-
edged even in extreme cases. So far as the
public know, or the accused has been advised, he
is as innocent of any offence against the laws of
Spain as any American in Cuba; and every citi-
zen of this republic in Havana might be arrested
at any time for any or no offence, tried in con.
clavc, and executed without redress, if the case
of Mr.. Thrasher is not covered by the treaty and
the international law. Where persons are taken
in open instruction against the government
with arms in their hands and in hostile array, a
case is presented which everybody can compre-
bend but when a citizen in the peaceful walks
Of life is arrested in daylight and in places where
it was usual or lawful for him to be, it will not
answer to have him tried in secret, condemned
and executed. 1t is the business of this govern
ment to know why and wherefore one of its citi
zens is arrested in the streets of friendly power
and condemned to death on an ignoble expiration
of crime. Mr.. Thrssher was not taken in the
act Of committing an offence against SPAIN
There was nothing to distinguish his case from
that of any other citizen who may be colared by
the constabulary, and deprived of liberty and the
light of the blessed sun. There is no feature of
the proceedings to redeem them from the denun-
citation of arbitrary, despotic, and cruel. Any
citizen may be dealt with in the same way, if to
withhold from him the grounds of accusation can
raise the presumption that he has committed an
offence too heinous to be tried in regular form
of law. If such an Interpretation may be given
to acts Of official barbarity, it would be putting
the treaty to an exalted use to light pipe with
it. It will scarcely answer as good an end by
remaining upon the statute book.
w The New York Herald thus speculates
with reference to the designs of the British gov
eminent on Mexico and Central America Our
readers may recollect that a similar suggestion
was made by US few days since, in relation to
this matter, as it behooves our government to
keep sharp eye on the proceedings in those
quarters. While we do not concur fully with
the Heralds views Of our manifest destiny,
which involves the boiling by US of the whole
of Mexico, at one bite, there is yet reason for
supposing that the British intrigues in Central
America tend to the point indicated.
The GOODNESS with which the Herald speaks
of our duty" in the premises, is refreshing,
even when we consider its endorsement of the
Tammany Hall programme for the future con-
duct Of our foreign relations
THE REVOLUTION IN MEXIco-THE DEsTG Ss
OF THE BRITIsH.-At three different points, as
admitted by the official organ of the Mexican
government, the integrity of that republic is as.
sailed, and the authorities are powerless to put
down the revoutionists. The republic Of the
Sierra Madre is assuming form aud shape, and a
number Of additional States are seeking to dis
solve their connection with the central govern
ment and looking for separate destiny of their
own.
Mexico is truly in deplorable state. Bank
rupt and powerless, without credit at home and
abroad, she has reached the lowest depths of
weakness and imbecity. Inevitable fate il
overtaking Er, and these revolutionary move
ments are oktj the beginning Of the end. They
are what was expected to take place, sooner or
later, in the natural course of events. These
irruptions and revolutions will 90 on from time
to time, until Mexico will no longer appear on
the map Of nations.
| II is at such a time as this, and under such
circumstances, that the British government in
sists upon the immediate payment Of the claims
due 10 British subjects by Mexico, well knowing
that such payment is impossible. This demand
is backed by a threat of blockading her ports in
case of noncompliance. The object of this
movement is, we think, clear. The British gov
eminent sees that destiny is overtaking Mexico,
and that before long the government of that
country will be numbered among the things that
were. While ii still exists, however, II has the
power Of cedng territory-the only means
which II possesses Of discharging its debts. Be.
fore il becomes extinct therefore, the British
want TO wiring a cession Of territory from it, in
lieu Of money, in payment Of these claims BE.
fore the revolutions now in progress shall be
successful, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
England would like TO make out case by which
it might get possession Of the Tehuantepec
route, or some other position, that would enable
that government to open communication be-
tween the two oceans.
Such, we think, is the object Of the British
government in pressing the claims Of her sub.
jeots against Mexico at the present time, and
under present circumstances. II is needless to
say that no such policy will be recognized by
the people or government Of the United States,
and that no concession Of territory to England,
under any pretence whatever, BY Mexico, will
be tolerated or sanctioned. We will never per.
nit il, let the consequences be what they may
II will be our duty, before many years, to assume
control Of the whole Mexican territory. Our
own interests and safety forbid that any Euro