The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-12
Our Foreign ADMINISTRATIONS OF the
Administration,

having no party to support him, except the off
holders, his administration was necessarily weak.
Yet it declined with decorum, and expired without
q groan.
Willard Fillmore, by q similar accident, is now
at the head of the government. He has the whig
party to back him. and the democrats to spur him
on; and yet the feebleness-the Notifying feeble
ness-of his foreign policy, makes the administration
of Mr. Tyler rise into positive dignity by contrast
and gives even the miserable bungling of the Clay
ton cabinet an air Of responsibility. Mr. Fillmore
is entirely too negative, and Mr.. Webster too
timid. Both together, they have proved utterly In
competent to take care Of themselves, much less of
the rights, interests dignity, character, and honor
of the country. With Q saving degree of moral
courage, they have had opportunities for building
up an irresistible popularity; but from moral
lsssitude and debility, from weakness and indie
cision, from excess of caution and excess Of fear
and, above all, from subserviency to British inte-
rests and British insrigues, they have made our
government the jest of Europe, and themselves the
victims of their wretched policy.
There are four prominent subjects 10 our foreign
relations in which the administration is justly liza
bic to the charge of neglect Of duty-the late
events in Cuba; British Vaccinations in Central
America in violation of treaties; British intgues
in Mexico, particularly in reference to the Tehuan-
tepec right of way; and the affairs Of the Sand
wich Islands.
First wiah regard to Cuba. All of the disasters
to the expedition Of Lopez-the slaughter at Ha-
vans, the sufferngs Of the remnant of his band in
the mountains, and in prison, and their transpor-
tation to Spain, as also, the scenes of popular
violence at New Orleans and at Key West, and
the imprisonment and transportation of Thrash
er to the coast of Africa-were all the conse.
quences of the IMMUNITY with which Lopez was
permitted to ran at large after the affair at Car
denas. Had he been properly dealt with at that
time, there would have been no second expedition
to Cuba, and the bloody scenes Of last August
would have been prevented. Or, had the Pam
pero been properly attended to, she could have
been arrested, even after her escape from New
Orleans Or failing to intercept her, the American
Consul at Havana might have been, and should
have been, armed with instructions agaius. the
summary execution Of those misguided men
| Clayton thus preserved the prisoners from Wo.
mans Island the year before. But the proclama-
ton was issued, and Lopez and his confederates
were left to take their own course. The American
| Consul was tied up by the proclamation General
Concha acted under its authority and the rem
nant spared of the i'll fated expedition were spared
by his clemeDcy, and not by any interposition Of
our government So much for capable indf.
ference and neglect in regard to Cuba. Thus much
| for the projected alliance between England and
France to enforce the intervention of the United
| States in the affairs Of that island.
The neglect and indifference of, or sub mission to
British intrigues in Central America by, our
Cabinet, are still more notorious The Clayton
and Bulwer treaty guarantees the States OF Central
America against British occupation, colonization,
or jurisdiction distinctly and carefully And yet,
for eighteen months, British agents and emissa-
res have controlled, or attempted to control, the
local governments Of all those States; and British
fleets have not been wanting in either ocean
to second their designs constant succession Of
impairment outragee, and Of intermeddling tricks
with the local authorities, have marked the
total contempt Of one party to the treaty, and the
total indifference Of the sther. The impuden:
outrage upon the steamer Prometheus, by a British
vessel Of war, 10 the service of the mpudent GO
vernment set up for the King Of Mosquito by the
British agent, James Green, at San Juan, calls a:
length the attention Of Mr. Webster to the treaty
| Of his predecessor. Neither his difference to Mr.
Bulwer, nor bis submission to British pretensions
will admit Of any winking or blinking this Insult
eighteen months Of passive neglect. he proceeds to
take the first step for honest Interpretation Of the
Nicaragua treaty. To this we are indebted; not to
| American vigilance, but to British audscity and
| contempt Of the American government. Thus
much for the policy Of our cabine. towards
the important county Of Central America
In Mexico, the same submission to British TO-
trigues is manifested. First, the ins.almen.s of
the Mexican indemnity are paid through the
hands OF Corcoran Riggs, and the English house
Of the Earrings, in violation Of the treaty. Eug.
lish capitalists thus obtain . more powerful hold
upon the vitsls Of Mexico; 80 that now, while the
cabinet are waiting upon Providence, the active
| agents Of the British government are negotiating
the TebuaDtepec right Of way into th cir ion
| in defiance Of another treaty. Truly is i. to be
| deplored that the respeet Of Mr.. Webster for
British power, ard the prestige Of the British
governnsn; should rise superior TO his estimate Of
cur national honor and cur commercial interests
and the rights Of Independent States under claims
to cur protection.
Tie government. of the Sandwich Islands, IL is
also understood, offered, to avert the suspected
desigrs Of France, TO place those islands under the
protection o. the United States. The offer was
invaluable, 10 view CT our future com merce in the
Pacific Bat, no. The British government per-
hays might object, and the sSer vas laid aside
amorg the dead letters Of the State Department.
Such has been the policy Of neutrality pursued by
Mr.. Fillmore an bis cabinet. Weak, sickly, sub
missive, and passive to the last degree. The re-
suits are consequently humiliating, outrageous,
and DISASTROUS. Besides, there has been too much
froleking at the springs-,Oo much paltry election
eering-too much Galphinism on claims against the
tessury-.oo much huckstering with public speca.
la,ors. for either popular or independent sdmip's
s"ssf o
ra,loh Of the government, either 10 Il, foreign or
domestic Affairs. We are glad to perceive that
Congress taking foreign relations under their
supervision. II is time.