The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-17

regular course of proceedings usual in such
cases. The citizens and subjects of both par
ties shall be allowed to employ such advocates,
SOLICITORS, notaries, agents, and factors, AS they
may adge 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 haze free access 10 be pre-
semi at the proceedings in such cases, 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 Mr.. 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 a case where a 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 incarcerated 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---hs life. What security would the
American citizen have, We're such plea acknowl-
| edged, even in extreme cases! So far 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 cit-
zen Of this republic in Havana might be arrested
at any time for any no offence, tried in con-
clave 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 citizen in the peaceful walks
of life is arrested in daylight aud 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 expiation
Of crime. Mr.. Thrasher 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 collared 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. |. will scarcely answer as good an end by
remaining upon the statute book.
.R- The New York Herald thus specuates
with reference to the designs of the British gov
eminent on Mexico and Central America. Our
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 fol
surprising 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
8 Tammany Hall programme for the future con
! duct of our foreign relations: Jh %
i The REVOLUTION IN MExIco-THE DEsIG N.
9 OF THE BeIrIsH. three different points, al
q admitted by the official organ Of the Mexican
e government, the integrity of that republic is as
sailed, and the authorities are powerless to pu
3 down the revolutionists. The republic Of tn
% Sierra Madre is assuming form and shape, and
H. number of additional States seeking to dis
n solve their connection with the central govern
10 ment, and looking fora separate destiny of thei
y own. TflE
y Mexico is truly in deplorable state. Bank
n rupt and powerless, without credit at home anc
e abroad, she has reached the lowest depths o.
u weakness and imbecility. Inevitable fate il
Il overtaking her, and these revolutionary move
s. mepts are ont the beginning of the end They
n are what was expected to take place, sooner OF
later, in the natural course of events. These
. irruptions and revolutions will go on from time
II to time, until Mexico will no longer appear on
l. the map of nations.
Il II is at such time as this, and under such
:, circumstances that the British government in
}, sists upon the immediate payment of the claims
due to British subjects by Mexico, well knowing
that such payment is impossible. This demand
is backed by threat of bloc kadipg her ports in
, case of noncompliance. The object of this
movement is, we think, clear. The British gov
3 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 il still exists, however, it has the
, power OF ceding territory--the only means
{ which il possesses of dscharging its debts. Be-
fore it becomes extinct therefore, the British
want to wiring 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 whlch
, it might get possession of the Tehuantepec
/ route, or some other position, that would enable
? that government to open communication be-
8 tween the two oceans.
Such, we think, is the object of the British
t government in pressing the claims of her sub
@ jects against Mexico at the present time, and
n under present circumstances. 1t is needless to
q say that no such policy will be recognized by
!. the people or government of the United States,
a and that no concession of territory TO England,
e under any pretence whatever, by Mexico, will
be tolerated or sanctioned. We will never per.
. nit it, let the consequences be what they may.
1t will be duty, before many years, to assume
{ control of the whole Mexican territory. Our
{ own interests and safety forbid that any Euro
pean power shall acquire footing there. II
! we had any but the present administration 10
!, power in Washington, the British government
would very soon be officially informed of the