The New York herald., 1851-11-05

tween France and England, for the protection oftae
sovereignty Of Spain over the island OF CUBA IN
volving, as has been further alleged, the assump-
tion Of the right to dctan and search all suspicious
vessels sailing under the merican flag The war
correspondent of the Philxdelphia North American
the same Mr.. Harvey, we presuAe, who pronu''
gated custls eli in reference to the contemptioie
sgaabble between Mr.. Clayton and NJ Poussia-
WAS among the 6rst who attracted public attention
A, this Cuban intervention, in despatch setting
forth that England and France had received ve'y
decided re buG from Mr.. Crit.enden on the subject.
Subse quentIy we find this statement modified very
materially. There was no re5uf-no necessity for
q rebuff God forbid that there should be. Our
special correspondents after special inquiry into the
matter intimates distinctly that Mr.. Crittenden,
the oeus teslen of the State Department, di have
an interchange of opinions in writing with the
French government but that it was all very po
litely done and that, upon the whole, it was
matter of mele formalities, of little or conse-
quence The more, however, the subject was agi-
tated the more it disclosed the very important fact
that there was something in it, and that Mr. Crit
tenden, pre- nier, ad iatrim, had had the courage
and the discretion to take the American side of the
argument and that, after all, he probably did give
the French government ga regular Kentucky hunch
in the ribs" The subject was becoming interest
ing when, just in the nick Of time, young student
in diplomacy under the Secretary of State, comes
out, and in the dull gravity Of an old diplomat,
partially explains the material point in dispute.
What would Robinson Crusoe have done without
his IN an Friday! What should we have known Of
the travels and the dinners, and the anecdotes of
DR.. Johnson, but for the faithful Mr. Boswell And
how fortunate it is for the truth of history, and the
claims of Mr.. Webster to the Presidency, that he,
too, has his factottni, who always happens to be
on hand when wanted and never at any other
time.
Mr. Charles w. March, the biographer OF Mr..
Webster, is his man. He happens, therefore, to
know all about this correspondence on the question
Of French and English intervention in the Affairs Of
Cuba, far as is proper that he should be inform
ed lie addresses letter to our cotempsrary Of
the CouriG, which may be regarded as the official
or authorized explanation Of the Secretary Of State
Mr. March says in this statement, that, in the alb
sence of Mr.. Webster, cit was made known TO Mr..
Crittenden, by reading to him memorandum from
the instructions of the British and French minister's
that orders had been given TO the British and
French ships Of war to prevent the landing Of any
military force upon the coasts Of Cuba-as it is
doubtless true that the armed steamers OF the
United States had similar orders-if such military
force was proceeding from this country" And he
then argues that this intervention did not involve
any instructions or declarations Of any intention, by
France and England, to overhaul the merchant
ships of this country with American Gags and regu-
lar papers-the question of the right of search hav
ing been settled by Mr. Webster's Ashburton cor
respoHdence and his letter of instructions 10 Mr..
Everett, at London, pending the administration of
Mr.. Tyler.
Having made this satisfactory disposition of the
abstract question Of the right of search, Mr. March
who happens now to be at Washington with MIR.
Webster, goes on to say
/ happened to be in the North, where Mr.. Webster
lsst summer, when the news arrived that England
and France Intended TO order had ordered American
vessels 10 be searched as former times and heard
Mr. Webster, then confined TO his house by his annual
attack OF catarrh declare that the first Of any
such proceeding ought 70 be- and would be- followed by
war And know, also that this declaration was made
by him in the presence and hearing of several persons in
habit daily correspondence with their English friends
and that than twelve days from the time II
made It heard Of and known in high quarters in
| London.
The clear inference We are to draw from these
facts Is this-that there is no telling to what
lengths the cabinets of England and France might
have preceded in their consultations for the pro-
lection Of Cuba, had not the accidental, but thun-
dering remark of Mr. Webster, at Marshheld,
reached the private ear Of Lord PAlmerston in
time to check his dangerous scheme Of enforcing
even the right Of search in supporting the rights OF
spain. This Narshfeld observation Of Mr.. Web
ster also goes far to clear W the rst trans atlantic
reports Of the hazardous compact said to have been
entered into by the triple alliance Of Spain, France
and england, against the United States, for the
protection Of Cuba. That is, 1t accounts for the
sub sequent letting down Of the Holy Alliance, pro
vided always that Mr.. Webster's warlike uaima,Iat
did reach the ears Of the high contracting parties
before their plans we're concluded.
This IL the substance, then, Of this authorized
letter Of Mr.. March There were instructions
given from the French and British governments TO
their ships Of war in the Gulf TO prevent the land
ing Of any hostile force upon the shores Of Cuba
from the United states, or elsewhere-they vsre
read to Mr. Crittenden, acting Secretary Of state,
in the absence Cf Mr.. Webster, and he deemed
them Of sufficient moment 70 demand an immediate
reply, which he accordingly addressed to the
French and English governments. Bat how far
those instructions trenched upon tie dangerous
tion Of the right Of search, does not appear.
Neither does it appear how far the intended policy
Of England and France, with regard to future con-
tingencies, affects this question, or tie Monroe doe:
trine Of foreign nonintervention in our domesti,
affairs.
But, in any event, the doctrine Of the righ. Of
searching vessels under the American flag, is now
a settled question. 1t led to the last war, and to
the defeat Of the quadruple alliance on the slave
trade by Cen. Cass at Psris, and to the defeat Of
the proposition by Mr. Webster in his negotiations
with Lord Ashburtop; and any attempt TO exercise
such a right against American ships, under sny
pr,tence, or for any purpose, or by aay coalition
wbatsoever, viii be made at the risk Of waf.
Thosgh the esbine. nigh; be disposed to com.
promise such an offence, IL the circumstances al
mitted Of paation 1t would be TO sacrifice IT,
self 10 admit Of any accom- mo ia.ion short Of an
appeal to arms. Popular opinion is sensitive
L. L. a