The New York herald., 1851-12-04

The PYesident's Message.
We published, yesterday, in full, the message Of
President Fillmore, and almost all Of tho reports
and documents which accompanied It, This mes-
sage has been perused by hundreds OF thousands of
people Of all parties and classes, each ono Of
whom has formed an opinion upon its merits or
dement's, some according to- their individual
judgments some according to the opinions Of Others
and some accor ding to their own whins and Ca
prices It is part of history, and will be judged
of and treated other records and archives of
government.
We have carefully read the message from top to
bottom, and We confess that it has sorely disap.
pointed as. We had looked for a document of o
different character, well regards its style It's
contents. We're we not fully familiar with the
slavery of faction and partyism, We would be aased
at the laudasions of the whig press respectsaA.
But We know well that editors Of party joulDnAu
have no opinion spirit Of their own, and that ~
must praise to the seventh heaven any in
strument emanating from the head of their
party, no matter how poor or imbecile, or con-
temptible, performance it may be. In our
opinion President Fillmore's message Is remark
able document. 1t Is remarkable in two parsicu-
lars, viz.:-for what it omts, andf for the verbage
with which it refers to what 1t does not omit The
whole affair is tame, subdued, and undigai6ed
throughout, especially as regards our Spanish diff
culties, growing out of the invasion Of Cuba by
Lopez and his associates Mr.. Fillmore, to be
sure, refers to that INVASION and to the boodshea
which it caused, and to his own proclamation, but
not word does he say about the imbecility which
he displayed in not having Lopez, the head and
front of botS expeditions, tried and convicted for
violating our neutrality laws. Had he taken an
opposite course, different state Of things would
have been the result. All the force of the admi-
nistration IVES used against General Henderson
and Governor Quitman, against whom there was
not sufficient evidence to convict, while ml pros
was entered in favor Of Lopez, agains. whom there
was no want of evidence. The second expedition
followed, as might have been expected it would,
and then came the bloody drama. Any person
can see that all this could have been prevented if
Mr.. Fillmore and Mr.. Webster had performed
their duty in the matter.
Again, our relations with Great Britain in con-
nection with Central America are slurred over in
most significant manner. Was there nothing to be
said about these matters The continued occupa-
tien, by that power, Of the Mosquito territory, in
defiance Of treaty stipula.ions its continued inter-
outrages committed by British officials on American
rights and on the American eag-were they not
worthy Of notice. 1t seems not; and this shows,
what has often been stated, that Mr.. Webster,
Secretary Of State, is he has been under British
influence. five are not very much mistaken, Con-
gress will make some note OF this omission, and
demand some reason for it. II the administration
are TO be dictated to by Sir Henry Bulwer snd his
government, and If the American flag is to be con-
tinually outraged with impunity, with the consent
of the government at Washington, it is time for
Congress and the people to knoWit.
Mr.. Fillmore refers to the prosperity Of the
country. The nation is undoubtedly in a prosper
Gus condition, but his sdminis.r alton is not to be
thanked for it. II isprosperous and We hope 1t will
continue So But he certainly might no. be 90
tame and cold about the subjec. as he is in his
message. Could he not have drawn q picture of
the destiny Of the United States, and have told
us something Of the future that is awaiting usl
In regard te eur foreign polcy-the subject
which is now engaging public attention-he is
feeble, very feeble. He glides over 1t with the
same facility that skiful skaters pass over ice, for
business or pleasure He was afraid to dwell upon
It, and droppedit as soon as be could
There are other omissions in Mr.. Fillnores
message, which we remarked, but which We have
&c room TO comment upon to-day. Fer the pre-
sent we shall conclude by saying tha. 1t ia one Of
the weakes worst written, and most pusill llanlnous
documents that ever emanated from the head Of our
government, and reflects anything but credit on
Alr Fillmore, Mr.. Webster, or any other member
Of TIE cabinet II is nothing but words, words,
words. '