The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-05

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uniounded, Had such been he case. we cannot doubt
that this teotad haze Leea the Presidents course We
constrained to regard the silence Of the message
therefore, strong evidence that the has
good ground TO assume that such treaty has now been
concluded at least ia process OF conclusion Such
assumption is ali events warranted by the state
ments which have appeared in the columns Of The Official
journals II receives too ominous confirmation frou
the explicit declaration of the French Minister 10 the
Secretary OF State that in Spain should hereafter
be ling part with Cuba the possession protector
ship OF that island ought not, in The judgment OF the
French government 10 belong any Of The great
time po'osrs Of the trorh.
On this view, the administration. in failing TO
make known its determined objection TO such treaty
Of guarantee. has assumed responsibility before
which no, il and its party alone but The whole
country may well stand appalled, If our government is
to stand with folded arms while such blow is struck
or even medated, against national rights and instr
ulions then will be idle hereafter to atiemp, 10 set any
limits TO the length which usuping European dicta-
ton in the civil arrangements OF this continent may pro-
coed In the admission OF such treaty. the long
shed barrier of national defence as erected and
maintained by the wisdom of former administrations 10
broken down II the fatal triple flag of foreign Intervention
of pcrpetualed Monarchy, and compusoryA by
direct diplomatic nerposon 10 be set up in the island OF
Cuba almost within sight OF slaveholding Atlantic
seaboardif this is to be done with the silent acqui-
escence OF an American Standardization is il high
time Tor the people 10 to the rescue, and delegate
their administrative authority TO prudent and pati
otto counses, while there is yet meo make national
safety something more than delusion, and our
national influence on this continent something real
than an empty name ! .a#sA@
And all these anticpaons of evil are fully warranted
by the terms in which the message speaks of the orders
issued to the British and French ships of protect
the coasts of Cuba by force from all hostile invasion In
regard to these orders. the administration has contented
itself with Directing, first to the right OF search OF Amer
vessels which the orders in their terms plainly i'm.
ply and secondly to the watch for suspicious vessels
the American coast which is of the main objects OF
the orders to establish 1t would that the purpose
to execute the right of search upon American ships
in its full extent, has been disayowed though some
what vaguely, by the representatives of the British and
French governments. No similar disclaimer, however
appears have been given OF the right to keep constant
watch sight OF harbors for all such vessels. whether
under the American flag not may be suspected OF
falling within the very broad scope Of the orders Nor
does appear that objection upon this point has been
pressed by the administration At all events it cannot be
doubted that such watch is a, this moment being main
tanned under their orders by these foreign cruisers Let
the rumor OF another projected Cuban invasion be
started and there is full reason to believe that not
month will eapse before shall hear Of Amsri
can steamer being overhaued quite unceremoniousy,
by some British French ship of war. as the Falcon
was lately fired at by Spanish war steamer II is man
fest from the message that the administration has
neither done said anything eecua TO prevent such
an occurrence,
This is bad enough but il is far from beng the worst.
The main point in the is, that The administration in
lis message has virtually admitted HE propriety of the
altogether un,carranted improper and obensse assump
ton of foreign potoer TO interfere, by armed force
the execution the open OF The neutrality iavs
and the treaty obligations Of our government There
lis no need TO argue the utter inadmi.sibility, upon
every principle OF national Independence and honor
OF such a pretension. England and France might.
with exactly equal propneiy, assume TO take part
in the execution of any other statute OF our land,
Their orders assume that government is either
unwilling or incompetent 10 do it's duty In this view
they constitute however they may be explained. il NOT
gross national insult then at least fragrant national IN
decorum They lead. moreover. directly, and even inev
taby 10 acts OF manifest insult and outrage upon
,onal flag They huma,e nation before the
hitting 10 them without a murmur! ~
/ Worse even than this: the admins'rahon-while in =
single sentence of the message has yen,ured upon the
ntimaon that every independent nation must be pre-
sumed TO be able 10 defend itself against unauthorized
attacks and expedonshas plainly refused to act in this
case upon ha, presumption Ii does not decsvey repe the
idea that these foreign cruisers may assist Spain against
such attacks for the plain that the mos, unguarded
and Unfortunate language of its Proclamation may, as
lit well knows, be quoted aganstt Not Spain only but
France and England regarded that Proclamation as arm
ing every mans hand, with the sanction OF our govern,
ment against the Cuban invaders as robbers, plum
lderers and outlaws Such the view OF its terms
taken openly by Concha, by Owen, by Commodore
Parker, and Commander Plat. They all agreed that
lthe Proclamation had, far as the Presidents au'
thority could CO. Invested the expedonsts OF every
American right. Was there treaty securing to ibem
as offenders certain legal privileges of trial The Proc
amation had abrogated in their case Was the Amer
lican Aar hying at the mast head of the PamPero The
Proclamation had authorized French ship or British
ship. or anybody, to forward and pull II down
The Proclamation had put these out OF the pale OF
law and nationality that anybody else, as well as
Spain and the United States, might execute upon
them either summary justice, or summary and afro
cious cruelty And yet these men-msguidcd and cnm-
linal az they were-had neither committed nor pur-
met NuaI0