New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-22
NETWORK TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON.
The Swiss Treafy-stone from the Alps for
Washibgten's Monument The Contoy Prf-
soners-Who got them Released.

soners-Who got them Released
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
WASHINGTON Saturday Jan. Is, 1851.
The abstract in the report OF the Committee OF
the National Council Of Switzerland is given in
The Tribune Of yesterday with tolerable correct.
ness; the treaty ITSELF however, AN credibly
informed, is rather an unwiedy instrument, which
will in all probability have 10 undergo some con-
adorable changes and amendments before IL can
receive the approval Of the Senate, should il DO
transmitted to that body for its sanction by the
President. who | understand, for reasons de-
serving consider alton, seems 20 hesitate, although
Mr.. WEBSTER is altogether disposed TO send Il
forward az once for the advice aud consent oil the
conscript fathers Of the Republic. IL 10 doubtful,
therefore, under the circumstances, whether a.
the present session any thiDg will DO done with
the treaty. 1t may become necessary TO retarn
it 10 Mr. MANN, with instructions as % the details
which require a revision. Although every true.
hearted American would rejoice TO see this
glorious work OF friendship contaminated be-
tween the descendants Of TILL and OF WASHING
TON, yet il may perhaps be better in the end that
il should be we'll considered ia all its particulars.
In the mean time some fears are apprehended on
the European Continent by the friends OF Free
dom and the cause OF humanity lest on the return
of Spring a campaign may be opened, the termlna-
ton of which may prove the entire extngnIsh'
ment of this little Alpine beacon OF Liberty, 10
which the eyes of oppressed millions are now
turned with anxious admiration. IL these APP
prehensions be well founded, far better would II
be that we should adopt an imperfect treaty oil
friendship, which would hereafter be open to
amendment, rather than by delay to suffer tho
Imperial tyrants now meditating the destruction
of the only true Republic in Europe ~ carry out
their infamous designs.
The true course, in my Judgment, Tor our Gov
eminent to adopt, is to send Charge d Anaires
10 Berne. with proper instructions to amend the
nd N the (iOyerlmoutG oil
Europe the interest we feel in the maintenance OF
the existence and integrity OF the Swiss Conled-
Grafton. Ii is needless TO anticipate what enect
would be produced if an authorized agent or
minister of the United States should speak TO tho
titled robbers Of the Old World and frankly but
firmly tell them that we cannot look with indiiier-
ence upon their contemplated movements against
a sister Republic however weak and small Let
IL be distinctly understood that the American
Eagle is perched upon the Alps, watching with
interest every movement, and the falcons oil
royalty will at once let their prey go ree'
Ihave just learned that the Swiss Government
have Sorw arded beautiful stone from the Alpsto
be placed in the National Monument to Washing
ton.
Some two or three weeks ago L observed au
editorial in the National Intelltgencer, lauding and
gloryfyng the Administration for the release OF
the three Contoy prisoners who had been con-
denied At Havana ana conveyed W Aho
cnrsorv reader would very naturally infer from
that article that the merit of the release OF these
prisoners was due entirely 20 the present Admin
istraton, aud that the present Secretary OF State
was the Secretary in whom 1t was stated that the
] Spanish Government entertained so much comb
! dence. believe at the time that article appear
| ed that it was the late Secretary of State TO
whose exertioDs in behalf of those Inflated men
they owed their release. Without for a moment
cherishing doubt in my mind as TO what would
have heen the course pursued by the present Chief
/ Of our Foreign Department. had he been placed In
! Mr. CLAYToNs position at the time OF the troubles
| arising out of the Cuban expedition, or had MIR.
! C. neglected any part OF his duty In the whole
affair it is but proper to state that intelligence
/ Just received from friend in Spain. confirms me
/ in the opinion entertained when hrst read the
article alluded to in the Inteliigencer. he says
that our Minister at Madrid had received no in
structions whatever from Mr. w EBsTER in regard
J to the Contoy prisoners, and that on the presen-
tatOn by Mr. BARRIsGER OF MIR. CLAYross dis
patch to him they were at once Pardoned and re-
! leased He further states that Lord PALMERsTON
and Sir II. l.. BULwER fully sustained the doc
trine advanced by Mr.. CLAYToS that no nation
has right to punish individuals captured beyond
its own Jurisdiction, and that this doctrine was
also fully concuned 10 by the British Minister at
Madrid. IL is a little strange that doctrine SD
plain and Just and sustained by such authority,
should have caused any debate or met with any
opposition in the American Cabinet at the time II
was proposed by the late Secretary of State to
Presiden ut TAYLOR for his SANCTION yet, with
exception, Tor perhaps two they all opposed it.
and had not the brave old General stood tirlly by
his chief minister and declared taat If single
of the prisoners was executed be would send q
war message to Congress, that minister know
would have Immediately resigned. And it is mo-
less surprising that while President TAYLOR and
Mr.. CLAYTON saved the lives of the Contoy pris-
soners who were about fifty in ALI by their tri
umphant maintenance of doctrine which should
be held sacred and dear TO every American cit-
zen they should at the same time, despite the
SANDERS of La CrOnicd and the Loco Foco press.
have retained the full confidence OF the Spanish
Government.
give you the above not with view OF pluck
ing one laurel from the brow of our present able
Secretary of State, whose recent vindication OF
American policy in the Austro Hungarian cores
pondence, even had he hitherto been unknown To
fame, will hand his name down 10 future ages so
long as the love of liberty shall survive in the
human bosom, but simply as an act Of justice and
to award merit to whom merit is rightly due.
Yours &c. Pr.
Tariff Pros ects-' The Ebony Line,' &c.