The daily union., 1852-12-24
secret Negotiations.


not seem to think that ehcsue and Misrepresentation
are derogatoy to the reputation OF public Journal IL
contends that government should noi even in pursuit
OF nealcuabe political advantage resort 10 any expe
dent or ahce in lis negotiations with foreign nations
but to establish It's novel proposition the Rspu6o does
not hesitate TO employ the unfair and dsrepnlable
weapons Of logic The prospect OF some hing advan.
tage argument has seduced the Republic very far from
tina, plain-sang integrity and straight forward can
DOR which il prescbes nations the guide OF their
diplomacy.
1t easy task to reuis an opponent by distorting
his facts and msepresentng his argument; and this
precisely what the Repse has done in reply 10 our ar
tcle the publication OF diplomatic correspondence
With not very commendable adroitness OF statement
the Republic represents justifyng the OF dup
city in diplomatic negotiations We did such thing
We repudaie the idea that the diplomatic representa-
tives of this government resort TO fraud or du-
piciy. Skill and fnesse in diplomacy. by no means
involve the idea OF dishonorable arhce, Our diplo
matic agents occasionally compelled, in their me-
go,iations with foreign governments, 10 pursue their
object through The OF intrigue. and to promote
the good of their country by resort TO artifce.
Does the Republic deny this proposition This ne
cessity results from circumstances. The American
republic has TO defend itself, and to maintain its
power against the hostile Vaccinations of monarchical
governments To arrest its expanding growth and TO
dermine its power, no means are left unemployed by
those who pine its prosperity and would rejoice at its
fall. What could this government accomplish by pur
suing the ideal diplomacy of the Republic? Would Frank
lin have ever secured the aid OF France in revola
tonary struggle by such diplomacy Would Washing
have achieved the liberty Of his country without
resort 10 intrigue and s,ratagem The very word d.
piomacy involves the ideas of intrigue and artifce.
When nations agreed TO conduct their intercourse
and pursue their aims but the highest principles
of right Justice, honor, and fairness, then will diplomacy
be an obsolete idea and this government may safely
adopt the specious system propounded by the Repub
lie. We do not anticipate the reign OF such pol-
ca millennium and until il comes nations must employ
the necessary means of self protection.
The Republic msrepresents again, in asserting that
deny the people the right to know how their gov
ernment We argued not the right but the policy Of
publishing the secret negotiations of the government
The people have denied TO themselves the right of being
advised of all the various negotiations of the govern
men by submitting TO the discretion of the Executive
the question of the expediency OF their publication
The proposition and argument Of the Republic are
equally ridiculous. The Utopian theory which i, pro.
pounds is altogether too sublma,ed for this terrestrial
sphere The model President OF very scrupulous con-
temporary has shown regard for its elevated system of
diplomacy. The instructions Of MIR. Buchanan to Mr.
Saunders will compare, in dignity of tone, and "plain-
sailing integrity with the instructions OF Mr. Webster
to Mr. Walsh. The Republic jus,fes Mr. Fillmores
Hayten mission. and yet the whole thing was an in.
,rigue and Mr. Walsh especially instructed 10 EN-
poy the ufee ofmsnaee Indeed the model Presidents
diplomacy has been sgnally characterized by persua-
sion menace and ariihce"lhe means" which the RI
| public severely censures. . n a.s s.4uE ras.a
In behalf of the policy OF making public the secret ne
gotiatons Of the government the Republic does not offer
even the pretence OF an argument. Now, against the
unsupported theory of the "organ" are content 10
urge The practice OF the administration. Ii may be very
proper that the of diplomacy should be bla
zoned to the world. and the people may have right TO
be informed of The acts Of the government bat Mr. Fill
more 10 contempt OF call OF Congress- refused to per.
NIT the publication OF the correspondence OF his cabinet
respecting the annexation OF the Sandwich islands, To
frusra,e the acquisition OF Cuba he consented make
public The negotiations OF democratic administration
but when the conduct of his cabinet concerned
he pleaded msnfully for the necessity of secrecy and
noed the "rght OF the people TO know The Of the
government" pregnant commentary on the pre-
ceps Of the Republics instructions
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