The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-30

On Morn lnterpenii Delivered in The Senale
an Monday, March 22d. 1852


! 1t may be too late for US to interpose pro-
test against an accomplished wrong it is never
too late to provide against its recurrence. Do
not late events speak loud Of the future! See
you not England herself euccumbing to the con-
tnenta coalition? How anxious she seems not
to give of nee to European despots Mark
her condescensions to their biddings. On the
very day that Lord Palmerston was surrender
| ing his seals, Vienna was reveling in Joy and
exultaton at the triumph which the anticipated
fall of thut minister prepared to Austria. Lord
Malmesbury bends in humble compliance to
the remonstrances OF France and Austria, and
narrows the circle Of the liberties conceded to
European exiles; and Lord d rby inaugurates
his advent to power by withdrawing the bill
which extended the electoral franchises of the
British subjects and thus is England belying
her past, AS if she no longer recolected those
proud days of her glory when her minister
could exelam in the House of Commons, "We
go to plant the standard Of England on the
well known heights of Lisbon where that
standard is planted foreign dominion shall not
Gomez" or, when hurting defiance at France,
then in possession of Spain, the same minister
triumphantIy avowed his resolution, shat If
France had Spain, it should not be Spain with
the Indies; that he had called the New World
into existence to redress the balance of the Old. y
| But, sir, while she shows herself so submissive
! to European despOtism, see how menacingly
she rides our waters, and how arrogantly she
deals out her protectorate TO Nicaragua Costa
Rica, and the Kingdom of Mosquito Even
this wavering and irrcsolute administration of
| ours could not speak out high words of COM
plaint--indeed, sir the very words of the amend
ment introduced by the Senator from Michigan,
to demonstrate against the untoward assump-
| ton. But, the complaint was soon stilled by
empty excuses in one case, and in the other by
the reassertion of the very right and power dc
MED and protested against The Senate will
recollect what occurred upon the appearance Of
the French and British squadrons in the Gulf Of
Mexico A conference took place on that oc
casion between the acting Secretary of State
and MIR. Champion, then British charge daft
fares to this government, and a correspondence
was had between the same acting secretary and
the French minister, in both Of which our gov
eminent asserted its deep concern at the un-
ooked-for interference, and insisted upon obtain
ing satisfactory explanations. The French
minister, with frankness and in tone which
do great credit to his character, and yet with
that dignifed reserve that behooved the reprc-
sentative of great nation, met the question in
perfect fairness, and declared, "first, that the
instructions issued by the government Of the
republic were spontaneous and isolated second
y, that those instructions were exclusive, for an
exclusive case, and applicable only to the class,
and not to the nationality, of amy pirate or ad-
venturer that should attempt to land in arms on
the shores of friendly nation"
The answer was conclusive, and this govern
ment deemed it satisfactory. But how WAS il
with the British charge d'atfaires? The memo
randum of the conference informs us that Mr.
Champion, at an interview with Mr.. Crittenden,
at the Department of State, on the 9th of Sep
TENDER, 1851, stated thai he had been directed jv
her Myestys government TO sal 10 the United
States Secretary Of STATE, that he, Mgestys gop
eminent had learned, with DEF REGRET, that
expeditions have again been prepared in the
ports of the United States, for an attack upon
territory belonging to sovereign at peace
with the United States, and in friendly relations
with her Majesty" Y
That her Majesty's government deem il due
to the frankress which ought to characterize the
intercourse between the two governments to
state TO that of the United States, THAT HER
MAJEsTY's SHIPS. oF-wAR ON THE WEST INDIA
STATION, WILL HAVE ORDERS TO PREVENT BY
FORCE ANY ADVENTURES OF ANY NATION, FROM
LANDING WITH HOSTILE INTENT UPoN THE I,LANp
OF CUBA" | had thought, sir, that under the
prevalence of this doctrine of non-intervention,
the distinguished statesman who is at the head
of the State Department, with that tone of voice
that bespeaks the depths of his thoughts though
not always the invincible energy of his WILL
might have gravey told the British charge,
Sir, this is no concern of yours. Withdraw
your ships We can minister for ourselves the
police of our affairs over our own waters" But
am mistaken, think; it was not Mr.. Webster,
but Mr. Crittenden, who then occupied the chair
of State And very strenuously does he retort,
"Thal the President could not, WITHOUT CONCERN,
witness any attempt 10 accomplish the object" in
contemplation Of The British gopernnaent "by
means Which might eventually lead 10 encroach-
ments on the rights Of the people of The United
StateS;" that the execution of the orders re-
ceived by her Majestys squadron would be the
exercise of sort of police over the seas in our
immediate vicinity, covered as they are with our
ships and our citizens, and it would involve,
moreover, to some extent, the exercise of ju
risdcton to determine what expeditions were of
the character denounced, as well as who were
the guilty Adventures engaged in Them" and
he closed by expressing the hope that there
may never arise any occasion for carrying any
such orders into execution" What answer,
Mr.. President, do you suppose Mr.. Champion
made to the State Department? Here is the
communication he addressed Mr.. Webster on
the 18th of November. 1t encloses letter to
himself from Lord Palmerston, re-asserting, as
| have already said, the very right and assump-
ton of power complained of and protested
against
british LEGATION,
WASHINGTON, Nov. ID, 1851.
SIR: With reference to our conversation on
the 10th inst, and in compliance with our desire
] have the honor to inclose copy of the dis
patch addressed to me by Lord Palmerston
which then read to you. upon the subject of
the orders issued to her Majesty's ships-of-war
on the West Indian station, respecting rnau-
thorized expeditions against the island of Cuba
avail myself of this opportunity to renew
to you, sir, the assurance of my highest consid.
Grafton. JOHN f. CHAMPION
The Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, &c, &C., &c
No. Is. FOREIGN OFFICE,
October %, 1851.
Sin: have received your despatch No. 80,
Of the 9th inst, and | have to ncqnant you that
her Majesty's government approve the course
pursued by you in communicating to the gov.
eminent of the United States the ordars issned