New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-12-13

the regulation of treaties, comfy and common
sense, and then to issue just such explanation
as he pleases, as ssinformal and matter of cour
tesy, or noexplanation whatever under heaven
What is this buta virtual, if partial, recogni
tion Of Spain's subordinate as a proper expoun
der Of portion of our treaties and of nationa
law. with the privilege Of dilatory reference
to the Court of Spain : II the Captain Genera
of Cuba. titled subordinate, has this right
why not our officers and oficals' Why canno
Mr.. Davenport judge of treaties and their forcs
with as much propriety as Mr.. Canedo' WI
say nothing of Mr.. Davenport's refusing to be
guilty of the folly of directly or indirectly
distinction or condition between the faith Of
treaties and the rights of American citizenship.
What would our Government say to any United
States official who should claim and exercise the
same introduction claimed and successfully exer-
cised by Canedo, the Cuban Captain Generals
If any American official should pretend to act
as this Spanish official in Cuba has, he would
have very brief settlement with his Govern
rnent-repnblcan as tits The idea of our Gov
eminent admitting the right of an individual
subordinate to judge of the conditions of its
diplomatic relations only in a manner q informal
and as q matter of courtesy" palsies our
strength of American manhood, and aliases our
national pride.
We had hoped that our Government would
take the just and statesman-lke ground, that
the Captain General should be SO far "clear in
his great office" as to obtain the sanction and
authority of his Government before taking &C.
ton so important as to affect the regular com
mercial intercourse and relations of the two
nations, and the just rights Of American citizen
ship. We were notprepared for this singular
recognition of his kingly right to take such ac-
ton at his arbitrary pleasure, be unquestioned
by our Government, and send us, good, peaceable
souls, thousands of miles across the ocean, to
sue for tardy and meaningless diplomatic expla-
nations. Such q position invites to renewed
insults, embarrasses our intercourse, indirectly
encourages the growth of sc fllibusterism,' and
must finally provoke war.
Our sentiments, educational and political, are
for peace; but the honor of our country is the
should worship truly, honestly, consistently, in
the echo of Henry Clay's voice in the war of
1872, and in the wisdom Of Henry Clay's coun-
sci in the treaty of Client To us, the Past
Eliminates the Future; and the Patriot of Ash
land leads the column in which we follow. Our
Dead are before us, and we march behind the
hitherto unsullied banner of the Union they
have borne SO proudly in the path of History,
Fame and Honor. We would scorn an argu-
ment-though there are slight grounds-upon
the Lobos Islands. Even upon such dung -hills
we are not permitted to stand; and if we pass
from the gloom of the irresolution of our out
going Administration, we are not conrforted by
the darker shade of hopeless though wordy
promise cast by the incoming upon the future.
We cannot too highly commend the statesman
like views of President Fillmore upon the subject
IF intervention nor can we fail to note with
praise the business-like character, the finished
style and dignifed tone of his last annual mes
sage.
We shall, hereafter have occasion to review
he career of his administration and if we have
I few words of censure for that excessive pru-
lence which has the seeming of irresolute timid-
ty, where there is the least question of war, we
hall not fail to acknowledge the calm wisdom
md self-reliant manhood exhibited in every
question and in every trial of domestic policy.
NE administration of President Fillmore has
'andered to no ultraism, foreborne the express
ion Of no conviction and used no sectional
peech. For these things it will be honored in
history