The Yazoo Democrat., 1853-01-19
The Publication Of Diplomatic Corr
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The publication Of the secret negotiations OF
the government is practice which it is difficult
to defend on any principle Of justice or policy
The constitution recognises the necessity and
proprey of secrecy in the international nego-
tiations Of the government, ia denying TO the
popular branch Of the Legislature any share in The
tresty-making power, and in confding to the
Executive the absolute power Of prohibiting the
publication of diplomatic. correspondence. IL
was the practice Of the 'eallier" Presidents to
withhold from Congress any diplomatic papers
which they deemed it impolitic 10 publish. Cou-
gress itself recognizes the necessity of the exer-
else Of cautious discretion ia making public
the secret negotiations of the government, in the
form of expression By which it requests the pub
lication of diplomatic papers.
To make public the successive lteps in Ien-
ding negotiation would in most cases inevitsbly
defeat the aim OF such negotiation To unfold
to the world the intrigues, the peEuasious. the
menaces, the artifces, and all the various means
by which the object Of past negotiation has
been accomplished, would not only give foreign
nations an insight into our diplomacy, but would
excite their jealousy and hostility, and throw
them into an attitude Of deienee against what
they might imagine to be our unfrendly maclnn'
ations. In either case the act Of publication
would be detrimental to the interests of the
country. The results only, and not the means
and process, of negotiation should be made
public.
There is another relation III which the qles-
ton may be considered. In the publication Of
the diplomatic correspondence Of the govern
ment this country is not alone concerned. The
dignity, the rights and the interests Of other ma
tions, may be most injuriously affected by pub-
fishing to the world their secret aud confidential
negotiations with our government. Has this
government the right to perpetrate such an act
of wanton injury to ii friendly nation Foreign
powers consent to negotiate with this govern
ment on the tacit understanding Of mutual good
'taith and is it an act Of good faith to publish
papers which, in the progress of negotiation
other nations have confdentially entrusted 10
US? Will foreign powers consent to co-operate
with this government in negotiation, and 10
trust ii with a knowledge Of their motives and
designs, if it be known that their confidential
communications will be published to the world2
These opinions have recently been most forci-
bly, illustrated. By the publication Of the Gu
ban correspondence serious obstacles are opposed
to all subsequent negotiation with Spain in res
pect to Cuba. And more than this, official pef-
sonages in England and Spain have been irrep-
arably damaged by such violation Of conf
dence. The publication of the Haytien cores
pondence has no: been less embarrassing to thie
country, while to France and England it has
been gross wrong.
The talk about simplicity and franlrness in the
conduct of republican government is mere SEM
timent II a republican government is TO main
tain and extend its power, it must avail itself Of
the means Of aggrandizement employed By othef
governments.
President Polk not only displayed a noble
nanIiness and independence, but set a worthy
and wise precedent to his successors, in refusing
to make public secret negotiation, in defiance
of the discourteous demand Of an unscrupulous
party spirit UniOn.
Very RIcH.--A correspondent at BurksviIles
KY, SAYS
MIR. Editor / think the following too good 10