Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-19
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
ENGLISH oPINIoHk


The London Times Of the 22d * January con-
tains "a articls on the proposed Tripaxste 9saYsR
: tion re]a1t1at fhhAs e xhioh u. .os1y y "a
rial portion. ~ vii be Teg egStdod With hIgl
testimony from more than impartial quarter to
the substantial reasonabeness Of the ground taken
by Mr. EVERETT in his letter to the British and
French Ministers Of the lst Of December We
would not be understood as endorsing the entire
contents Of the article, nor as approving the Ian
guage in which Gen. CAss is mentioned. We diff
fer widely enough from this veteran statesman in
many Of his views Of the foreign policy Of the
try; but we never wish to speak Of him but with
the respect due to his character and patriotic in
Gtentions ms
FROM THE TIMES. .
The TRIPAnr1rE TREArY.-The elaborate and circum-
stantal despatch in which Mr. EVERETT justfes the
fus of his Government to concur in the proposals Of
France and England is perhaps the very best defence
that could have been made for the policy in question 1t
conesses with unusual candor the Interior expectations
Of the American people, refers to what is termed the
destiny" Of the Union in temperate language, and dis
secs the probable results Of the convention suggested
with what must admit to be considerable success 1t
would be absurd deny that by the proposed
the sacrifice Of the United States would be greater and
benSlDle
AS it be affirmed with perfect sincerity that neither
Great Britain France DESIRES has desired the
Possession of Cuba and as this possession if OBJ
tained certainly be far less productive to either Of
those States than the States Of the Union follows of
course that the European Governments would have
lost nothing by the execution Of the convention whereas
the American Government would have surrendered what
prospects it might entertain We quite prepared
also, acknowledge that, considering the position Of
Cuba the mouth Of that gulf which receives the mighty
rivers Of the United States and the probable development
of SO young and powerful nation, the acquisition Of
the island at time other might not unnaturay
enter into the visions of American statesmen.
If Americans had said either less or than
Mr. Everett says for them they had confined their
own views the ordinary chances Of the future and had
orborne to ascribe views of different complexion to
Others the proposal Of the tpartite convention could
hardly have been dvested Of the character Of mpert
nence But learn from their own diplomatic publica-
tons that the Government Of Washington has for some
time past been engaged in mpressng upon Spanish Min
listers the aggressive intentions Of other States and espe-
cay Of this country, respecting the island Of Cuba, and
in jusying, by these allegations its ofhcious and
importunate proceedings At the time the popular
feeling of the Union has been resoutely bent upon
forcible anticipation Of its destiny in this particular
that the supreme Government had difficulty in pre-
venting on the part Of its citizens explosion OF
those very designs which imputng TO others Un-
der these circumstances therefore, the Governments OF
France and England manfesty warranted in taking
the American Government at its word in dsclaming for
themselves all the pretensons ascribed to hem and in
asking for such disclaimer in return would set at
rest forever question which the Americans themselves
had been exclusively concerned in raising Mr. Everets
REFUSAL though usti6abe in opinion as piece OF
national policy, must nevertheless, be conclusive evil
rv,xn thax of
4 the real views Of the several parties concerned.
despatch Of the American Minister, however,
ed at considerable length, and not without certain
sgree Of eoquence into historical exposition Of Anne
rcan policy and Of the relations successfully assumed by
the expanding Union towards its neghbors and the
States Of the European continent But while this tenn
perate and plausible statement lying before the Sen
ate Gen. CAss communicating his views Of the
1destines Of America" and Of the policy which, in his
opinion the Government Of the Union entitled to pur
and enforce. The Generals resolution" proposed
declare that the United States would not interfere with
the existing possessions Of Russia Great Britain France
Holland Portugal, and Spain on American territories
that ii permitted those kingdoms and colonies to subss
on suferance but that meantime it absolutely forbade
any further extension Of European interests by COLOMBIA
ton settlement any Of those parts Of the globe bound
ed the Atlantic and Pacific between Greenland and
Cape Horn. This is really unexaggerated statement
Of the motion which the General submitted to the Senate
and which amply vndicates must needs confess, his
title that "capacous swallow for territory which he
svowed few weeks ago. One continent is not enough
for him he prepares TO gorge couple and the islands Of
the and the gulf wl Of course, add but i'm
perceptible morses TO the meal As exemplfcation
Of his practical views he delivered himself Of severe
invective against the Federal Government because in
treaty recently concluded between the United States and
Great Britain respecting mutual renunciaton Of certain
districts in Central America there had not been comprised
an unconditional surrender Of the ancient British posses
sion OF Honduras In the same spirit he might have
dePlored that the settlement Of the Maine boundary did
not include the forfeiture by this country Of New Bruins
wick and Newfoundland.
1t was in vain that Mr. Clayton referred to the noto
rous purport of the treaty and to the perfect under
standing the part Of the Senate that Honduras did moi
enter into the question Gen Casss main object was
that all the power, dominion control Of Great Britain
in Central America should be swept away and on No
other condition. as he declared would he have voted TO,
the treaty at ALL That the United States by this YER,
convention had themselves solcmny rcnounced All til,
to occupy coonre fory any portion Of Central Ame
rca was probably forgotten by che General when he ed
his prospective claim every square mile between In,
two poles.
To appreciate these extraordinary pretensions, ths
reader has only glance map Of the two American
continents He win there see that the particular State o
which Cen Cass claims the ultimate disposal Of both is