The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-23
The Colonel Kinney Expedition and the ADJ
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. symptoms or a War
with ENGLAND mud France.

mshfstration-StrOng symptoms OF q War
with England aud France.
According to our special advices from Wash
ington, ich we publsh this morning, the
projected colonization expedition of Colonel
Kinney TO Central America is beginning to
awaken something OF sensation in our federal
after moments reflection upon the intimate
relations subsistiDg between toese Central ad-
venturers and the administration.
We have at length satisfactory clew to the
otherwise absurd and inexplicaole bombardment
Of Greytown. That act Of unauthorized war
was but the prelude to others upon larger
scale comprehended in the general programme
which is now pretty fully developed in connec-
ton with this Kinney expedition. The Presi-
dents official organ at Washington endorses
the scheme, and though it disclaims an en-
dorsement in behalf Of the administration, it
is very unlikely that it would venture upon a
step 80 bold and decided as to puff it to the best
Of its ability without the approval of jeff
Davis, Gushing, Forney, aud tue Kitchen Cabi-
net. From this point let us briefly glance at the
bearings and probable consequences of this
startling enterprise of Colonel Kinney and
company.
The history of Texas is, doubtless, the guild
ing star to this ma aniice ut scheme. The libe-
ration of Texas was effected by c0lonists and
means and munitions Of war from the United
States. The complete success of that enter
prise and of its military chieftain, Gen. Hous-
ton, might well tempt more prudent and eau
tious man than Col. Kinney to strike, upon the
first opportunity, for the high distinctions
achieved by the hero Of San Jacinto We re-
member we'll the facts c0nnec,ed with the lbe-
ration of Texas. The funds for that important
movement, to very material extent, were loaned
from the New York Custom House-publc
funds advanced in private way. The subse
quent deficiency in the returns to the Treasury
Department from the customs here, of million
and quarter Of hard cash, is mainly cbargea-
bic to Texas; but how much of the other three
or four millions of the official defalcations
which signalized Mr.. Van Buren's administra-
ton was diverted to the same channel we have
no means OF estimating. 1t is enough that pri
vate advances from our public treasury largely
aided in securing the independence and the an
nexation OF Texas, and that these loans and
these achievements resulted also in the subse-
qnent acquisition of New Mexico, Utah, and the
gold country Of California. Thus the Treasury
has been amply reimbursed for its losses, vast
regions have been opened to American civiliza-
ton and enterprise. and the world in general
has shared the benefits OF the liberation of Tex
as by private subscriptions from the funds Of
the public Treasury Of the United States.
Results so splendid, 80 prodigious, SO sub
lime, SO beneficent in their extent, their de-
velopements, and their operations might well,
we say, captvate such dashing Texas csva
lier as Col. Kinney. What has been once &C.
complished may be done again. A theory rest
ing upon successful experiment is founded
upon the basis of a fixed fact,' and must be
good. But, unfortunately, there is wide
difference between the Austin colony Of Texas
and the Cooper and Cost johnson purchase in
Central America. In the former case there
was no foreign power in the way Of reveta-
tionary invasion, except the feeble aud cen
temptible power Of Mexico So the stalwart
American colonists in Texas made short work
with Santa Anna, and Texas became an indie
pendent republic upon the successful issue of a
single battle.
Now, what is the case in reference to this
Central American adventure? The Kitchen
Cabinet may be willing to advance funds from
the twenty millions surplus in the Treasury
after the example of the sub-treasurers OF Van
Burens administration; but they seem to
overlook the important fact that this Col
Kinney scheme bears NO sort Of analogy
to the case of Texas. 1t much more
closely resembles the Lopez expeditions for the
liberation Of Cuba; the experiments of Cara
of Lower California and Sonora by the intrepid
but unsuccessful Col. Walker. England has an
interest, genuine or fictitious; but she has an
interest in this Mosquito coast; and France and
England, according to recent declarations In
Parliament, have joint interest in the balance
of power down there. We are involved in
treaties and negotiations with England upon
Central American affairs. The Grey town bonn
bardment has resulted in large sccessions to
the English Gulf squadron--accessou which
have come, and are coming. Our own naval
force in the same quarter, near this very Mos
quito purchase is to be strengthened hey ond
al the necessities for peace establishment.
What follows? Col kinney's colonists at
tempt to occupy their territory derived from
the late Mosquito king. The present Mosquito
king demonstrates against this army Of occupa
tion--England protests-the English feet is
brought to bear--our own feet comes to the de
fence of the colonists. A naval battle is the
consequence We are in for it. France sides
with her present ally; and thus, without the au-
thority Of Congress, but solely from the unlu-
thorzed acts of the administration, we shall have
the benefit of war with England and France
for the relief Of Gen. Pierce and his Cabinet