Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-28
WASHINGTON rKws AND GOSSIP.

4
Santa Anna will ratify the modified treaty
which it is also understood will soon be on it:
way to him. We have every reason to believe
that the Mexican legation in this city share tia
impression. This belief is founded not upon
his necessities, which are so much, and really
so ignorantly, commented upon in the news
papers, but rather on the evident wisdom of q
settlement of all outstanding questions OF na-
,ional import between the two governments
: ON a basis which bears on its face proof that
rhe Government of the United States is not
DESTROYS of so inserting itself permanently in
the heart of Mexico, as that our capacity, and
now chronic or con stitutional inclination to ex
pand, may end in, eventually, obtaining SOW
ereignty over much territory north and south
of the narrow strip, granted as simple way
Of speedy communication between our Atlantic
and Pacific States. If the territory to be thus
acquired be 80 great as to admit its colonial
ton by our citizens, the tendency to which We
refer above, could with great difficulty be re-
pressed, if at all. We have previously pointed
out the defects in our Government system, in
the matter of controlling the elements of Amer
lean population which never fail to be found
on our Western from tiers, and which invariably
rush first to territory so acquired. 1t is unfor-
tunate, indeed; yet how can it be guarded
against without radical change Of our whole
system, by which the General Government
shall be clothed with new powers, and shall
interfere in the regulation of various affairs of
the people, off which, up to this time, it has kept
its hands. With twenty thousand American
citizens-speculators, frontiersmen, refugees,
&c.-settled in the strip Of territory to be OBJ
tanned, we should require well nigh the whole
present army of the United States to keep the
peace between them and the Mexicans flank
ing them.
We are opposed to the acquision of territory
as the result of the squabbles and enterprise
of such people; and, therefore, agree with
those who regard it wise that, as amended,
the treaty comtemplates the acquisition of no
territory in which such a colony may seat
themselves, to make trouble with Mexico
eventually. 1t is to be presumed that Santa
Anna, always tenacious of the future of his
country, as he has been, will appreciate the
desire Of this Government to guard against
laying the foundation for q absorption in
that quarter, evident in the Senates action
narrowing the limits of the territory to lie
acquired under the treaty. Our policy with
reference to Mexico, is clearly peace and the
very best fellowship The destinies of the
two republics are linked together. The inter
course between them is certain to increase
most wonderfully, from this time. We want
with her, az near the absolute free trade which
exists between our own States, as possible; and
We should desire that her people shall improve
in all conceivable ways, through their in
creased intercourse with US.
A Transferred Soldier lot Entitled to Travel
Allowance.-A volunteer soldier was dis
charged at Los Angeles, Cal, some time before
the expiration Of his term Of enlistment, f. r
the express purpose of being enlisted in the
LIST regiment of dragons He did so enlist Oh
the day and place of his discharge. and dying
in service soon after, his representatives re-
Gently applied for travel-pay from Los Angeles
to New York, on the ground that the law gave
him a vested right to it-he having been DIS
charged from the volunteers not by way 81
punishment for an offence. 1t was decided by
the proper officer that no mileage was dac il
such case; for that the soldier wa. not (ir
the words Of the law of 1879 ''dischar. cd from
the service" but his technical discharge and
re-enlstment were subs antially mere trans
fer from one branch Of the service to another
The Nebraska Debate in the House is still
sliciting very able speeches. So far it has
been strictly legitimate. While we are cp-
posed to the wasting of the time of Congress
in the delivery of speeches for " Buncombe,'
We can see nothing wrong in its appropriation
to the discussion Of this subject, as it has bees
discussed up to this time every speech de
iivered upon it having been carefully pre-
pared beforehand, with the view of shedding
real light upon the many questions involved
The speeches of Ex-Governor Smith, of Vir-
ginia, and Mr.. Barry, of Mississippi, wer,
heard yesterday with great attention, both
being of high order. That of the former
was a criticism upon the positions held by Nj
Benton, which were handled in a mastery
manner. The Colonel took great exception
to portion of the remarks of Mr. s.; breakina
out at times so as to convulse the House with
laughter The truth is the veteran Colonel
stands at this moment in political attitude
antagonistic to all his positions up to the burst
ing of the big gun on the Princeton. He has
left behind him broad trail, wherein is re-
corded proof upon proof of the unsoundness vi
his present positions, if those he occupied fol
so long a time, and defended with SO grea
ability, before he took to writing such letter.
as that about the st. Louis postmaster, &c
we're correct. In testing the positions of his
recent speech by the doctrines which he for
merly held, Mr. Smith had fair field for tn
exercise Of his remarkable abilities as con
troyersial debater, admitted, in Virginia, to be
second to those of no other man who has eve
delivered as popular speech in that Sta c.
so famous for effective popular orators.
Mr. Barry's speech was distinguished by IL.
close logic and strongly fortified points. |
gained him, at once, very high reputation as
q thinker and man Of stateIman-like attain
ments, as we'll as general oratorical abilities.
IL