Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-15
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The two Mexican Treaties-We apprehend
that the President has already sent in to the /
Senate the Tehuantepec treaty, in answer to
the call for it, which was made on the day be-
fore yesterday, according to the general un-
derssanding in Washington. From what we |
have very lately learned concerning that con:
vention, it places no obligations on the Gov |
eminent of the United States; merely author |
'stng them to protect the grantees under it. |
We think that it was withheld by the present
Administr alton wholly from an indisposition
to pledge the Government while in their keep
ing to any interference whatever, by way of
guaranteeing the rights ef any American
spectators or contractors in grants or priyi-
leges from any foreign government whatever,
even by implication. If we are not greatly
mistaken, the only material alteration recon-
mended by the President to the Gadsden
treaty, is to the clause wherein the Garay
grant is mentioned. Any reference to that
grant in the treaty was in fat disregard of the
instructions under which it was negotiated, or
the Washington public are wide of the mark
in their ideas Of the directions under which
General Gadsden recently acted We have
always conceived that the delay in sending
this treaty to the Senate was caused by this
clause; and, further, that the Tehuantepec
treaty was withheld, only because to send it in,
might possibly jeopardize the confirmation of
the portions of the Gadsden treaty the Admin
istration are thought to be anxious to have
confirmed. The reader will recollect that we
notify him above, that the Tehuantepec treaty
grants privilege to protect but lays no OBJ
legation upon them so to do. Now, we are in
clined to believe that the Senate will recon-
mend the ratification Of the Gadsden treaty, as
originally negotiated, such is the outside pres
sure upon them. The Garay interest is moving
heaven and earth to compass that object, and
the Tehuantepec interest will aid them, for a
q~id pro quo in the way of assistance, doubt
less. The latter want the route, and the for
mer the money. Their present aims by no
means conflict Though it is very generally
believed by we'll informed persons, that the
Tehuantepec scheme or treaty is sure of sue
cess on its own bottom, before the Senate, we
entertain the opinion that both-that and the
Garay-must stand or fall together Or, in
plain English, must be log rolled through the
Senate to succeed there.
1t will be recollected that the United Stat G
had originally nothing on the face of the earth
to do with the Garay grant. 1t became an
American interest in part, only by purchase
long after the grant was made. One has only
to quietly watch what is going on just now in
Washington, outside" to appreciate the en-
barrasments likely to beset the foreign relations
or diplomacy of the Government of the United
States in time to come, if s' American enter
prise is to be encouraged to lug in " Uncle
Sam by the ears, as a full partner, as it were,
in ill the specializing bargains it may assume
to make with foreign Governments
Assignment Of Soldiers Pay.-An enlist
ed soldier assigned q portion of his pay in
satisfaction of debt. The assignee applied
for payment, which was refused by the proper
officer of the United States, on the ground that
the act of May 8, 1892, section 4, expressly
declares that mo assignment of pay, made
after the first day of June next, by non
commissioned officer or private, shall be valid -
Gee Statutes at large vol. l, p. 2SO)
The Quaker Delegation which came here
not long since to demonstrate with the Presi-
dent relative to the proposed ungodly course of
the Administration with reference to the
Nebraska bill, are still with US. They have.
probably, given up the Executive as hard
or hardened case, and are now attending to
the more ungodly, the Senate and House of
Representatives, among whom they are oper-
ating, as though born and bred in the lobby.
Their argument is against disturbing the
Missouri Compromise. The wags have it
that when they approached the President after
that fashion, he quietly asked them where
| they were on the Missouri Compromise in 1850.
We doubt the truth Of this story; but if true
the question must have been a poser. As far
as we can perceive, their labors, while making
| no Congressional votes against the bill. are
serving to render religion bye-word; in as
much as they play politicians in its holy name.
The Treaty or Convention with Switzer.
land.-We have reason to believe that there
is little question to the Senate's disposition
to confirm this excellent arrangement with the
only Republic on the European Continent.
Its history is as follows, viz: 1t was negotiated
and sent out to this country, and in November
1850, it was sent back amended when Switzer.
land made various other amendments to it,
occasioned by those originating with the Gov
eminent of the United States Mr. Fillmore
kept it under advisement, on its return, until
he vacated the White House 1t strikes us
that his want of promptness in disposing of it.,
arcs. from the insuficiency of his knowledge
| of the details Of our commercial relations
| with Switzerland. We recollect that it was
said that Mr. Webster, and, subsequently, Mr..
| Everett labored in vain to make him realize
that our commerce with the Cantons, is of
| great national Importance In 1850, with a
population of two and half millions of souls,
Switzerland took S., Zoo, 900 per annum worth
| of American products of all descriptions,
| against about 81 10000 per annum worth
| taken at that time by Russia, with her g., OOO,-
| 600 of population. The details of this Con-
| vention are of course unknown to the public;