Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-09-12

eastern coast, along with the alleged bearer
Of this rumored treaty, that he brought no
suoh document, and our efforts to learn whether
the Government have received any thing Of
| the sort, have satisfied as that the story float
ing over Washington yesterday, that it lad
reached the State Department, is untrue.
Progrsss.-We presume that all who realize
the relative condition of our foreign commerce
at this time are aware that it requires facilities
and sdjuncts abroad in tho way of closer dip.
lomstic or political relations with various for
eign parts, than were amply sufficient for its
wants and prospects up to few years ago
On Saturday, We published statistical state
ment, showing that, at this moment, more ton
mage is owned in the port of New York alone
than was owned in the whole United States
less than half century ago. Yet, with most
inconsiderable exceptions, our consular system
a well as our rights of ingress, egress, trading,
repose, &C., in foreign ports, remain, if not as
contracted every where, at least without such
extension any whore, as all commercial nations
have found 1T necessary to acquire for theirs,
here and there over the world That ia, when
ever they have found tn at there were fair oppor.
tunities to make particularly profitable mar
kets for their merchants, by forming closer re-
lations with particular countries or localities,
they have invariably taken occasion to do 80
wherever that might be possible This policy
has been invariably adopted by those nations
which have risen to commercial Importance,
whether ancient or modern. Weak as ma.
ton as We have been, comparatively, up to
very recently, our Government has carefully
abstain from risking any involvement what
ever with tho affairs Of any other people. In.
deed, our acquisitions Of territory joining our
own frontiers have been the result of immuta-
BILE laws Of national nature, as it were, in spite
Of the indispOsition of our Government to en-.
courage them. Their annexation has, In every
case, been practically resisted by our Govern
ment much longer than such events under sim
liar circumstances would have been, by any
other civilized nation under the sun. Never
theless, manifest destiny" has brought them
about. Manifest destiny" or, in other
words, the natural results Of the superior en-
terprise, energy, and capacity Of our people
engaged in foreign commerce, impelled forward
by tho similar enterprise, energy, and capaci-
ty of the balance Of our people who are en-
gagged in agriculture and the mechanic and
manufacturing arts, has not only so immensely
increased our foreign trade, Increasing quite
as wonderfully the number and character of
the foreign markets in which We now buy and
sell0 but it has made it absolutely necessary,
that, if the Government of the United States
would discharge its duty Of fostering and duly
protecting our heavy transmarine commerce
in every direction, its foreign policy must be
changed in measure to meet the requirements
OF the so-diferent commercial condition of the
country. Hence the acquisition of California at
the right moment. Hence, also, the peculiar
treaty with Japan. Hence, also the rumored
effort 80 to establish American influences in the
Sandwich Islands, Is that in that most import
ant station ON the way to tho various havens of
our magioally-increasing eastern commerce,
our steam and sailing ships may be as much
at home, SO far as . supply Of all their wants
and governmental protection are concerned.
as though running into ports of the United
States. None but those acquainted with the
risks and Inconvenience of so long and distant
. voyage, can realize either the embarrass
ments resulting from the slender rights of
American ships every where except under the
immediate jurisdiction of our flag, or the great
advantages of securing for them a quasi
American halfway house between California
and the Eastern Archipelago. We may not
inappropriately add, further, hence the ru-
mored desire Of the Government of the United
States to secure for the commerce which looks
to it alene for protection and increased facili-
ties, proper harbor in the West ndies, where.
in, under any and all circumstances, Ameri-
can ship-masters and owners may be sure Of
being dealt by precisely as though thu y had
run into New York bay or the capes of Viz.
ginia.
Tho Particulars Of the Nassacre.-We have
this morning, advices per telegraph from St.
Louis, embracing the particulars Of the mass
acre of Brevet Second Lieut.. Grafton, (of the
9Th infantry0 and the men under him, on the
18th ultimo, near Fort Laramie, by the Sioux
They are a. follows, viz: On the 18th of Au-
gust an Indian (Sioux) killed an OK belonging
70 an emigrant train, close to Fort Laramie
The head chief reported the fact to Lieutenan MT
Flemming (who Is in command of the Fort)
and offered to give up the offender. Brevet
Second Lieut.. Grafton with the Interpreter,
Sergeant Favor, Corporal McNulty, and
twenty priyates (of company G, 9th infan-
try) were sent out to receive him. The
whole detachment were mastered, with
out exception. Those in the post were not
able to say how this sad affair occurred when
the messenger left They had no reliable in.
formation Is to the number of Indians killed
and wounded in the engagement 1t is re.
ported that the Bear (head chiefly was killed.
After the engagement the Indians were hos
tile; menacing the fort. All the mon were on
duty. The Oommandant of the post, Lieut.
Fleming, thought he could hold it until re-
inforcsment Of troops arrived. One or two
companies were ordered to Laramie from Fort
Ripley on the receipt of this news there.
Absconded Tho Pension Office have in
formation which satisfies its Chief that Lieut.
Edward O. Lewis, of the LIST Regiment of
Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Mexican war,