The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-24

province OF tneir Quty 10 reVlle the CITY where
Poole and Baker massacre each other, and to
admonish the people of the North that they
must mend their ways and take example from
their Southern brethren under pain OF exclu-
sion from the pale of the church.
II must, too, be O source of pity to those
Northern clereymen who read the report OF
the South Carolinians, to perceive that it does
not contain one word about politics The omis-
sion will be severe shock to the three thou
sand clergymen of New England who protest
ed against the Nebraska BILL II will be time,
however, for hem to denounce such conduct
in the language it deserves when any one of
those three thousand can show that he habl-
tually rides ten miles and breaches Eve times
op the Sabbath to people who do not pay him
Suspected Filibustering Expedition Disco
vercd-District Attorney McKeOn and Col.
French.
We publish on the first page of to days pa
per an account Of the detection of supposed
armed expedition to Nicaragua by the United
States District Attorney, Mr.. McKeon. Whe-
ther this can properly be regarded violation
of our neutrality laws, and coming under the
strict construction Of the act providing against
such hostile movements on the part of our CT
tizens, remains to be seen; but due credit must
be awarded to Mr.. McKeon for the untiring
activity and vigilance he has displayed 10 the
performance of what he has conceived TO be
his duty. 1t appears from the particulars of
the affair, that in his endeavors to sustain and
enforce the laws he has plunged fearlessly into
coal yards and into drill rooms, in pursuit of
the suspected parties, attended only by two Of
his assistants. All this he has done without
the slightest regard to the danger
| he incurred by coming in contact
with set of reckless flibusters, armed to
the teeth, and preparing themselves for hos
| tile descent upon another country. II they
were not so, he believed they were, and for the
courage, as well as for the energy and perse-
verance he exhibited in the discharge Of his
duty, he is, we say, entitled to all praise.
But this is not all. Mr.. McKeon did not stop
here. Not content with visiting the secret
meeting places Of the supposed desperadoes,
he called upon Col Parker H. French at the
st. Nicholas, with whom he had quite an inter-
esting interview, an account Of which we also
give. His conversation with this gentleman
was, as will be seen very animated, and forms
| rather pleasant and amusing feature in the
affair. Without spending any useless time
| in remarks about the weather and such
common place matters, Mr.. McKeon commence
| the business on hand at once, by telling the
| Nicaraguan Minister, in substance, that he had
| found him out-that there was no use in his
denying the fact that he was at the head of
| filibustering movement, and that he did not
and would not recognise him as Minister from
| Nicaragua. To all this Col. French replied
that his government had perfect right to
hold out encouragement to peaceful, useful
emigration they did so for the purpose
| Of developing the resources of their country
and that, although Mr.. McKeon refused to &C
knowledge him as it's representative to the
United States, he was SO nevertheless He at
the same time disclaimed, coming as he did in
that official capacity, any intention to violate
our neutrality laws, asserting that his course
and that Of his government were not in conflict
with them.
Now, to what Col. French claimed for his
country as right, no person can take excep-
ton, not even the District Attorney Our
government has adopted somewhat similar
means to encourage emigration in the passage
Of the Homestead bill, which was devised, we
should think, for that particular purpose. The
same policy has been pursued by some of the
South American States, and we have published
in the HERALD their official advertisements Of
fering certain privileges to actual settlers on
their uncultivated lands. In adopting this
course they have pursued the best policy, per.
| haps, that could be devised to secure the end
| in view.
| The further movements of the District At.
torpey must depend upon whatever Instructions
he may receive from Washington. In regard
to the Northern Light, which is to convey 'the
colonists" to Nicaragua, it is hardly probable
that her departure will be prevented. The de-
tenaion of that vessel, and the loss which would
be incurred by her owners in consequence,
might eventually be productive Of considerable
expense, inconvenience and trouble to the go
vernment. 1t is somewhat different from the
seizure of a vessel fitted out expressly for a
hostile expedition, as the Northern Light is
employed in the transportation Of large
number of passengers, whose business is a
peaceful one, and large quantity of freight
besides the munitions Of war which she is said
! to have on board. In view of these considera-
tions We do not think it likely that the Presi-
dent will cause her departure to be interfered
with, and the whole affair may end in smoke,
after all. Meantime, we shall look out for the
further Developments Of this interesting aud
complicated affair.
FIFTH AVENUE RELIGIoN.--The following
programme has been issued as one Of the at
fractions Of fashionable church in Broad