The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-03
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN QUESTION


speech Of tho Hon. xewis Oass in
the United States Senate.
Mr.. PKxsIDENT-No man who has read the Pre-.
Hdsnts Message can fail to SO thst our rcIatioas
WIN England are in Q critical eondjtion. In that
aOie ana statesmanlike paper the CHIEF magistrate
ms spread before the country and the wuid stste-
menI OF oar affairs with various natfons md espe-
ciauy OF our afiairs with England. The wlhsle sxpo
s'ion Is plain and comprehensive; but il is with the
iaser only that have any concern upon the presou4
OCCASION And there find the facts true and olearlv
stated, the principles urged with force and Justice:
and while the indefensible pretensions q England
are exposed with power OF truth and resson whict
will carry conviction to every unprejudiced mind.
there is q tone of frmness pervadiug the document
and within the limits of proper NATIONAL comfy
which becomes the constitutional representative of
this great republic in it's intercourse with the other
Powers Of the earth.
And have read with much qualification the des-
patches which have issued from the Stats Depart
ment in relation to this controversy, and inA
them marked with signal ability. It must be Q
satisfaction to the country to see that it's Important
interests are committed TO such able management;
and will add, as q mere act of justice, that tho
papers which have found their way to the publie
from that department during the administration of
the present Secretary, may favorably compare with
the official papers Of the most eminent Of his preds-
cessors
And fully concur in the enc0mium pronounced
the other day by the honorable Senator from Deia-
ware (Mr. Clayton)-himseN competent Judge
upon the distinguished Minister who has conducted
our negotiations at the Court Of London His letters
nHOna nd lie q o&o
first explaining our case and next examining The
case OF England, are models of diplomatic correspon
dcnce-clear, cogent, conclusive and believe have
been read with pride and pleasure through the whole
country and trust, sir that the public press has
already conveyed to Mr.. Buchanan evidence Of tho
warm appreciation Of his fellow citizens. An Ame-
rcan representative abroad is often placed in pod.
tons of difficulty and responsibility where the sup.
port Of his cOuntrymen is not only his best reward
but his best encouragement. have found myself
surrounded with such circumstances; and one Of tho
proudest days of my life was the day when informa.
tion reached me that, upon memorable occurrence,
had been weighed in the balance by my fellow cii-
zens and found not wanting.
Entertaining tue views I have expressed of the
Presidents Message, / regretted to see in highly
esteemed and intelligent journal Of this city, which
have read with interest for almost half century.
the National Efteiligencer-and for whose editors
have warm personal rcgard-comments upon the
tone and temper of portions Of that document which
seemed to me marked with an undue severity a
criticism. do not propose to examine them snd
refer to the articles principally for the purpose Il
quoting single paragraph Before doing 80, how
ever, ask attention to an expression which con-
yeys forcible image, but one, consider wholly In.
applicable to our position. That expression, which
containsmuch in little, is, that I'VE are drifting into
difficulties" Sir do net thus understand the cir.
crmstances with which we are surrounded. In my
opinion, noble ship is upon her trne course, and
our pilot is doing his duty. If difficulties are before
us, and believe they are we are neither drifting
towards them nor they towards us. They are de-
sgnedly placing themseyesin in our way and it would
i'll become our selfrespect or our honor to change
our course with view to avoid them. The manea
vre, even if resorted to, would he but temporary
escape, and we should find, that while we had los
our character had not gained the poor recompense
OF safety for dishonor.
The MteLligencsr, speaking of warnings 1t had
given, says they were
Warnings prompted by observation Of the increasing
prevalence OF spirit amongst the politi aans Of tbs
day. against induleng this martial propensity to the
tent giving countcnnnce, much less confidence, 70
administration, or to any party hereafter, which
ona ars into national hates nursing into of
every adveniuous dispute controversy great
Of a'a be voa
vain hope for any exemption.
Sir, am sorry to see these remarks in such q
Justly influential journal, not much account Of
the language, for it is guarded, but account Of
the spirit which pervades the article. Should trou
BILE come, that paper will Ike faithful c0-laborer in
its country's cause. But in the meantime, such In
timations are unfortunate, for they tend to cast
doubts upon the motives OF public men, and to rem
der them distrusted.
During many years have observed that every one
has been exposed to similar imputatioRs who looked
steadily at the proceedings of other nations, and
was prompt TO observe and denounce injurious or
insulting conduct towards us. 1t seems to be
thought with some to be the dictate Of eau
ton, il not of wisdom, that the public
eye and ear should be kept almost closed, lest the
country should become too sensitive and something
worse might happen, as though there could be any
thing worse than national disgrace. do not rec0l
ect single controversy we have had with foreign
power, since ! have been OH the stage Of action
where these ungracious charges have not come to
weaken il not to dcaden the inspirations Of patriot
ism. Certainly, sir, TO observe vigilanty the CON
duct OF foreign nations towards country and "a
expose their iDnstccs s not TO desire to demand
war upon all occasions. The idea is utterly un
founded.
Grave events the gravest only can justify hostili
ties but far short Of such events may there be Others
calling for examination and exposure. II seems
TO me, sir that the propensity TO doubt the justice o
our cause is almost an American idiosyncracy
| for l do not believe it ia equally prevalent
among any other people on the face Of the globe
have more than once before and shall now again be
exposed to similar obloquy. But neither Its advent
nor its apprehension, has deferred me, at much
earlier periods Of life, nor will they deter me now
expression Of an earnest hope that the American
/ name and the American fame will be maintained by
the American people, with the brightness Of true