New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-15
FROM FASHINGTO
WAsnIsoroS, Jan. 10, 1855.

Of the Cincinnati Convention before his eyes
though nomnally not capdidate-will unbosoin
himself to-norrow against Lord PalmerstOn and
John Bull, masking the Centrsl American business
the basis of his attack. II seems 10 do the old
Cenetal so much real good 10 pitch in " to the
British. tina. he should not b. denied this anuual
entertainment even if he must tell us--ae he often
did. with many mysterious shakes Of his sncfens
and honorable wig. in Oregon tges-thst war
il inevitable" If he should be Httle blatSnt in
.ais promised speech, allowance must be rnade
for Gle fact that only two years ago he took the
other side of the question, and then rung the
chasees on the American Negotiatory ss he now
proposes TO 10 upon the British Premier That
was ~ voutbfll indiscretion but one Of those I'M
pulses which can only be explained BY the reason
that his personal hostility was more rsspaut OF
the time against the domestic adversary than the
foreign ore Mr.. Clayton will probably follow in
the debate, firing broadside in the same direc
tion. with the intention of making Lord Faners-
ton realize practically what the Russian General
described with graphic effect, when speaking of
the cannonade of the Allies, to be an Internal
fire." or what is much better rendered in the Ter-
nacular-fsu d'enjfr.
But all this talk on the Central American quas'
tion is ike pouring water into sieve. We have
been jabbering for FIVE long years, and now ara
further off from solution and settlement than
we were when Mr.. Webster, upon coming into
ofice under Mr. Fillmore, surrendered to Sir Henry
Rulwer the whole construction of the Treaty, aud
devoted himself subsequently, to the patriotic dures
of saving the nion and eecting himself President,
in both of which he succeeded equally well.
According to the correspondence accompanying
the Presidents Message the negotiation is actually
wound no. After two years of discussion, each
dispatcb seemingly widening the breach, Mr.
Buchanan categorically interrogated Lord Claren-
don on the llth Of September last, as TO the posi-
tions assumed by the British Government on all
the points in controversy; and ne received an
explicit reply on the 2Sth of the same MONTH
affirming the rights previously claimed by Great
Britain and distinctly refusing to recede from
them.
All these facts are embraced generally IN the
Message while a further one is not stated, namey'
that no further attempts at negotiation have been
made. as they would necessarily be useless
Under such circumstances it was reasonable TO
mppose the President would have made some
speciic recommendation to Congress in regard to
the enforcement of the treaty, according 10 Ills
own syowed Interpretation of that instrument
Rut there is not a syllable hsped on this score
He saws: lit is impossible for the United States 10
acouiesce in such construction" as Great Britain
assumes 1.-The United States cannot admit elther tue
inference or the premises :" the treaty Is tnere
fore practically null so far as regards our rights
with many other like phrases; but ne recon-
mends no mode of maintaniI our alleged interests
or of yindicatng the ground taken by his Admin
istraton.
The issue. then, stands thus: We claim and with
GOOD reason too a certain construction OF this
treaty. England asserts another Interpretation
Negotiations follow. Finally, we demand of En-
gland direct answer to the inquiry whether she
will retreat or not, and she replies Not an inch
will be Welded" The President says - 1 will tell
Congress on you' and there the matter rests.
Now. why did he not assume the responsibility OF
asking Congress TO enforce the treaty, instead OF
dodgiDg behind its protection and throwing the
onus there Perhaps Brigadier-General Cush-
ing. who has lust taken the continent in keeping,
can explain. go
In the present aspect of the case Congress will
do nothing but illuminate harmless speeches against
the old Premier aud the British Government will
illustrate Squatter Sovereignty on large scale,
By holding on to Central America and enlargng
its domnions whenever the chance offers. This
has been its policy for thousand years. and there
fore is no novelty in diplomatic history.
The President is really cOrnered in regard to
suggestion on this subject The Message leaves no
alternative but collision as the cOrr0llery Of its
premises, and yet the President closes by speaking
of future efforts at adjustment when the gates
of diplomacy are shut down. The only idea en-
tertained at the White House. as a means Of extri
cation, ia to declare the treaty void and procure
territory as Offset to Ruatan, aud fortty it as
naval station as was projected in Dominica
n But if the treaty should be vltiated it would at
once yitaIize the Monroe doctrine and bring Con-
rress to the direct point Of affirming or rejecting
that principle. No Congress in the thirty years
which have interyened since it's first promulgation
has ever vet approached it with serious prac-
teal intention, and in the debate upon the Panama
Mission the Democrats opposed it decidedly in
cludpg Mr. Buchanan, who has now become it's
champion on the tilt with Lord Clarendon. 1t is
very easy for Presidents to uterlard Messages
with this sort of lofty manifesto and for the Con-
pressional patriots to fire it of in their pyrotechnlc
exhibitions: but neither one nor the other will be
found to stand up to it on proposition to vote the
men and money to give it vital effect. And 1t is
this very knowledge which has made England au-
dacOus in her pretenslOns and arrogant In her
conduct toward uf LoIu Iainointon oeP','."iv
believes that the United States cannot be driven
to the extremity of war, and therefore, Is as reck-
less in claiming doubtful rights as he is in insist
ing upon them when claimed. Mr.. Cass and Mr..
CiaytCn. and their followers may just as we'll whs
tie against the wind as to let off their steam upon
this matter. England has got her footing and she
will keep it until an Administration shall attain
uower which she will be taught to respect and
lear. See hov Lord Clarendon diSposes in sin.
Gle line Of the Monroe doctrine, with the ghost OF
Which Mr. Buchanan endeayoIed to excite his ap