Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-07


lieve, to one session of Congress. he will
add nothing to the positive strength of
the ticket.
The Conduct of the Administration I'm
the Champion and Nicaragua
Affairs.
In noticing recently the dismissal by the
President of Mr. Champion, the British
Minister, and three British ConsulS, for vi
olations of our neutrality laws, we express
ed the opinion that they ought to have been
dismissed the moment their offence was dis
covered. The Gallatin Flag speaks of this
as a specimen Of the "ever readiness of the
Know Nothing editors to condemn the
course of the present Administration, let it
be what it may" Since we expressed the
opinion which gravels the Flag, we have
been confirmed in its justice by reading the
debate which occurred in the Senate on the
29th ult., on the subject. Honorable Sen
ators, supporting the administration, a.
mongst them Mr. BUTLER of South Carolina
and Gen. CAss, took similar view, Mr.. B.
declaring he would have preferred that it
had been done at once, or not at ALL" Gen.
Cass said, II repeat what said on for
mer occasion, the error committed by this
Government was in not sending away Mr..
Champion as soon as his conduct was as
i'll ~
done the very moment our Government
found that he was an accessory to these
proceedings" The reasons are obvious.
These agents of the British Government
had violated our laws, the offence was
against our government, whose duty it was
to inhict upon them the punishment to
which they were amenable. 1t was not to
be expected that the British government
would punish its servants, for acting in ODE
dience to its instructions. There was but
one proper course, therefore, for the AID
miniStration to pursue, and that was to dis
miss the offenders so soon as their guilt and
the completely of their government were as
certained BY not acting promptly, the
Administration has given the British gov
eminent an opportunity to raise in the
minds of American statesmen a doubt
whether, after all that has occurred, there
should have been any dismissal whatever
Upon this point, Mr. TooMBs, of Ca, in the
debate referred to, said:
While agree with the government that the exs
PLANTATION sufficient, think they greatly erred,
after obtaining sufficient explanation from the Brit
ish government, in interrupting the diplomatic in
tercoarse between the two countries.
Mr.. Pratt, of Maryland, said:
concur, then, with the Senator from Georgia,
and Others, In saying that think 1t beneath the
dignity of this government to turn of the mere a.
gent of the British government, who has made sim.
liar disclaimer, when the British government itself
is relieved from all responsibility.
We trust that these citations will salts
fly the Flag that our position is correct;
and also that the Patriot is governed in its
remarks upon questions of grave import by
motives higher than readiness to con-
denim the course of the present administra-
ton, let it be what it may" We have no
great respect for the administration, it is
true; but we have lived long enough to
properly estimate the Importance to indi-
vidual reputation Of striving always to be
just
We do not know that the remarks of
the Flag respecting the refusal Of the Ad
ministration to receive the Nicaraguan
Minister, Mr. French, we're intended for us,
or were based upon any thing we have
said. Nevertheless, we will say that if the
Flag really approves the course of the ad-
ministration, and thinks the rejection Of Mr.
French aud the reception of Padre Will,
proper aud consistent, it has a Sigularly
obtuse comprehension of the state Of the
case There was no reason assigned for
the reception of Padre Will, exclusive Of
such as might refer TO the personal charac-
ter Of the men, that did not apply with
equal force to Mr.. French. Indeed, the
wcighter reasons were on the side of the
latter, inasmueh as at the time he made his
application Nicaragua was at peace, and
her government apparently firmly fixed in
the appreciation of the people, whilst when
the former presented his credentials, she
was at war and the stability of her govern
ment involved in doubt. In bis letter to
Mr.. French on the 2lst December, 1855,
declining to receive him, Mr.. Marcy states
the grounds Of the action as follows:
am directed BY him [,he President 10 reply to
your communication that he has not yes seen reason
foe establishing diplomatic intercourse with The per
sons Who ncw claim 70 exercise the political poHer
\ In the state Of Nicaragua
Those who we're chiefly Instrumental in suspend
ing o. overthrowing the former government OF that
State we're not citizens belonging 20 Il. nor have
those citizens. or any considerable part Of them,
70 far a. Is known here expressed their approval
Of or acqaiescence 10, the present condition 81 the
political sifsiss OF Nicaragua. Until sueh shall ap>
pear 10 be the case the President does nos deen l
proper 10 reesive ron OF any one Minister 70 shs
government, duly sppoinsed By the supreme gov-
ernmens Of Nicaragua.
Mr. Frenchrenewed bis application again