The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-05-19
More vascillation-More Weakness.

Mere Vascillation-More Weakness.
The present Administration has never in
any emergency yet failed to exhibit a vascil-
lating disposition, which in the private affairs
of man would speedily bring ruin, but in the
head Of a government is probably more an!ex
hibition of weakness and imbecility than an
actual serious injury to the interests affected.
Our government is perhaps too strongly found
ed, and the real sentiments of the people are
too widely known abroad, to permit US or our
interests to be seriously impaired by the folly
of the man who may happen to occupy by
permission of the people, the White House
Otherwise, no nation on the face of the earth
would be regarded with less respect among its
cotemporary civilized governments, than that
of which Pierce assumes the Presidential rep
resentation.
These thoughts have been suggested by the
vascillating course of the Administration on
the subject of recognizing the Walker govern
ment.
A few months ago when Walker had est.b-
lshed himself at Nicaragua, as it was thought
firmly, and Rivas was at the head of the Mica
raguan government in name, although Walker
was perhaps the supreme head in reality-the
new government sent minister to this coun-
try, our own minister having been recognized
there, and so far as be had the power recog-
nized the Rivas Walker government in return.
French, the minister sent here, was not recog-
nized as such. He approached our govern
ment in every form, but was dismissed uncer-
enormously, even contemptuously, by both
President and Secretary. In doing this the
Administration took upon itself to decide not
whether the Rivas- Walker power was gov
eminent, but admitting it was a government
to declare that this government was not the
choice of the people 1t thus opposed the ex
listing practice of all nations, in stepping be-
hind new government presented through an
accredited minister, to inquire hoD that gov
eminent was formed, and how far the people
were interested in it as government, or had
helped make it such.
But admit that the Administration was
right in refusing to recognize this government
at that time. What circumstances have since
transpired, or how has the nature Of that gov
eminent been changed within few short
months, justifying the Administration in
non recognizing what it refused to recognize
that period back? We are told that Padre
Will has been formally received as the minis
ter from Nicaragua. This is certainly aston
ishing news, when we recollect that only .
few weeks ago, a minister representing the
same government, was sent back home-the
Administration recognizing no such power on
earth as the Rivas- Walker government. Thus
vascillating is the course of the Pierce Admin
istration on almost every question it touches
We make the following extract from an ar
ticle written by the editor of the Louisville
Journal before the President had consented to
receive the new minister:
If it was improper and hazardous to receg
nizs Walkers Government while it was strug
Cling with internal foes alone, it certainly must
be doubly improper and hazardous to recog.
nize his government when foreign war has
been superadded to civil disSensions and when
the very powers whose anticipated frown de-
TERED its earlier recognition are upon the spot
watching the progress of the strife with anx
ious interest. The question of recognition
that at first was simply one of national dis
cretion with which foreign powers had properly
nothing to do has, through the Presidents
scandalous indecision, become one Of virtual in.
reference between two warning States, witt
which other powers may properly have a;
much to do as they choose. If therefore, il
would have been imprudent to receive Col
French it must be extremely silly and reck
less to receive Padre Will. In short, if there
is any virtue in consistency, the President has
effectually estopped himself from the recogni
ton of the Rivas- Walker government unit
Walker shall have terminated the pending wal
triumphantly, and to recognize it before would
be not only to stultify himself and Cabinet
but to hazard the excusable interference o
France and England in behalf of Costa Rica
and the consequent necessity of our forcibly
unfolding Walker in sheer self-defense.
the President does not intend to turn the Cen
trail American question into mere game
hurly-burly, in which the strongest and MIN
blest shall bear off the richest spoil, 1t IS ut
terly impossible to perceive how he can nov
accord to Walker support which he hrmlI
withheld two months ago on the score OF IN
ternational propriety. 1t cannot be honorabll
Or safely done. The idea is entirely rldlcu
lous, but it is not inexplcable.