Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

A New Phase.-The Central American
question has taken a new aspect. 1t seems
that after the Senate yesterday had determ.
ined to adjourn over until Monday, that vote
was reconsidered, on the motion of Mr.. Mason,
chairman OF the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons, for the reason that an important Execu-
tive communication was expected to day, and
the Senate accordingly met to day to receive it,
This communication relates to the Central
American question. At the late opening Of
Parliament, it will be remembered, tho Earl
OF Clarendon said, that, coming to the conclu-
SION that further correspondence on the subject
was useless: 81 lost no time in Offering to
refer the whole question to the arbitration Of
any third Power, both sides agreeing to be
bound by the decision. That offer has not
yet been accepted it has been renewed, and
L hope that, upon further consider alton,
the Government of the United States will
agree to it."
1t seems that in consequence of this state
ment. Mr.. Buchanan called on Lord Claren-
don for explanations, Mr.. b. not being aware
of any action of the British Government
which could justify the statement made by
Lord Clarendon. In support of it, the latter
referred to some indefinite conversation which
he had had, on previous day, with Mr.. Bu-
chanan, not sufficient, either in form or sub
stance, to constitute an official offer Of the
instructions which he had addressed to Mr..
Champion, to the same effect, and which, as
he stated, Mr.. Champion had communicated
to NJ. Marcy.
1t now appears that Mr.. Champion did not
communicate those instructions to Mr. Marcy,
although he received them SO long ago as
November last; and it was only on Wednes.
day evening last, that, for the FIRST time, MIR.
Champion communicated this proposition to
Mr.. Marcy.
1t is thus conclusively proved that, even
had the British Government really intended
to make binding offer Of an arbitration upon
the construction Of the Clayton-B ulwer treaty,
still it had not been done when Lord Claren-
don made his statement in the House of Lords
And thus new evidence is afforded of the
rightfulness of the United States, even in the
secondary and collateral incidents Of their
controversy with Great Britain.
The fact that these instructions Of Lord
Clarendon remained in Mr.. Champion s hands
three months without having been acted upon,
is so remarkable that it cannot fail to awaken
attention, and call for the most complete ex-
PLANTATION, both here and in London.
Legislation on Slavery In discussing con.
stitutional questions much time might be saved,
and much mysti6cation removed, by taking
more humble, yet more truthful, view of the
charter of our Government than is usually
taken. The Constitution of the United States
has an imperial sound to some; they view it
as constituting the United States, and full of
sovereignty and supreme powers Now, if it
is considered in its true light, that of a mere
power of attorney of the several States consti
tuting the Government of the States united
their common agent for certain specified pur.
poses, then we can see more clearly what
powers belong to this mighty sovereign, the
VI ZIG DtdlCs. IL was
formed for two purposes l. To take care of
and administer exclusively certain common
interests; 2. To preserve and protect, by mu-
tual and combined strength, the exclusive
rights of each State, and of the citizens of
each State. 1t was not formed to consolidate
and throw into common stock the interests of
all, after the manner Of the Mormons or Free
Sellers.
The people of one State, or any number of
the States, have no moro right to decide
through the General Government or other
wise, Tor even to a voice in the matter,) what
servants the people of another State shall
have, than they have to determine what de.
scription of wives they shall have. Slavery
existed in the States before and when the
Constitution was formed, and if it had been
intended to give the Government any control
over the institution, it would have been so
expressed. Yet nothing is said about it, ex-
cept to declare that it shall be protected So
far from being authorized to interfere with
slavery, the Government is bound to see that
it shall not be interfered with. And yet it is
contended by large political party that, in
stead of being protected as the Constitution
requires, domestic servitude shall not exist at
all in certain States. New States, it is true !;
but they had just as we'll say in the old States
because the States must be upon an equality
the old States came in as equals without any
questions being asked respecting slavery, and
the new States have a right to come into the
Union in the same way As new State is
admitted, the Government Immediately be-
comes its agent, bound by all the obligations
of its agency for the other States, bound to
protect, if necessary, its citizens and their
property to the extent Of the power conferred
upon it. What impudence in this agent to
tell his principals what they shall or shall
not do in respect to things not appertaining
to his agency! As well might the directors
of bank attempt to regulate the mercantile
and agricultural affairs of the stockholders.