The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-12

4 he TroNbtAs = ahe Observation-Disclosures
ard Legislative Blundcrs.
Administrative blunders, negligence and
follies are widely difere.t from those COM
mitted by the Legislature. Under the influ.
ence OF the latter the whole people are inju-
riously affected, which is sure to excite public
reprehe nsion, and that by the power which has
the means of correction; while In the case Of
the former, there effects are rarely seen and find
their way with difficulty to the remedial autho-
r1ty. Never more than now, in the history of
this country, has it been 60 important that this
distinction should be kept in view. Laws affect
the interests OF the people; the public admins
tration of the laws gives tone to our character
as nation and largely controls the destiny of
the republic. Let Us look at q single feature
of our afairs at the present moment
We have seen the navy increased from J ear
to year-we have seen its expenditures doubled
and quadrupled-we have seen the pruning
hook and blade freely applied to it's personnel
but in the Navy Department itself-at the
point Of needed reform = amongst the vital or
gans Of the system-there is nothing but para
lyses, imbecility and stubborn folly.
Look at the present condition of the Ameri-
can government It's territories have been ex.
tended to the Pacifc--States have risen and
are rising up on the borders Of that ocean;
our commerce is animating it's waters-our
capital is building up great maritime cities
We are moving rapidly towards China and
Japan; and the evidence is already too power
full to be longer resisted, that this great repub-
lie is coon to acquire commercial ascendency
over the world. That this result is to be
fastened by events transpiring in the Pacific
no rationel man can question. California is
to be the keystone of the commercial arch;
but the work of construction remains to be
completed by the thorough Identification and
communion Of the Pacific and Atlantic States
At present the enterprise Of this country has
raised up q substitute for railroad commu-
nication by opening the Isthmus passages s.
one at Panama aud the other at Mica.
rsgua. Without these links to bind Cali.
fornia to the federal Union, that State
constitutes an Independent republic; and
unless they can be kept open, necessity, su-
perior to all national pride and patriotism, will
arise for the secession of that sovereignty from
the confederation.
In this state Of things what do we find TO be
the conduct of the Executive and its Navy De-
pertinent? The President becomes party to
the overthrow of the only possible power 10
Nicaragua which is capable Of giving security
to the inter oceanic communication between
the Pacific and Atlantic States. He refuses to
recognise defacto government; alleging as an
excuse and justification for that refusal that
its establishment contained too great an intu-
zion of his own countrymen; that Anls-'"an
citizens had exercised their right of expatria.
tion and their democratic impulses to give q
republican administration to Nicaragua, which
was OF the last Importance to our Union--a
poiitive security to the transit Communication
at that point.
Again: although we maintain three squad
rons in American watsrs-two on this side and
one on t,s other side Of the continent-not
Nice' aqua or in those OF New Granada. In the
hiss,Iy of imbecility- within the whole range of
administrative negligence and Jolly no other
example can be found which will at Rll CO n
pare with this, either on account of its stupi-
dity or its fatal effects upon the character of
the nation. Quarrelling with Great Britain
about Central America, uttering strong ma
tional sentiments and avowing resolute pur-
poses to maintain the rights and the dignity
of the nation in that direction, voting mil
lions for war steamers, increasing the
navy, trapping its officers In an executive net,
and disgracing them for ineffciency, without
testimony and by a star-ohamber conspiracy,
and yet not detailing even couple of sloops
Of war to guard those Central American points,
where the whole interests and strength Of the
republic most demanded their presence. Pa
Dsma and San Juan de Nicaragua had become
places almost exclusively American. The capt.
tai Of cur people had been invested there the
wisdom, influence and power os the navy were
required there. That a., u the nation was
needed to give c,c.4sensnce to our men and
our property. aud We had the right to be heard
and the right Of Intervention 10 quiet disturb
ances, and to protect the lives Of our people.
The Lthnus Of Panama was made our terrific
~, for all transit purposes and precisely
80 1t was at Nicaragua But what are our
rights with semi-barbarous people with.
out the means Of their enforcement? Were
we engaged in maritime war, that few
rational ships could not be spared Who
Was .teaeting at Havana, at Rio de Janeiro
md az San Francisco, while Americans at Pr
hama were being butchered and robbed? Has
he government no man within it's councils
capable Of seeing and compromising the ne.
,essity, the Importance Of Central American
nter- oceanic communications Without these
we have no Pacific States
They are lost to US uoder such policy, BY ia.
viiabls destiny. We lave more interest in
hem than they have in us; and yet our
government frowns upon the policy that would