The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-20

next session pass a law compelling them to re-
model all old vessels and construct new ones on
this plan. Were this DONE there is no doubt that
although the number Of shipwrecks might not be
lessened, the loss of life would be greatly d.
minished. The lessons that we are receiving are
terrible ones-let us not prove ourselves fools by
disregarding them. Il
FilibusteIfng Movements-Is Gen. Houston
Again In the F1elds
We published yesterday from Washington
some very interesting intelligence concerning
the movements of the flibusters, including the
Southern enterprise of Gen. Walker, rediuipus,
for the establishment Of proSlavery Anglo
Saxon empire in Central America based upon
military principles" and the reported scheme of
the Texas flibusters, with Gen. Houston reported
at the head of them, for the lberation-d la
Texas-of another slice of Mexico.
1t appears that in regard to the Walker move
ment, the Ministers at Washington from the
Central American States have taken the alarm,
and have addressed a letter to the President,
requesting the interposition Of our government
to stop the departure of military expeditions
being formed to invade their portion of the con-
tinent." 1t further appears that, in consideration
of this appeal, instructions will Immediately be
given to the proper officers throughout the
United States-Marshals, District Attorneys, Col
lectors commanding army and naval officers on
the various frontier stations-to stop such
expeditions as these complained of, and to
prosecute ell persons engaged in them-a course
on the part of the administration which every
friend of law and order must approve. 1t is
very evident that the President understands our
neutrality laws, and the important fact that they
involve some obligations of good faith on our
part which cannot be dsregarded
We incline to the belief, however, that there is
serious cause for this alarm on the part of the
Ministers of the Central American States in refe-
renee to the present Nicaraguan agitation of
Walker in our Southern States. There may be
some active sympathy for him among the more
jealous of the military propagandists of South
ern Institutions; he may succeed in collecting
some money and some volunteers among those
ultra Southern sympathzers; but his prestige and
his resources as great military expoupder of the
blessings Of Anglo-Ssxon "squatter sovereignty"
are gone. We apprebend that he can neither
raise the men nor the means, nor the transporta-
ton required to make another successful military
landing in Nicaragua, under his banner as the
head of the movement. We also suspect that the
present Southern agitation of another descent of
Walker upon the San Juan will, in the sequel
amount to no more than Kossuth's material and
financial add for the liberation of down trodden
Hungary"
The sonora escapade and the later and more
disastrous Nicaraguan adventure of Walker, have
pretty well, we fear established his incom-
potency as ilbustering leader; and it
will be very long while, We dare
say, before he is again at the head Of
thousand fighting American volunteers on the
plain of Granada The star Of the "little gray
eyed man" has crossed its meridian, and his pres
tige and his glory have been reduced to very
limited sphere. The Ministers from the Central
American States ''near the government at Wash
ington" have, then, very little cause Of alarm
concerning Walker; but still, as "a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush" they have per.
haps acted very judiciously in asking the inter-
position Of Mr.. Buchanan to keep this "little
grayeyed man" at home with his armies aud his
aimaments
The report that Gen. Sam Houston is connect
ed with Texas filibusteripg movement for the
liberation of another slice of Mexico is rather
vague. We can't believe IL; but there may be
something in it. Texas-San Jacinto-President
of the republic-annexation-f Senator from
the new State to Washington-candidate for the
Presidency before several Of the Baltimore De-
mocratic Conventions, no go-Know Nothing as
pirant, no go-and, finally, as the terribly de-
feated Know Nothing candidate for Governor Of
Texas General Houston has used up his Texas
capital to the last political tarthing. But it is
too late in the day for him TO do up another
Texas and take fresh start from another San
Jacinto. A game Of such extraordinary luck as
that can never occur more than once to the same
man, though be should live to the age of the
Wandering Jew.
In the Texas movement for Independence
against the government of Mexico. Gen. Houston
bad friend at court that could do something
no iess parsonage than Gen. Jackson; and the
history Of Samuel Swartwout's tremendous Gus
tom House deficiencies, il faithfully told, will
show that, as much as anything else, 1t was the
friendship and sympathy of Old Hickory and his
material and financial aid, that achieved the
independence OF Texas Tha, operation, howev-
er, cannot be done over again by Gen. Houston
lie has had his day; be has eliminated; he is
going down; ''he is passing away like long
summers day." and his true course now is grace
fully TO retire TO private life and the cultivation