The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-21

Of Southern oonfederacy, with it's abound
ing supplies of spoils and plumber. The
theory Of these fire-eaters ss we understand il,
is exceedingly simple and exceedingly foolish.
They desire-we say desire-to drive the North
into consolidated party against them on the
slavery question. This accomplished, North
ern President opposed to the further extension
of slavery, is the next inevitable result Then
the time will have arrived for Nashville Con-
vention upon grand scale including formal
act of secession of the United States of the South
from the United States of the North. Next it
is supposed, that to avoid a fratricidal war the
Northern States will consent to treaty of Sc
paration including the rendition Of fugitive
slaSes and the protection Of slave property on
the border slave States All this being nicely
arranged, the Southern confederacy, chased
upon military principles" will proceed to the
business of annexation, and prosecute 1t at their
discretion, according to their means and their
opportunities.
Such we believe, is the sublime programme
Of Jefferson Davis; and to these great ends
he and bis confederates have been sapping
and mining for the last ten or fifteen years
We apprehend, however, that their "road to
Constantinople" will never be completed and
that they will never get to the end of the jour-
ney. Suppose that with the solution ofthia Kansas
dificulty-no matter Nowhere is an irrecon-
eilable split between the Northwestern demo-
cracy and the Southern fre-eaters, and that the
latter set themselves Up as an ultra sectional
party for the succession, what can they accom-
plishs According to the results of their ex-
periments of lS50'5l, they will accomplish
consolidation of the Southern Union conserva-
tives of all parties, which will speedily reduce
the rebels to submission. The shareholders of the
South, in the mass, are body Of conservatives,
and they do not care to risk their property and
their personal safety ia any such wild goose
chase Is that of Southern confederacy
We think it as likely as anything else, that
this Kansas disorganization of the democracy
may result in 1860 in the organization of three
great parties for the Presidency-a Northern
anti-slavery party, a Southern pro-slavery
and secession party, and an intermediate and
overpowering conservative national Union
party, taking its departure from the calm and
conservative administration of Mr.. Buchanan.
A few days hence. with some definite intelli-
gence from Kansas, we shall be enabled more
clearly to perceive the exact drift of this ques-
ton. In the interval, Congressional speeches
and newspaper discussions Of the Lecompton
constitution are labor thrown away.
The Seizure OF the Sportsman by the Gillian
Government-The Demand OF Our Minister.
For several weeks past every semi-monthly
mail from the South Pacific has brought intel
ligence that the case Of the ship Sportsman,
now under seizure by the Gillian government,
had not yet been acted upon. The facts of this
case are az follows -
The ship Sportsman, Captain Thompson, of
Boston, cleared from the Bolivian port of Cobija
with permission to go to Santa Maria, and there
TO ship copper ore, under the superintendent
Of Bolivian Custom House officer, who ac
cempanied her. On arriving there the cap
tain of the Sportsman began receiving ore. and
had already taken in some twenty odd bags
when the steam frigate Esmeralda, of Chilli
came into port and seized her on the ground of
violating the Gillian revenue laws in loading
al Gillian outport without Gillian clear
ance She was taken to Caldera port in the
province Of Atacams, where she still lies, under
the guns OF Gillian frigate. Immediately on
the arrival Of the Esmeralda with her prize in
tow at Caldera. the Intendente of the province
saw the mistake that had been committed, and
offered to return the ship to the captain but
the latter refused to receive her until repara-
ton for the damages sustained had been offered
and a demurrage Of one hundred dollars per
day been paid
Mr. Beeler, our Charge in Chill on being put
in possession of all the facts in the case at once
addressed note to the Minister of Foreign Re-
lations. and demanded that the government
should Immediately order the Esmeralda back
to Caldera, there TO salute the flag of the United
States in the presence Of the Sportsman, return
her register to her captain. and pay him one
hundred dollars per diem for the delay caused
him since the day of bis seizure. The govern
ment argued the point with Mr.. Beeler, but he
was immovablc. lie told them plainly that the
Sportsman should rot at her anchorage unless
the demand was complied with. But there i
no precedent" says the Minister. well. then,
one must be nede Of this case to prevent in all
future time such arbitrary outrages against the
nag Of the United States" was Mr.. B's rejoin-
der. HE note was replied to on the very eve
Of the dissolution Of the old ministry, and Chill
refused compliance with his demand AT this
stage Gov Bigler the new Minister to Chill.
arrived lie endorsed most cheerfully the
grounds taken by Mr.. Beeler, and wrote TO that
effect to the CHILEAN government; but no reply
bad been received up TO the last dates we have
from Santiago.
The question il probably one Of the plainest
that has ever been presented for the considera-
ton Of our government. There Is no map,
chart geography or public document. from the
days Of the vice-royslties Of Spain on the Paci-
fic coast-no ordinances Of post roads, no