The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-25
IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT 7

W AohlNbIONy DeC "a, 1000
The official organ, the Union, of this morning,
contains significant though somewhat non-com-
initial article upon the proposition made by Repre-
sentative DAVIS, of Mississippi to take possession
OF Cuba within given time, provided Spain does
not settle the claims of American citizens arising
from illegal and tortous acts of the Spanish Gov
eminent. Without directly urging the adoption OF
this policy, the Union holds that Mr. DAVIS is right
and presented studied argument to sustain his
position. But the most significant part of the arti-
Gle is that in which the official organ backs out OF
the recently avowed doctrine of the duty of Gov
eminent to enforce the bona ide contracts made be-
tween its citizens and foreign Governments
Your correspondent referred to this subject few
days ago, citing the avowa of the doctrine alluded
to, in the letter of General CAss to Mr.. LAMAR.
touching the CAss-IRIsARRI treaty, and more re-
Gently reiterated by the President in his annual
message.
In the former case the invitation was held ont to
foreign Governments to assert and act upon the
doctrine for the protection of their citizens or
subjects. The legitimate consequences of the rule
of action thus laid down very far reaching and
of vast Importance. / suggested in nv former
reference to the subject, that the rule directly re-
versed the past policy of our Government and in
Dictated incidentally the power which it would give
to England, for instance, over Mexico, in the COL
lection of the money due to British holders of Mex
lean Bonds If the views of the Union are TO be
taken as those of the Administration, it is clear
that Mr. BUCHANAN is preparing to retire from the
high ground he had assumed; that what he asserted
principle is to be degraded to the level of
policy or expediency; and that the foreign con-
tracts of citizens only to be enforced when
our Government can avail of them as the basis of
operations to secure some other public advantage.
Thus we find the Union prejudicing the new doc
trine by ascribing it to Lord PALMERSroN, and en-
deavoring to apologize for the Presidents retro
grade movement by suggesting that the PALMER
SToN ministry set him the example of backing down
The organ suggests that .'the smaller States of the
world could not maintain themselves under rule
rigid and effective; that England and France
with powerful navies and large standing armies
would have obvious advantages over all the weaker
powers upon this Continent" and that ''hey might
find Gerry plausible grounds for interrention too our
political affairs, if were once fully established"
The article proceeds with further arguments to
show that it is only obligations incurred by an il
legal tortious and oppressive exercise of power over
the citizens and property of people, that are to
be enforced BY our Government. What does all
this mean? Be assured it DISCUSSES some new freak
of policy,-unless, indeed, Mr.. BUCHANAN has just
made the discovery that the broader and more libe
raj doctrine now disavowed, leads to consequences
far beyond the single case for which the 'fprnci-
ple was proclaimed. He should have thought this
earlier after weighing wella all the natural
suits OF the new policy should have determined either
to reject it altogether, accept it with its manifold
responsibilities. Nothing more surely weakens a
Government, and destroys it's moral power to ac-
compsh desirable results than the attempt to pur-
sue mere expedients, applicable to individual cases
and designed to be repudiated in every other 1t
is to be hoped that in this instance the Union does
not speak ''by the card" and that the Administra-
ton will hold fast to faith which, though fraught
with responsibility, is nevertheless based upon JUS
tice, embodying that best of all political maxims
which tell us to "ask nothing but what is right,
and submit to nothing that is wrong"
There was a perfect stampede of members of
Congress last evening and this morning, and the
hotels have thinned out alarmingly in the estima-
ton of landlords. Really it would be far better
that Congress should meet earlier or not until
after the holidays are over; for after recess like
that which has Just commenced, it takes quite as
much time for the TWO Houses to get under weigh
again. as 1t does at the beginning of a session. The
calendars of Congress are loaded with business
much OF 1T OF great Importance to both public and
private interests. Upon the reassembng of the
two Houses we may look for immediate and earn
est efforts in behalf of modification of the Tariff
Indeed that will be the leading topic of the SEES
sion, but the chances of securing any material leg
islation on the subject remote. In the Senate,
the free-traders are vigilant checking
by parliamentary expedients every movement
which squints towards Tariff modification Thus
for instance, yesterday when Mr.. SIMMONS offered
resolution calling for information upon this sub
ject, Mr.. lvERsoN defeated its consideration by an
objection declaring not only that he did not want
the information but that he did not wish anything
VI iHe hiiu ~ CpHc III DIT all DO, 100, WDen Mt.
CAMERON asked vote upon the report of the Print
ing Committee in favor of printing the memorial of
Convention of Pennsylvania Iron Masters, asking
protection to the iron interest, AR DAVIS promptly
interposed an objection, accompanied with self
satisfied "no you dong sort of smile, significant of
the most active hostility to the PRESIDENTS Tariff
views.
The rumored news of the safe landing of the Nj
caragua "Emgrants" of the Susan, is premature,
as no arrival from that region has occurred which
could possibly bring such intelligence. The friends
and confidants of General WALKER, here are salts
fled that the "Emigrants" alluded to have landed,
however, before this time. They do not deny the
reported intention of additional libuster vessels to
sail from far Southern ports, and they are conf
dent also that these latter will succeed in getting
off safely, despite the efforts of the federal officials
to stop them. Some of the vessels may be seized
at one port but if so, the passengers will embark
at another where it will cost little indemnify the
revenue officers for the pecuniary losses consequent
upon their sympathy with the movem ent.
In yesterdays letter l inadvertently denied the
statements that projects for the colonization of So
nora by Northern men were on foot. The remark
was intended to apply to Arizona.