Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-10
From the London Times.
A British view of American ExPan.
sion southwark.

The disquieting aspect of European politics
has. for the last six months, diverted all at
| tention from the long-predicted territorial
changes on the other side of the Atlantic,
which seem now fastening to a consumma-
| ton. The absorption of the weaker republics
| of Central and South America by the United
States cannot apparently be long delayed.
Mexico and New Grenada are not only ready
| to fall from natural decay, but have actually
commenced open movements in favor of a
| surrender of their nationality; and Venezuela,
although recent events might seem TO indicate
| that she has some inherent life, is on the road
| to similar fate. Under
| these circumstances, the United States Gov
| eminent have only to wait little and they
may have the country on their own terms.
| Already in the Senate, at Washington, Gen.
| Houston has introduced a resolution, propo-
| sing the assumption of protectorate and if
| the motion is not carried it will simply be
| because it would be idle for America to COM
init herself to an overt act in a matter which
can go only one way even if she remains
passive. The original form of General Hous-
toms motion was for protectorate not only
over Mexico, but all the Central American
| States. On subsequent reflection, he would
| take them one by one.
AS far as New Grenada is concerned there
is not likely to be much DELAY. Senior
Gonzales, the Acknowledgement at Bogota,
has absolutely recommended in an official
document to the New Grandian Congress that
they should apply for immediate admission
into the American Union. The propo-
sitiOn appears to have excited no dismay or
hostility, and where it is once entertained
| there connot be many steps before its fulfil
! ment or something worse.
If New Granada were annexed to the United
States The absorption Of Venezuela scouRd follOtc
as matter Of course. Its magnificent ports, its
agricultural capacities, and its gold mines at
Upara would soon prove an irresistible at
traction to emigrants When all these
things shall have been completed the small
intermediate States of Nicaragua, Costa RIGA.
Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will be
ready to go with the Stream. The only OBJ
stacle in their case, as well as in that of New
Granada, consists in the provisions of the
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which prohibit the
United States and Great Britain alike from
assuming control over any part of Central
America; but movement is now on foot at
w ashington to get that compact set aside, if
possible.
If the British government had cordially
gone hand in hand with America in the plan
for the joint establishment of the Nicaragua
route, all these considerations would have
been rendered impossible, and the redemp-
ton of that region would have been the
harmonious work of the two powers Lord
summarily rejected the opportunity, and all
that has followed since including the havoc
and rapine inflicted by Walker and his
followers, has been but the natural conse-
quence of that decisiOn.-Should America
now pursue the course that seems imminent,
the change as regards English interests.
assuming that she will honestly provide for
the existing debts of the various States in
question, cannot but be a great improve
ment upon their present position. The pros
pect, in fact, is likely to excite much more
hostility in the United States themselves
than among any classes in Great Britain.
The addition of fresh Southern States would
be viewed as giving a new preponderance to
the slavehOlding party, and on this ground
the question has already excited strong feel
iDgs in the North, although the opposition
WILL of course not be such as permanently to
overpower the large and more exciting temp
tations of an increase of territory and a
development of commerce.