New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-29
Nesp9lork DAILY G1ibnnre
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPEL
THE EXPEDITION AGAINST PARAGUAY.


Tc the Editor Of The " Y TSilure.
SIR: The commercial press of the United States has
pretty generally landed President Buchansns esped.
ton against Paraguay II has taken for granted that
which remains to be proved, viz the Justice Of our
cause. The point in which national honor is sup
posed To have been wounded. in firing the
United States surveying steamer Water Witch, while
engaged in the lsudablc and peaceful employment of
suyeyiDg the River Parana where il divides the Ar
sentine Province Of CorTieutes from Paraguay.
Now What are the real facts in the case The North
An ercan side Of TIE has been fully presented let
us hear the South American side. Your correspondent
was in South America at tie time our dag was out
ragged, and heard both sides OF the story.
AT the place on the Parana where the Water Witch
vas fred into is an sland which il in Possession Of
Paraguay. Between that island aud the Paraguay
shore is channel through which vessels car pass;
but tue channel generally u.cd lies between the Island
and the Conientes shore Bat the officer in GO nmand
Of tho Water Witch wished t) sound the channel on
tle Paraguay side in the laudable hope Of making rs
valuable discovery lie had further down the river
But as he approached thai channel boat put OIL from
the shore with written notice 10 the commander Of
tie Water Witch not to pas up that channel. The
steamer continued her course, the officer taking
souudings ms he went. "A she neared fort on the
Paraguay shoe, GIN was fired 10 bin. the propnety
of resarGi,g tie written notice that had just been
placed on board. Still the steamer kept on. And then
Ike "the old nan who fourd arude boy" &c., the
commander Of the fort finding tha, "nether words
nor gra.s will do" tried what virtue there was in-
cold iron; aud unfortunately the saot motay wounded
rho mnn q. tire wheel. Tue Wafer Witch, though
b.yi, but few men on board and no, being in ghtiag
condition. gaanily returned the comp ment with
-hrapnell and retired from tue contest ,con a. she
could the fort meanwhile doing the beet il could to
punish the ,ransgressor.
The Water Witch wa, clearly in Pareguayan waters,
lad written notice duly served and then received the
usual blank cartridge waning II we were d-itt>re-t
ed par,ios. our verdict would be " served her ngt
Yonr correspondent would b. glad - gallan.
NAVY cover itself with glory, but he would have our
quarrel just, ana he predicts that Mr. Commissioner
Rowln 81 find himself greatly embsrrassei when he
gets at the facts ana not only but that he has been
sent on iruitl,ss errand
The ether matter in dispute is the claim of com
meIeial company Of which Mr. HopSin' was the agent
As vour cores pondeIt undersi lnds it, question Of
how much shall Ire paid. Gen. Lopez willing to pay;
lut not tie amount claimed AID We venture the guess
tia. al Mr.. Bowlin vii rpsh viii be the appoint
ment of @ commission to ascertain he snouni 70 be
paid And il may be pertinent 20 remark, that II the
ssent Of the company bad been less eFTatic their
business ui ght 10. have been broken up.
TIC accidents aud cmbar ass-neits that have attend
ed the fitting ont Of this expedition are Of piece with
all the rest Tie merchant steamers Chartered for tie
foray are rot rotin tau the cau-c ty ar to b.
Engaged in; ard if Mr. Bcwn ont Of the Dip
lcus'ic cyclone AZ As,uciou in better cou iition than
the Sabine did from the hind III. nio of Bermuda
then youI correspondent Is No lASAtE.
Ns.-. 9.fE Ny. q