The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-23
and thank their stars that they TOO are not made
ridiculous By the reproduction Of theis defunet



Before che Senate
On Wednesday last Senator Mason introduced
Joint resolution authorizing the President 20
| take such measures against Paraguay as tae re-
! fusal of that republic TO make reparation for
| firing into the United States steamer Water
| Witch may demand. Mr.. Mason stated that
| Captain Page would soon rsil In q small
steamer for The locality In question. 10 cc-ov--
rate with any force there may be required 10
attain reparation. The question was brough,
up again yesterday in the Senate.
| Such have been the consequences Of cur
absurd intestine political disorders, particular
| ly those spripgipg out OF the admission OF
Kansas into the Union that our foreign rela-
tons have necessarily been neglected Our
difficulties with Spain, our relations with
Mexico and Central America, our diderences
with several South American States upon the
Pacific, as well as our controversy with New
Granada, are all laid upon the shelf for another
day. A scandslous party strife for the control
of a new State paralyzes the arm Of govern
ment, and the honor and commercial interests
of the country go without much consideration.
| ton to b. settled; one which presents the most
perfect case for immediate interference. The
Water Witch insulted and fred on during
peaceful scientific survey, and the destruction
of large American company at Assumption
remain totally unavenged, and if things 60 on
in Congress as they now do they never will be.
| But we shall see what the Senate will do.
The case of the Water Witch has been so
often alluded to, and the facts in relation to the
| unprovOked attack upon her are so well known,
officially and otherwise, that it is not necessary
to enlarge on them in this article. But the fate
of the American company is less understood,
| and is sufficiently interesting to deserve more
extended notice.
An American agent, despatched by Mr.. Polk,
visited the upper waters of La Plata, and was
so we'll received in Paraguay that he returned
| to the United States for the purpose of forming
a company to navigate the river and establish
| an American trading and manufacturing COM
pany at Assumption. The project had the full
appreciation of President Lopez. In 1854, after
much effort, company was formed in this city
to take advantage of the opening, and num-
| Der Of enterprising persons, both here and in
| Providence, Rhode Island, united for the pur-
pose, putting up capital of about one hundred
| and fifty thousand dollars A steamer was
| bought, fitted out and sent off at large cost,
| and an assorted cargo, comprising more than
! eight hundred packages of goods, was for
! warded in brig called the Kate and Alice,
which safely arrived at its destination. The
articles selected were admirably adapted to the
wants Of Paraguay, and were computed to be
worth on arrival three or four hundred per cent
above their cost. Thus saw mills and other
appropriate machinery were forwarded to
cut up and prepare for market the beautiful
woods of the country. Machines for the manu-
| facture Of tobacco in every possible form were
provided, and a gang of operatives obtained
from Cuba to take charge of them. Others
for cleaning and hulling rice, ploughs, harrows,
drills, shovels, spades and steam engines were
also procured. Samples of all kinds of Ameri-
can manufactured goods adapted to the coun-
try, medicines, elementary books in Spanish,
printing presses, saddles, firearms, and even an
organ for the cathedral, were sent out Every
branch Of American industry was fully repre-
sented. In addition to these, various splendid
presents were sent cut to Lopez and his family
silk standard to hoist on his palace, very
costly State coach, and full sets of harness, a
| gold watch studded with jewels for his wife,
and silver mounted garden implements for his
daughters. Our government also sent pair of
beautiful brass howitzers, which stiH stand be-
fore the government residence. The steamer
unfortunately encountered q heavy gale, and
was 80 much injured as to make IL necessary to
abandon her ut Maranham. The large party of
colonists on board of her, however, finally
arrived in Paraguay, and their reception
was everything they could wish. Very soon,
however, Lopez began to be jealous Of the
Americans, and taking advantage Of some
imprudences Of the company's agents, dhe
American Consul being considered the chief
offender among them,) rescinded many of
his agreements, committed personal violence
on the Vice Consul, and though 1t is said a
different course on the part Of the Consul
might have ended all the difficulties, yet certain
! il is that be- too, subsequently was treated
with great indignities, the company was broken
up and driven of, and loss of several hundred
thousand dollars was the consequence. A
lengthy correspondence ensued on the subject,
in which these aggressions were sought to be
excused by the alleged misconduct Of the
American Consul. Nothing but the fortunate
presence Of the little Water Witch prevented him
from sharing the fate Of those who had in pre-.
vious years learned TO know what il was to
come under The displeasure of Francia and
Lopez.
The company, thus maltreatcd, outraged and
broken up having done nothing Of themselves to
bring upon them these disasters or this breach of
faith-hsve made strong appeal 10 the autho-
rites at Washington for redress. They have
been waiting several years for il; but Mr.. Bu-
chanan took up the subject of eur difficulties