The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-21

OR NAVAL STRENGTH TO BIZ EMPLOYED IN
AID ~ Orr DIPLOMACY.

AID ~ CTR DIPLOMACY.
The most considerable fleet OF armed YES.
sells which was ever assembled under the
American flag, with the exception Of that
which operated in the Gulf during our war
with Mexico, Is rapidly concentrating at
this port and at Norfolk, and about TO sail
Tor the waters Of the Paraguay. The gov
crnment has on former occasions fiustered
its eagles in the face Of powerful European
nations, and not without good results, but
the iDsolence, duplicity and outrages OF the
South American States have received no
check whatever ut our hands The despots
who rule for the noncc aud by the hour
succeeding each other like shadows on q
wall--have conducted the affairs OF their
misnamcd republics, either believing that
our internal political divisions were AZ do.
moralzDg and weakening a. their own, or
that our greater interest elsewhere would
induce rs 10 overlook the aggressons 81
petty States, and have gone On from year
10 year without being made To atone for o
single outrage, and most Of the foreign min
isters VIC have sent out TO make the proper
Misunderstanding orators, thlrd-rafc
lawyers or barroom politicians have gone
out without any other object than TO get
their outfit and salaries, and return home ~
soon ~ they had scraJed together enough
10 silence their creditors. No wonder that
In such hands our diplomacy has gone
wrong, both in Central and South America,
and no wonder that the cunning and OBJ
serving Dictator Of Paraguay has consider.
cd himself 10 no possible danger from Amer.
lean dIplomatists or American arms. But,
fortunately for the country, We have u
President who IL determined TO maintain its
honor and vindicate its rights. and thus
formidable squadron will soon make liz ap-
pcarapcc in the waters Of Paraguay, with
recamations on the one hand and Paixhans
on the other. These contemplate South
American countries, which have NO long
trcspasscd on our good nature, are about TO
be taught lesson by which they will he
able to regulate their future intercourse
with the United States.
Our government has for mAsy years at.
tempted to extend its commercial relations
with the different nations Of South Ameri.
en-, profiering them tho advantages Of re
ciprocal and lucrative trade. The Plata
aad Amazon have been the scenes Of the
most benevolent and advantageous explora-
tons conducted at our expense, and mcr-
camille associations have been formed through
private enterprise 10 bring these Efforts to
happy and profitable conclusion, Para
quay was particularly selected as country
with which the most beneficial relations
might b. mutually established.
In 1853. j. i. Pcndeton, as plcnipoien-
tiary 10 Paraguay, concluded treaty with
the United States, but though II was rati.
ficd, IL was not formally exchanged. II
was generally understood, however that IL
was reliable arrangement for the Previ.
Gus mission Of Mr. Brent and actual mp
pontment Of an American consul--M r.
A. llopkns--ior Asuucion, ~ early rs the
year 1851, together with the official reports
OF tho agent sent ont by Mr.. Polk led eve.
rybody TO believe 10. In that year, then
1889, Mr. Hopkins presented himself rs our
consul, and also M the agent Of an Amer-
can trading company. which he had sue
cccdci in getting up during his visit To the
United States. The exchange Of Pcndlc
tons treaty not being directly made, Col
Fitzpatrick was sent out by Mr.. Pierce IA
"A special envoy in 1886, to exchange il
with the usual formaltes but some offence
was taken at the amendments made by the
United States Senate. and much more at
the technical phra1ology Of the instrument
in the words the United States Of Amer.
ic, which i.opz con,enled were not geo
graphically or historically correct, Fi,z
patrick returned with flea in his ear, and
10 this day We have had no absolute treaty
with Paraguay, though We have a consul
whose duties, like his salary, are precisely
nothing, Hut, nevertheless. on the previous
personal assurances OF the friendship Of 10
peg 10 the American nation, two important
enterprises were undertaken. One was the
exploration OF the Paraguay river its
aitluantS and continents, 10y the Water
Witch. commanded by Lieut. Page, and the
establishment to the trading company
known a. the United States aud Paraguay
Navigation Company.
The Water Witch sailed under the com,
mand OF Lieut.. Ihos. j, Page, for her DIES.
t'natlou. and leaving Buenos Ayrs on the
lst Of September, 1853, reached ASump-
cion on the lst Of October. having stopped
at oil the ports on her route and made
chart OF the river. A small steamer was
constructed rs u tender aud ior the navga.
ton OF the smaller rivers. at Asuncion. and
large portion of the exploration was &C.
compshed under favorable circumstances
but IN an attempt to ascend the Parana
through the common waters OF the Paraguay
aud the Argentine Confederation, where
she had been already invited 10 proceed tor
the purposes Of exploration. and having
nothing on board adequate for her defence
except salu,ing battery. she was ird into
by the commanded Of the fortress OF ltapi.
IA, and suffered the loss OF IN, OF her crew.
as we'll rs some considerable damage TO her
hull. The lire was returned ~ gallau,ly rs
the means OF defence would permit, dis.
mounting several Of the cncmy's guns,
Lieut., Page was not TN board, being un.
iortnnatcl, abseu, with the small steamer