The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-19
THE PARAGUAY EXPEDITION.

THE PARAGUAY EXPEDITION.
The journals Of the day have INDUCED in consid-
cradle criticism upon the organization and objects of
this expedition. Some of them have questioned the
propriety Of the whole movement, and have insisted
that the administration should have turned the mat
Ter into the regular diplomatic channels for adjust
ment. This policy of doing nothing as means of
redressing grievances-of writing up dozen
or twenty times with the result-we do not
concur in In that way we have accumuted disputes,
but never settled them. We have made up well-au-
thenticated demands for reference in the State
Department, to go into renewed instructions to
diplomatic agents and to be the subjects of constant
appeal the part Of people; but this process is
one that wears out the patience Of aggreved parties
but does not indemnify them. We submit to the
country that in reference particularly to the Spanish
American States of South America, including those
of Paraguay, New Granada, Costa RIGA, and Nicara-
qua, we have had quite enough Of mere diplomatic
controversy. has been pursued till the whole
try is fairly nauseated with it. We have been strong
and magnanimous till our generosity and charity have
become sorely oppressive to American interests and
our government is threatened abroad with the charac-
ter of positive imbecility. In regard to Paraguay
about which alone it is our purpose to speak at pre-
sent those who understand the whole case will cordi
ally endorse the management of it by the able and dis
Greet Secretary of the Navy, whose purposes in the
expedition cannot be too highly commended. We
are promised by President Lopez warm resistance
to our pretensions and the distinguished head of the
Navy Department has organized force upon this
basis. He takes the responsibility of its complete
success. 1t is peace mission to accomplish definite
objects; but, failing in that character, the Brazil
squadron will be reinforced as to enable our Com
missioner to exact what is due from the government
OF Paraguay to the government of the United States
"A little parsimony in the expenditure of the means
required to enforce our just demands might be the
seed of far greater OUTLAWS hereafter besides entail
ing upon the country the disgrace of failure. Para
quay may be prepared, with its permanent and tenn
porary Notifications, to make powerful resistance
In considering this branch Of the subject we should
not lose sight of past hesitation to employ force
imperative scale, nor Of the peculiar egotism
and selfreliance of the men against whom it may be
our obligation to act. A wellappointcd and re-
sistless squadron, adapted to the duty assigned
We have not forgotten the energy with which
our vessels-ofwar were concentrated in the Gu
ban waters few months ago, to resist the vio-
lations of our flag by the first naval power in the
world. That force might have been met by greater
force; but its prompt concentration upon the
scene of difficulty, and its readiness to defend the in
tegrty Of flag expressed the moral sense Of the
nation to all the world that we were prepared, at
whatever cost to defend our sovereign rights upon
the high seas. We did not speak alone to England !;
we spoke to all the nations and advertised our un-
aerable purpose to exact the perfect exemption of
our flag from all interference and molestation upon
the public waters. So it is and SO it ought to be
in every case where the conduct of others demands
the interp0sition of our naval power to redress
grievances, the demonstration should be on scale
so formidable as to bespeak the resolute pur-
pose Of the whole country Especially is this
the case with reference to the expedition to Para
quay. 1t bears the demands of this government and
seeks, in the first place, that they shall be answered
by the peaceful agents of diplomacy. When we re-
feet upon the past conduct of Paraguay and the per-
sistcnt and hostile refusal of its executive to do
justice in the premises the naval force stationed in
Ia Platte cannot be considered as menace. That it
placed there for the distinct purpose Of enforcing
demands in the event Of the failure of the COM
missioner TO obtain satisfaction is as well known to
President Lopez as to Mr. Secretary Toucey );
that 1t shall be sufficiently powerful to exact redress
and 10 close the dispute without hostilities if posi-
bic, il responsibility that rests upon the admins
rstion. and that IL shall be successful is the
wish and expectation Of the whole country.
We need not disguise our conviction that the ex-
pedition referred TO il Of very great Importance to
the people of the United States. Our constantyin-
creasing relations with Central and South America,
and the large interests IL citizens involved there
An dsasssd Of the government whore their intervcn
ticn d required. more decided tone and temper
than We have heretofore manifested. We trust much
good viii GENE q the Paraguay feet, which win be
sbis 70 maintain peace "a itmay have the means Of
forcing ~aljection.
TlE UNION 0F REpuRLIrANs AND AMERICANS.