Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-15

The Washington Union of the 18th ms, in
an article relative to the escape of the Sasdn
from Mobile, with emigrants, bound for Mica
ragua, discloses the fact that notwithstanding
the President gives no indication in his mes
sage of other than amicable relations with
Great Britain. and France the administration
were aware of the danger of collision with
them, growing out of Central American
affairs. Itsays-
1t must be palpable to every one that the
escape of the Nicaraguan ''emigrants" or fill
libusters from Mobile, may precipitate at any
moment a crisis in the foreign relations Of
this country. From manifestations that have
been given ont. it can hardly be doubted that
the British and foreign forces in Central
America are on the eager lonk-out for excur-
sions of this sort in that direction and that
the "emigrants" may either he intercepted by
capture before landing or be pursued on land,
combatted and arrested after embarking.
Having referred to the excitement that this
would produce on the southern and eastern
coasts of this country, the Union goes on to
say
Nor could our government itself look calm
ly upon an exercise of force by European
powers for the regulation of affairs in the
Central portions of our continent. 1t has
given abundant earnest of its own purpose to
repress Illicit excursions from its own shores
against the peace of the Central American
States; and even overstepped the limits of
constitutional and international law in ar
resting, at one time. on the shore and within
the limits of the local jurisdiction there. an
illegal expedition of this sort; but is is hard
ly probable that it would look with compla-
cency upon an interference on the part of any
European power in the local affairs of Central
America, for the purpose OF protecting its
feeble governments from assaults of our
people, which we have given every proof that
we will prevent by all the legal and cOnsttu
tional means at our command. There would
arise not merely the ethical question VIII thor
the particular acts of the foreign government
were justified in morals, but the great polite
al question whether European governments
should be allowed to interfere for the regula-
ton of affairs upon the American continent.
1t is in this view that the otherwise trifling
event of the sailing of few '.emigrants''
from our shores on professedly peaceful"
enterprise, really possess a mOmentous i'm
portance. 1t is not to be denied that the
efforts which have been going on for some
time to recruit and embark such an eXpedi-
ton has given our government great deal
of annoyance; and ii is for this reason that
it has employed every means it was clothed
with by the law to battle and defeat the expe-
ditiOn. We do not suppose any one fears
that, if unmolested by third partie-. the "emi-
grants would do any very great harm to
anybody else than themselves iii carrying out
their project; but it was in view OF The Sc
rious political crisis which they might bring
on between our government and European
powers if they should be intercepted by Eu-
ropean war vessels on their way, or arrested
by European forces on the territory of Mica
ragua, that these efforts were made by our
government.
On the very day this was published 10 the
world, advices of an exercise of authority by
European power-Great Britain-''for the
regulation of affairs in the central portions of
our continent were received by the Washing
ton at New York They came all too quick,
we apprehend, for the administration and the
Central Organ. What will the adminstra-
| ton do? viii they assert the Monroe doc
trine and endeavor to maintain it; or will
they look with complacency upon this inter
| ference OF an European power in the local
| affairs of Central American The organ
| seemed disposed to vaunt itself upon the
spirit and determination of its masters; but
then a cause of offence had not been given.
VIII it still roar a lion, or sink its notes
to the gentle tones of the dove? We shall
soon see.