The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-02


He asks, whether the doctrine avowed in the Os-
tend Manifesto was really deserving of being
denounced as political heresy, and endeavors to
show that WASHINGTON expressed ''the same idea,
IN one OF his letters to LEE anticipating, twenty
years beforehand, the acquisition of louisiana"
yet his own quotation from the letter referred to-
will not bear out any such Interpretation. WASH
1NGToN wrote to LEE with reference to the free
navigation Of the Mississippi, u question upon
which the public mind was at that time profound
ly agitated, in view of the treaty of peace then
pending between Great Britain and the United
Colonies. whenever the new States" said he
become so populous, and so extended to the
westward, as really to need it, there will be
emo power which can deprive them Of the
''use Of the Mississippi" We can find nothing
here that bears the remotest allusion to the acou
siton of Louisiana. 1t is not to be discovered on
the surface-Mr. CUSHING admis-but II pray you
ITO penetrate into the inner thought" There is
no Inner thought" WASHINGTON was plain
spoken man-what he meant he said, and in Ian
guage too clear to be mistaken He had not the
remotest idea of the conquest of Louisiana The
country had just concluded an exhaustng war. 1t
was bankrupt of money. There was a mutnous
disposition almost everywhere among the dsbanded
soldiery, clamorous for their pay The treaty of
peace, which was to formally acknowledge the
independence OF the Colonies was at that time
under negotiation, in which provision was to be
made-and was made-for the free navigation of
the Mississippi. The settlers in Kentucky and
Tennessee were few in numbers. and were too
incursions TO indulge in dreams of Southern con-
uueSt The first =
did not take place until five years later, and be-
tween the Cumberland river and the Spanish set
Elements, at the mouth of the Mississippi, were
seven hundred miles of unbroken wilderness. 1t
is clear, therefore, that the idea of territorial ap-
grandisement was not in WAsHINGToN's elmer
thought at the time he wrote the letter TO LEE
which Mr.. CUSHING has quoted in support of the
Ostend Manifesto. Nay; ten years later, when
Kentucky and Tennessee had become comparative
~ populous, and the course pursued by the Span
lsn aulhoriues OF Louisiana, with regard to the
navigation OF the Mississippi, suggested the
organization OF an expedition against New Or
leans WASHINGTON promptly despatched a messen-
ger to Kentucky for the express purpose of sum-
pressing the enterprise. In the same spirit. fen
years later STILL when a resolution was offered !,
the Senate of the UNITED STATES emnower;rc. ~,
PRESIDENT to call out thirty thousand voluntaor,
to take possession of Louisiana De WITT CIrNrox
opposed it, on the ground that ''t was our interest
'and our duty, to cultivate peace with sincerity
'and good faith. As young nation" said he
pursuing industry, and adventuring commerce
Sin every sea, it is important, that we should not
"only have pacific character, but that we should
"really deserve it. The security of all the Euro-
pean possessions in our vicinity must eternally de-
spend, not upon their strength, but upon our mod
''eration and justice" Such was portion of his
noble protest against the aggressive spirit of the
resolution then before the Senate His closing ap- |
peal is even nobler still, and is quite as deserving
of consideration at the present day, as it was at |
the time it was uttered. 'Will the people of this
Country" said he, 'be seduced by all the color
cling of rhetoric, and all the arts of sophistry-bv
vehement appeals to their pride, and artful adj
f'dresses to their cupidity? No, sirl Three
sfourths of the American people, assert it bold
'tly, and without fear Of contradiction-are OPP