Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-18
From the National Iateltigencer.
NIr. Secretary 'Cass on our Central
American Relations.

|
| SECRETARY or STATE TO Mr.. LAMAR, our Min
lister to the Governments of Nicaragua and
| Costa RIGA. Not doubling the genuineness
nf such portions of this important paper as
| had thus fonDd their way to the public eye.
but presenting that they had been surrepti-
| tiously procured, (as we understand the pub
LEGATION Of the despatch has not been author
! lied hv the Department of State.l we pre-
! ferred TO await the reception of the document
in its authentic form, that when published in
the Intellisencer it might appear in its logical
! completeness and not curtialPd Of the just
proportions impressed upon it by the distin-
| guished writer who. we NAV say, seems 10
have girdod himself for the task with vigor
| and promptitude which must add new lustre
to his already honorable and protracted
career in American craftsmanship and dlplo-
macy. Rnsrrving, for the reason indicated: a
| fuller appreciation of this paper in all its
contents. we must satisfy ourselves in the
mean time with placing before our readers
| the suLioined abstract of the doctrines which
! il laws down with reference to the policy OF
/ the present Administration in relation to the
/ feeble States of Central America. We cite
! from the Richmond Enquirer of the 9th
! instant which il will he served, speaks with
the more intelligenc" and force from having
read ''the mastery letter" on which it COM
ments.
Ihe fTeStdeIitS Central American fOttcy.
We have read with interest and satisfaction
Secretary CAss's mastery letter of instruc-
lions to Mr.. LAMAR. United States Minister to
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Martinez ana
Mora. the Presidents of Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA. had faithlesslv violated an international
compact with the United States. and on mis-
cradle technical grounds, refused their sigma
lures to a treaty negotiated between the two
Governments in order TO make an arrange
ment with Monsieur BELLY, which contem-
plated the construction of an inter-oceanlc
canal. with the extraordinary stipulation that
the French Government should have the
right to keep two ships of war stationed
in Lake Nicaragu,- during the entire duration
of the work. Not content with this treacher-
ous reputation of solemn compacts, and
utterly obIivious that it was by the suppress
sion of Administering schemes that the United
States Government had prevented these petty
Governments from being swept out of exls-
tence the two Presidents MartineZ and Mora.
united in solemn declaration" appealing
to the European Powers, France, England.
and Sardinia, for protection against the
United States Government. on the pretence
that the United States had designs upon the
Territory of Nicaragua. Such mnnstrous al
legations could not pass unnoticed by our
veteran President and Secretary of State. who
have ever been distinguished by sensitive
regard for Onr national honor, and by sag
acious insight into the Vaccinations of foreign
Powers and their influence upon the destini"s
of the country. Accordingly Mr.. Cas-. in his
letter to Mr. Lamar. emphatically denies the
statement of Presidents Martinez and Mora.
and saws that 'had such a cause of offence
been given by France or England, or by any
other nation with well-established Govern
ment properly approaching its duties towards
foreign Powers its own Minister would have
been dismissed and the American Minister
recalled But" adds Mr.. Cass. "yOu will
give these Governments distinctly to under
stand that suitable reparation will be lnsls-
ted on. as the United States will no longer be
restrained by the considerations have adj
verted to. from seeking. by more efficacious
means proper redress for these unworthy i'm
putations. Besides the reproaches of which
this eGusion of ill-feelng is made the medium
of communication to the world. it indicates
line OF policy looking to European intcrven-
ton with American affairs, to which the
United States have long since avowed their
opposition. and which they will resist under
all circumstances. i refer to the protectorate
demanded by this proclamation, and to the
appeal to the Governments of France. Eng
land and Sardinia to assume the duties at
tachcd to that position"
Mr. Cass goes on in the same patriotic
strain To declare that "the establishment of a
political protectOrate by any of the Powers
Of Europe over any of the independent States
of this Continent, or, an other aoOrds, the intro
auction Of scheme Of policy 1chich tcoutd carry
lClh Il a right 10 interfere u their concerns as a
measure 10 1chch the United Suites haUe long since
aro,rsd their opposition. and aohich, should The
attempt he made they ,cU resist ,oitt all Tie means
in Hcir r10,cer."
In the following additional passages Mr.
Cass lays down a principle of international
which is doubtless justified by
the important interests which the United |
States have to guard on both the Pacific and |
the Atlantic:
.'While the Just rights of sovereignty of |
the States occupying this region should |
always he respected, we shall expect that |
these rights will be exercised in spirit befit-
ting the occasion and the wants aud circum-
stances that have arisen. Sovereignty has IFS
duties az ,ceH ats rights. and 0f these local
GOuerRmelts eren If administered ruth more regard
10 the jllH demands Of other ndtlons than they hare
been ,c0,id be permitted IN "a spirit Of eastern iSO
Lation to close these gates Of intercourse the great
of the ,0orld and justify the act By Mepre
tension that these apeueS Of trade and traUeL belong
10 Meyn and that they choose to shut them,
or, what is almost equivalent, TO cucumber
them with such unjust regulations as would
prevent their general use. The United States
do not seek either the control or the exclu-
sive use of these routes. They desire that
the advantages should be equally common TO
all nations. Nor do they claim to interfere
with the local governments in the determine
ton of the opening of the routes, and with
the persons with whom contracts may be
made for that Purpose. What they do desire
and mean to accomplsh-is that the great
interests involved in this subject should not
De sacrificed TO any unworthy motive, but
should be guarded from abuse; and that when
contracts are fairly entered into with Amer
can citizens they should not be wantOnly
Violated. Other nations will no doubt pur-
ne the same course in relation to their
.itizcns or subjects who may have similar in
erests."
The following sentiments, clearly and
put forth, will meet with cor
lial response from the American people.
indeed, the whole despatch will be received
" the nation a. maniftsting in still strong
r light the vigorous and truly American
,olicy of the Administration in watching
yer the honor and interests of the country
n regard to foreign Powers:
The United States believe il to be their
luty--and they mean to execute ito watch
'ver the persons and property OF their citizens
listing foreign countries, ard to intervene
or their protection when such action is jIsti-
led by existing circumstances and by the
avs of nations Wherever their citizens
nay go through the habitable globe, when
hey encounter injustice they may appeal to
he Government of their country, and the
ppeal will be examined into. with view to
UGH action on their behalf as il may be pro-
'er to take. 1t is impossible to define in adj
ance, and with precision, those cases in
Thich the national power may he eSerted for
heir relief, or to what extent relief shall be
fordcd. Circumstances. as they arise, must
rescrbe the rule of action. In coun-
ries where well.detined and established laws