The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-25

The dispute between France and Portugal
has ABRUPTLY terminated. After appealing
10 vain 10 the decisions Of courts Of law, TO
the faith Of treaties, 10 the obvious justices OF
her own cause, aud 10 the arbitration Of any
neutral power whom France might wish To
choose, the cabinet OF Lisbon has succumbed
TO the menace Of ibstaD! violence addressed
10 her by Power with whom 1t would be
utterly iruitless for her TO contend Never
was the voice Of truth and justice more AFRO
gantly empowered by mere superiority OF
physical force never were the rights OF
brave asd independent nation more reckless
ly trampled upon never was the understand
ing uron which the affairs Of Europe since
the peace Of 1915 have been conducted more
entirely cast 10 the winds. For Portugal
nothing Is left but 10 fold her arms and re-
cord her protest against the violence TO
which shc has been forced ~ submit, for
Europ, there remains a precedent iraught
with danger. The forcible rescue Of the
French saver--for such it Ia now clearly
proved 10 be--from the hands OF the Portu-
g,se authorities il one Of those events which
ure sure, sooner or later, 10 exercise an i'm.
portant Influence on tho actions and feelings
Of mankind. II is the germ, We fear OF much
evil
Hcnceiorth we must, however unwillingly,
adopt II a. o matter too clear for dispute,
that France will not allow the right Of smaller
ard weaker Powers TO that shelter and pro-
lection which the Law Of nations has hither-
TO thrown around them. Justice il for
equals. --dictation menace. and, If necessary,
force tor interiors, in power. The use Of q
law, aud more especially the law Of nations,
Ia the protection Of the weak against the
strong. and for any weaker nation which IL
% unfortunate M 10 have a difference with
France, that protection no longer exists.
A second mOst lamentable result Of this
affair IL, that We fear we can no longer count
upon France az among those nations who
aro bent upon discolraging in every manner
tho continuance OF the Slave Trade. The
power Of tho Empire has been put forth to
shelter very iIAgrant violation Of what has
hitherto been understood TO be the policy OF
France in this respect II is one thing not
to maintain an armed squadron for the pur
pose of putting down tho Slave Trade, it is
another TO rescue vessel duly convicted by
the menace Of an immediate APPEAL 70 arms.
There IL too much reason TO fear that this
untoward result Of the noble efforts which
tho Portuguese Government, and especially
the Colonial Minister, tho Viscount Sa Da
Banpeira, has been making for tho supTrc3-
sion Of the Slave Trade, will relax the zeal
of Power which thus meets with insult and
meusce in every quarter from which it bad
right to expect coun,enance and support
Nor h this all. We cannot conceal from
ourselves tina, tho manner IN which Portn-
gal has botn dealt with was caused by asns-
picion, utterly unlounded. a. We know It TO
be-, that she was acting in this matter under
tho peculiar instgaton Of England. II oc-
curs to us to AJAX, what par. has the English
Government taken In this transaction' We
know our government has not extended to
Portugal any material support, has any
moral Influence been extended in her favor
Have We intcrceled tor her with our great
alyf Have we strengthened her with the
assurance Of our appreciation OF the honor
able course sec has adopted. and promised
her that. in casc Of extremity, We would not
forget the duties imposed by our treaty obi
gatloui1 She has done her dnty; We
should BE- glad Of some proof that No have
not been wanting IN ours.