Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-10-26

~ their SWAY aIl6T UST Q6dllI, uCfCi pOiAdpo w
again touched into beauty by 80 sweet spiri
as hers All tender aud delicate memories clus
ter around her name and even the proud an
naughty Spaniards cherish the records OF ne
gentle and unstained life with tenderness an
respect, as the best and most beloved by ne
subjects of all the queens of Spain.
Fyon, The South.
The Paraguay Expedition.
The Naval preparations, which are makinI
for the purpose of furnishing the outrages perpe
trated upon American citizens by the Republic
of Paraguay, show that the Administration j
resolved not to do things by halves. The size
of the feet designed for this expedition is be
ginning to attract considerable attention. Th'
armament, when completed, will consist of six
teen ships of war-eight steamers and eigh
sailing vessels-all manned and equipped with
! every improvement of modern military and ma
val science. Besides the regular completemen,
of seamen, the fleet will carry out large marine
force which is intended to act also as land
force, in case there is any necessity OF resort
! ing to that mode of attack. By the last Wash.
ngton mails, we ascertain that Judge BowliD,
the Commissioner of this Government to Para.
quay is to govern this mission. He is authorized
to require of President Lopez an apology for
the insult to our flag; to demand reparation tor
the wrongs committed against citizens of the u
nited States, particularly for their forcible ex,
pulsion from the country, and to obtain from
Lopez an acknowledgement of his obligation to
satisfy all other demands for redress. A board
of commissioners shall be constituted for the pur-
pose of assessing the amount of the indemnity.
Commissioner Bowlin is also directed to try and
negotiate commercial treaty with Paraguay,
and obtain some sure guarantee for the free and
unsubsidized navigation of the Rio de La Plata
and its tributaries, by securing the removal OF
the existing restriction upon the trade OF those
waters.
1t is contemplated that but one vessel-the
Fulton-having the Commissioner on board,
will at first proceed to Assumption. Should
Judge Bowlin's mission be crowned with success,
he will return Immediately to Washington, with
the Convention, agreed upon, for ratification by
the United States Government. But If his
peaceable overtures are rejected by Paraguay,
then he will order Commodore Shubrick to bring
up the squadron under his command, and to en-
force the determined policy Of the Administra-
tion by the ultima ratio. Its immediate busi-
ness dispatched, the feet is ordered to show it.
self in several of the South American harbors,
and especially in those States with which our
Government is not upon the most desirable terms
of friendly intercourse.
Such is q suconot exposition Of the proximate
objects of the Paraguay Expedition. To refresh
the memory of our readers, it may not be amiss
to present again recsptulation of the causes
which led to the difficulty. These are thus sta
ted in a late impression of the Boston Post.
"A good understanding with this singular Re-
public (of Paraguay has long been an object of
desire with our government; and hence Presl-
dent Fillmore in his 1862 message announced
with much satisfaction that treaty had been
agreed upon with this oriental republic Should
it go into operation, the message reads, 1T will
open to the commercial enterprise of our citizens
a country of great extent and unsurpassed in
natural resources, but from which foreign ma
tions have been almost wholly excluded. The
Senate approved this treaty, and it was compile
ted March 4, 1858. Lopez, the President, was
then friendly to this country; and both parties
having agreed on the terms OF this treaty, 1t
was considered as substantially concluded.-I
Hence President Pierce in 1854, in his annual
message, speaks of the treaty as an accomplished
fact, and states that together with treaty with
the Argentine confederation, it secured to US
the free navigation of the La Plata and some OF
its lrager tributaries.
"But in 1858 a change came over the mind OF
President Lopez. He thrives by monopoiies and
the chances for private speculations which they
give: and on the gains he derives by these
means he supports his authority, which is of the
most arbitrary character. This year, competi
ton, growing out of this treaty, threatened to
interfere with his profits. This competition a.
rose in this wise: E. A. Hopkins, resident Of
those parts, was presented as United States
Consul to Lopez, who received him in state, and
in a speech eulogized our country for promptly
recognizing the independence of Paraguay
But Mr.. Hopkins had organized trading COM
pany, and its operations began to interfere sad.
iy with the private gains Of Lopez. 1t introdu.
ced new spirit among the people. This inroad
in a few months changed the feelings of Lopez,
and hence the property of this company was
seized. In 1854, Lopez formally refused to ex-
change the ratifcations of the treaty, on the
ground, as stated in an official note of his for
eign minister, that the treaty was written in
English. Two years later, he still delaying the
ratification. q special messenger was dispatched
by President Pierce to obtain this; and then it
was refused on the ground that alterations had
been made in it. The truth is, that Lopez new
er meant after he saw how competition was de-
stroying his gains, to ratify the treaty and ad-
init an extension of commerce. but fell back on
the old exclusive and Oriental policy of the die
tator, DR.. Francia.
"Meanwhile, and during the period when Lo.
pez professed himself friendly to the United
States, the enterprise was undertaken of explo-
ring the Parana river by the Water Witch, COM
manded by Lieut.. Page. For this pacific pur-
pose this vessel reached Asuncion Oct. l, 1858,
and this time charts of the river were made and
the greater part of the exploration was compile
ted. Subsequently the commander of the Water
Witch, Lieut.. Page, renewed this work, and had
obtained the permission to sail up the river,
from the Argentine Confederation, the naviga-
tion of which had been secured to the United
States by the treaty with this power. But the
President of Paraguay had issued, Oct. 1854, an
edict prohibiting foreign vessels of war from nav
igating the rivers of that State. Lopez had no
right to issue this Decree because his govern
ment owned but one-half of the river, Corrien'
tes owning the other half. On attempting the
ascent of this river, the Water Witch was fired
into in February, 1858, by the guns of Fort
Itapiru. This, in every point of view which il
can be regarded was gross outrage. The WGte1
Witch was not in erclusi0e Paraguay waters
and if she were, she was on peaceful, scientific
expedition, and this country was at peace with
Paraguay.
This insult remains unatoned. At the time
the fire was returned with such means as the lit
tie steamer had at command, and it dismountet
several of the guns of the fort. President Buch
anan finding that Paraguay had refused all salts
faction, submitted the whole matter to congres
in his annual message. He recommended con
gress to grant him authority to use other thar
peaceful means, should the demand for satisfac
ton tor the outrages of seizing the property o
American citizens and insulting the flag of tn
United States be refused"
RECEIPT FOR THE BEST PICKLES EVER MADE