The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-24

The Expedition Against Paraguay.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON NEWS.
Having long resided in and lately arrived Para
quay, where had the best opportunities official and
otherwise, OF learning the views OF and peo
pie, allow me few remarks on a matter directly AFFECT
ing that country and tho United States and indirectly
England both as 10 principles Of international maritime
law and as to commercial considerations. As old ot
Ger in the British naval service, trust shall receive
credit when profess anxiety to speak truthfuily.
The expedition under Commodore Shubrck, with Mr..
Bown as diplomatic agent and Capt Page among off,
has for its avowed object enforce reparaon first
for alleged injustice towards the late American at
the Paraguyan capital, Asuncon viz, Mr. Hopkins and
certain American associates in specuatons there and
cond and chiefly for alleged aggression the Water
Witch, whilst surveying Ia Plata and its aIuens, the Pa
raua and Paraguay.
According 10 the American press assuming represent
the government at Washington there other objects
in fact the expedition is to be fire and sword propa
ganda for forcing American terms upon Montevideo,
Buenos Ayres anu the Argentine Confederation well
Paraguay But this must be treated az a libel on tho
great American republic, and especially eminent
parsonage at its head whose character statesman in
sevcra courts Of Europe sufficient charges
his sanrtoninr any such buceaDeering nostrum. Mr..
Buchanans reputation for justice and moderation
great than Tor high minded patriotism; and all Who
him convinced that he learns from his properly
accredited agents. temperate as himself tho real merits
OF this scarcely fail TO act in the interests OF
peace humanity and civilization Had any such repre-
sentative Of America been ~ Paraguay few years
the accomplished and responsible commissioner Gent
out, not syllable Of dispute would have been heard,
while hundreds OF American citizens would probably
this moment in Paraguay, bencntting themselves and
the country was the earnest desire Of President Lopez
and his family.
Some three years ago the Water Witch was in the Vi
eDty Of the batteries of apra and the fortified camp,
position which has the Parana s front and the terrific
ry Of correntes opposite On the Paraguay side and
close To the batteries j. small island in the possession
and occupation oi the Paf1guayan government and be-
tween the batteries aud the camp ~ narrow channel tho
navigation Of which strictly prohibited and IL quits
necessary TO commerce. Captain Page commanding the
water witch, being absent OH SOME important survey
ing business the officer left IN bs place got up steam
and ATTEMPTED 10 pass the channel. lie persisted IN
scaIning On, even after bcing informed by the
mandant that his orders imperative preyen,
sells other than Of the Paraguaya from
iDg. This must have been well known 10 tho in
trudcrs and should have been respected an espe-
cia degree by the Official citizen Of power GRE
dlmby punctiious IN the assertion OF ts own inter
probation OF It's own maritime laws the American
Union proverbialiy ~. The commandant's remon-
stfances being dsregarded few blank cartridges wero
fired and then, as the Water Witch still steamed on
shotted gun was Discharged but wide Of the vessel Tho
Americans replied with round and grape the batteries
turned the voey, striking the hull of the steamer and
killing the man at the wheel Tie Water Witch not being
vessel Of war, anu consequently not qualified contest
the point further then steamed down the river hui M
exultaton unaffected by the Paraguayans az she
was there for scicntAc not bclcose purposes That thu
government u Paraguay, IN common with every other,
has night 10 regulate the navigation OF it's Il
may deem necessary for the security the state no one
viii deny. These laws have long been Operation and
notorious throughout the In Plata and not more str naent
than others In that region or than IN important
contended that the island belongs a. much 70 Cor
rientss as to Paraguay. This not the fact; has long
been IN Possession and occupation Of the latter.
C0rriebtss had any valid claim, Urquiza.
chief cf the Argentine Confederation, would have
set about enforcing IT, and Brazil would have asnsted
while there existed her differences with Paraguay. hcas
are Dow happily disposed of So, trust the present en-
hroilment will be, as aeon az examined In that dspas-
sicnate spirit President mss dcs re shoud
animate every transaction he is identified with.
With regard TO exConsul Hopkins " Commissioner Bow
I'D WI mparaIy inquire INTO The paos promulgated by
and the favors heapcd upon him by President Lopez IN
Guiding loan Of nearly % 600, not shilling o which
has uM N&ti ext{ N.s~
proceedings that Mr. Hopkins assoc aics were the az
gressors and that according 10 tb. laws of Paraguay a
that period iso3), the President fully warranted
Withdrawing protection ungra,cfuily abused Consul
Hopkins and friends were, 10 mild phrase, very
regular and on several occasions gave
the citizens But nothing save patent Investigation by
Commissioner Bown unrave those intrcaces and Il
viii be we 70 inquire concerning the pursuits of Mr. Hop
kns al Buenoe Ayrss Rosario, and other places, be
cends the Parana.
An aggression Of tho Intended by the United
states should the present difficulties not be adjusted Will
only nurc Paraguay but the whole by
la Plata and parana This embraces a vast area than
which other the world stands more in need Of re-
pose. Nore in modern times has suffered more from
those interne,ne fcuds which the presence Of armed
egnsrs certain to reopen in an aagrayatsd form ana
with most runous consequences very seeds Of that
which the eulogsts OF this expedition say the
government Of washington are 80 anxious to devclope
England and the United States believe that Paraguay a
what under Franca, hermetically sealed against
foreigners, Sc Nothing can BE- farther from the truth
There are some states assuming 10 be Ia the Of E-
ropcan civilization which the rear OF Paraguay IN
many important respects II h undoubtedly true that
OWING 70 her Whole revenue being derived from
toms and the sale Of the ysrba mo taxes
ot any KIND being known) high duties resortcd W.
These trust, viii soon yield 10 the fruitful
of the lowest practicable impss so far from Paraguay
being desrous of isolation, u her British built war
steamer Tacua which rst proved the pos soty u going
from Asunc0n 10 Bueuos Ayrus and back twenty
Within the last eighteen months they have placed tho
river the packet steamers Ypora and Sao de Guaira.
These perform the in the time, taking and
landing passengers Correntes, Bella VISTA Goya Rs
quna, Parana and Rosario, both going aud returning
THIS communication Will be weekly, guvorument
havt fine
powerful steam tug has lately been launched, and
another s building for towing merchant az mode
ate rates Railway iron for line OF $50 miles into th,
yerba and tobacco districts has been despatched and an
engineer engaged 70 garry out the project, which will
TO deyeiOpe the rich resources of the country
patent slip being also shipped and will actually be
the only convenience of the kind the eastern seabard
Of south America, from the Amazon TO Cape Horn about
J 900 miles.
All these improvements win 10 acomplete certainty bs
topped and the deveopement OF Paraguay vth them,
houd hostiltes arise powerful nation ike the United
states may do much harm 10 Paraguay, few steamers
could blockade the river and entirely stop the trade Of
that rising young country The results would be
10 Paraguay while the United States would reap only tho
dubious credit Of having destroyed the shipping and com
mercc Of progressing sister republic, aud thrown
her back into the heessness from which she rescued
by President lopez, who whatever his dement's IN other
eyes has least the recommendation Of being popular
with the natives than whom peaccabe contented
and cheerful population noSherc 10 be found - FAR.
however from the President being enamored of his own
views exclusively and opposed 70 Innovation he Is
stantly mTortng European ntcigc ami Skill aud
the Paraemayan steamer Rio Banco. in Witch I ar
rived in this country, he has sent over seventeen
youths superior promise, 10 be instructed here ths
be hoped therefore, Tor the welfare progress ol al