New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-12-08

dents Message az the basis OF our future relations
with Central America and especially with Mica
ragua and Costa Rica, aud the pceteusions as to
this matter set up BY Mr. Cas-, in his dispatch OF
July - 10 Mr. Lsmar, there is to al and rrccon.
ciabe contradiction. The President after speak.
ing Of the transit the Isthmus destined to
become the thoroughiare 81 Of large proportion Of
the trade ard travel between the European and
" Asatc continents" utterly disclams any ex-
elusive pretensons to the coItrol or enjoyment OF
this thoroughf,re "All commercial nations" he
asserts q" have deep and direct interest that these
communications should be ren Tered secure from
interruption, and he emphaticany sfirms Of tais
route, that its neutrality and prote .ton for the
" common Use of all nations is the only object of
the United States.
Mr.. Csss, on the other hand. in bis letter to Mr.
Lamar. published at lengthn yesterdays TRIBUNE,
works himself into great rage because Nicaragua
and Costa Rica have had the impotence, after their
late c, pererce Of the total inability unwilling
ness of our Government to protect them from inva
vasion by American nlbusters, TO appeal to the
Governments Of France, England and Sardinia to
assume the protection of the neutrality and safety
Of the Isthmus and to that end, Of the independence
Of the territories through which the route passes.
Mr.. Buchanan says that the United States want
nothing more than Il protection Of the neutrality
of the Isihmus route for the common benefit Of all
commercial nations. Mr. Cass, on the other hand
claims for the United States the exclusive priyi-
lege Of protecting that route. and treats this pro
icct Of assigning its protection to anybody else
as a most grieyons insult and intoleruble wrong.
No doubt it would be best TO put the neutrality
of the Isthmus route under the common gnaraoty
of all the nations interested in its use; but if
this method be not followed, If some special
guardian Of the route and Of the countries through
which il paItes 10 be chosen, why are not France,
England and Sardinia united just as well
entitled to that office as the Uaited
States Ii the necessities Of tho
require that Costa Rica ard Nicaragua should
be put under guardianship, why not at least, con-
cede to them the privilege eojoyed by all minors
over fourteen years Of aee-of choosing their own
guardians Indeed, if Costa Rica and Nicaragua
are TO have particular guardian, there are special
reasons Why that Office should not be assigned to
the United States. 1t was wise provision of
the feudal law that the wardship of an infant
should not be assigned to any perOn who had
direct interest in putting him out of the way, in
the expectation of succeeding to the Inheritance.
That is precisely the position which the United
States occupy in relation to Costa Rica aud Nca-
ragus. According to the doctrloe of manifest
destiDy--oi which Mr.. Cass is 30 jealous a di:ci-
PIE whenever the existing Spanish American
Governments shall pass away--and they are all
more or less rickety-the United States TO I'll
heir 10 the whole American continent. Mr.. Gas,
ought rot TO expose himself to the temptation Of
playing the part of the wicked Richard and, under
preten'e of making his wards comfortable smoth-
eriDg them to death.
1t is true that Mr. Cass attempts to draw dis
tilct on between the European PTotectorate asked
for by Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and the PrOtec
torate which he himself II ssts upon exercising, a;
though the ole were general political Protector
ate and the other mere protec ion If the 18th
mus route. But, begging Mr. Cass's pardon, this
is distinction without difference, as, we take it,
be sees quite as we'll as We do. The privilege of
msntainil an armed force in a country to what
ever purpose the use OF that force may be nom
inaly limited is political Protec,orate to all in
tents and purposes, or may a. any moment become
so and it is on this identical ground that the rati
fcaton of the Cass. Yrissarri treaty has been re-
fused As TO the principle of non-en; anglem mt in
European affairs, upon which Mr. Csss objects to
the European Protectorate asked for BY Costa
Rea aud Nicaragua, it may be all very we'll and
very wise for the United States to adopt that prin
cp'e as the rule Of their own policy but We would
be greatly obliged to Mr.. Csss if he would condo
scend TO inform us where and when the United
States got the right 70 impose this rule of policy
upon all the other American na.io1r.
Mr.. Cass must surely have forgotten sll about
the Cass .Yri.sarr Treaty and the provisions therein
authorizing the United States, at their own pleas
ure and Judgment, to occupy the entire cour'e Of
the transit route with sn armed force, when be
wrote so Indignantly 10 Mr.. Lamar about the pro-
vision in the Belly contract allowing the French
Government 10 maintain for limited period two
chip. -of.war Oh the waters Of Lake Nicaragua.
Here seems 10 be smother distinction without
difference. Iftroops why not ships If the pres
epce Of two French shiPs-of-war on the intern,l
waters Of Nicaragua is such stumbling block OF
ofense TO Mr. Case, be might learn to regard with
little more leniency the objections Of the Mia
rsguans themselves TO the introduction Of foreign
troops into their country at the will and pleasure
of The United States.
There seems to be great hurry on the part Of
ar