The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-10
COLONIZATION SOUTHWARK.

OOlONlLallON
There are but two possible modes tapart from
the mere influence of exampe) of successful ex-
pansion for our institutions southwark first by the
peaceful emigration Of individual citizens for the pur
pose Of prosecuting legitimate pursuits Of business
in new countries, as occurred in the case Of Texas
and second. by the action Of the government in mill
ary operations, through peaceful treaties, as oc
CURED in the cases of Florida ard California.
Our people are prone 10 regard the late fllibuster
ing expeditions of Walker as the same in character
with the series of which resulted in the
Independence and annexation Of Texas. They fancy
that Walker il repeating the drama Of Texas in his
expeditions to Nicaragua; but they forget that, in
the case Of Texas, the first steps all peaceful
and lawful, while in the Of Nicaragua they
illegal throughout that, in the case, there
gradual progress of peaceful events, ending finally,
indeed, in bellgerent collision WHILE in the other,
all the acts Of the drama attempted to be omitted
save the last one Of war aud bloodshed.
To acquire the privilege of constructing railways,
canals and roads across the isthmus by treaty to
settle the regions Of country traversed by these
routes with peaceful tradesmen, farmers, and me-
chanics; to thus gradually occupy the country by a
growing and thriving population Of our own blood,
welcomed there for the wealth and prosperity they
create around them--this would seem the only sure
and infallible mode Of planting institutions per-
manently in those regions Under this peaceful pro-
cess, we should count Anglo-Saxon pop
ulation there of thousands; while under piratcal
policy we should only be able to count population
Of few hundreds, after long years of war and con-
fict In one case we should have filed the country
with valuable citizens in the other with thriftless
soldery. In one case our people would be there by
invitation-honored, priced, and cherished in the
other, they would be there by force of ams-hated in
suited, and vndictively beleaguered at every STEP
1t is claimed that the interests Of tie South demand
that llibustcrng operations should be tolerated if
not encouraged but to it seems that no more ef
fectua could be devised by the enemies of the
South for bringing ignominy and destruction upon
her cause than those
If, however, we must plant our institutions in the
regions south Of by the strong ARM let it be done
by open and honorable hostility conducted under the
auspices and authority of the government Nothing
would be easier than to find cause Of national quar-
rel with the Central American States and the Spanish
government, if we should set about seeking it. IT,
contrary to all our policy, we must needs extend
institutions southwark by force, let it be done
by honorable war, and not by pratical foray
1t is impossible to believe that the Congress Of the
United States will consent to sanction by indrection
or connivance, clandestne system of warfare con-
demncd by the law of nations and public opinion all
over the world, while showing itself to be wanting
in the franlness and boldness to declare open and
honorable war for the accomplishment of the pur-
poses avowedly aimed at by these expeditions