The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-04
TaE ADMINISTRATIONS AND TaE FIILIBusrERs.

nmiy OF sentiment IN appreciation oil the timely proc
lsmation Of the President, against the awess expe-
ditions alleged to be fitting out in our gulf harbors
for Nicaragua We expect to hear n very lively re-
port Of pyrotechncs in the direction of the gulf from
the class Of journals which follow the eccentric lead
Of the New Orleans Delta; but the sober judgment,
not less Of the Gulf States than of the Union at large
approves the action of the administration.
These private and clandestine expeditions of dis
soluto aud desperate characters from our shores
against countries with whom we are at peace are UNI
speakaby detrimental to the very object they pro-
fsss to have in view--namely, the establishment of
American influence in the countries invaded. But
even if they ever 80 well calculated to accom-
plish tho object at which they pretend to aim, there
would still be but Of conduct open for our
government in regard to these expeditions. They
not only volative of all the laws moral and po-
litical regulating the conduct of civilized nations to-
wards each other, which our government is bound
to uphold but they in express contravention of
the statute laws of our own country which the Pres
dentis sworn to sec respected.
Even if there were no such laws laying an impera
tive duty upon administration to suppress these
expeditions; yet the dignity and character of our
nation would require, that whatever nvasions
quests it might desire to make, it should make in
public and lawful manner, by its own forces, under
its own flag; and not by clandestine and irrespons
bic expeditions, having the sanction of flag unless
it be that of the marauder and in the of no ma
tionality unless the terms fllibuster and American
have become synonymous.
The apologists of these expeditions may attribute
to them oil the heroism and public spirit which they
can; they may enlarge with all the enthusiasm of
ardent imaginations upon the great destnes for
country which these expeditions aim to open up !;
but they are bound to acknowledge the stubborn
faetthat they contrary to the laws of good mo-
rails of nations, and of our own statute books, and
therefore, such federal administration is sworn
to suppress-that if they were ever 30 promising of
advantage to our country and pregnant of mighty
destinies to our race, our national pride demands
that they should be conducted publicly, upon the
responsibilities Of the government itself by forces
that would respect private rights and the laws of
war; and not clandestiney and rapaciousy by gangs
Of desperadoes, escaping public opinion at home,
hating the restraints of society," controlled by no
sense of responsibility to God or man, and swayed
by passions as ungovernable as vicious.
But aside from all these higher considerations
which impose il imperative duty upon oar
administration to suppress, and on our people to
frown upon, these candestine expeditions wrong
in morals, condemned by express law, injurious to
national character, and vicious in their essential
nature, there conclusive objections to them on
mere grounds Of policy and expedency.
E;nre The hIiahn,npt Of o,,r IA
foot of territory has been annexed to its domain ex
cept by amcabe negotiation and purchase by trea-
ty The only instance of extension in which the ac-
QUESTION of territory has not been thoroughly ami
cable in the case of Mexico; and if it be claim
ed thai our Mexican domain was obtained by con-
quest, the conquest made in open, public, and
honorable war--a of the government, and not
of fllibusters--a war commenced by Mexico her
self, and not by us for the deliberate purpose
Of rapine.
There has been a grievous departure from this
honorable policy Of our country in these latter
expeditions to Central America. The result is most
striking and most deplorable. The temper of the
people Mexico the only country which our govern
ment can be charged with having despoiled in war,
is friendly whereas that Of the people in the region
which has been the theatre of these unlawful expedi-
tions s ufrendly and impacable in the extreme, The
only practicable process Of establishing American
influence permanently and effectually in Central
America is by the emigration thther Of enterprs-
ing and industrious citizens for the purpose of enga
ging in commercial and industrial pursuits and aid
ing in the development Of those regions in subordi-
nation TO and in cooperation with the local govern
ments. Tho true mission of race in that quarter
OF the world is that Of friendship goodwill ORDER
sobriety, industry, and enterprise mission with
which these flbuster expeditions are doporably at
wnr in every respect II would be incompatible
with the genius of constitution to Central
America to the Union until after the lapse of long
years, the American sentiment and race had become
predominant in its social system aud the measure
would be inadvisabe even then, unless it were in
accordance with the clear viii and desire of its peo
pie. The effect of these hostile 6libuster expedi
lions is not only rctard by, possibly quarter or
half century this gradual colonization of our in
Central America but has been to plant distrust and
hatred Of our people in the bosom of the local popu
lation which may last for generations.
But if these expeditions thus generally unfor-
tnate in retarding the object they profess to have
in view, they are especially unfortunate under the
direction Of such leader the young man Walker