The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-05
CASE OF COM. pAULDIyc.


The Washington Onion contains the anoexed ar
.ic'e IA regard to Commodore Panldipg's arrest Of
den Walker and his men, and sending them bo,na
as prisoners. We lay It before our readers bscar.s
1t doubtless expresses the views of the Executive
and affords at the present time information IF
much interest TO the country
The article commences thus:
There can be little doubt we tb,nlr oftbs no,,.,
which the Administration will pursue In regard to
the recent occurrence in Central America The
annual message defined the Presidents nostion on
the whole subject of Central American affairs 40
freely and clearly and its declarations received so
emphatic and universal an enlargement from tba
country that republication of tho paraerar bs of
the message would seem all that was necessary IN
define the policy Of the Administration and to ex.
press the sentiments Of the people of the Union on
this subject
The Onion here quotes that portion of the Pres'.
dents message alluded to, and proceeds as fol-
lows:
Declarations like these need no interpretation -
Ihey sut the present exigency Of affairs as well az
they did those which existed at the time they were
"fitteh. Elllouster1ng expeditions are earnestly
deprecated In the general and in the particular;
aud the froWns of the country are invoked upou
them. They are repr0batei a clearly unlawful,
wong intrinsically, and dsgrsceful to the charac
ter OF the country. They are depored as impeding
the administration in its legitimate prosecution
OF our Interests in Central America as bringing
disaster 10 tue very object their conductors pro.
less 10 nave i'll vieW as tending to prejudice AnIer
can interests, anu blast American prospects Ia
those regions, irretrievably aud hopeessiy.
lhe message represents the Administration as
seeking, successfully. 10y treaty siipuiatIons and
amicabie, honorable, aud legitimate means. to Oh
tain aud secure rights of transit, Commerce, and
peaceful enterprise ior our people in several por-
lions OF the isthDus One treaty of the sort Is al
ready In existence with New GraDada- IT news
paper rumor Is to be credited another Is in pro.
gress, If IL has not been already consummated,
with the Government of Nicaragua. in regard to
the very transit route Of which Walker was pre-
pairing to take possession. In all probability still
other efforts In the direction are in progress
of contemplation; 50 that Citizens are not only
likely 10 DO protected from loss violence in prose
cutting their lawful commerce aloug the transit
routes OF Central America, hut tue routes them
selves are likely to be cCDsecrated snd preserved
TO the commerce of all nations and The b-nt ~
the world. 1t Is quite clear, We Ihihk that The
breaking up Of the Walker expedition was the
very result contemplated By tie previous InstruC-
tions or the Government however much the mode
and manHer OF tue interruption may have been in
conflict with either Capt. Paudings instructions
Or with the strict rules Of international law. tits
not probable that these instructions contemplated
the landing OF the forces OF the United States upon
the soil OF Nicaragua but it Is not probable either
that the Government of Nicaragua will complain Of
the aggression.
1t Is not our purpose now to Inquire into this
part OF the TRANSACTIONS, or to consider what course
the Administration may think IL right to pursue
towards Capt PaulGing, with reference TO the se
curity OF our own COVER Dment against unauthor-
lied acts on the part Of officers abroad. These
subjects will be appropriately dealt with. we have
40 doubt. In due time, aud with IA just regard to
ali the circumstances Of the case. Our purpose
now IL more especially to point out to our readers
that nothing whatever has occurred which ought
to change the views of the President the policy
o! the Administration, AS they are explained and
| enforced in the annual message. The country will
still recognize and appreciate the grievoHs injury
which lawiess expeditions like that Of Walker,
must tend 10 ipfiict upon q; our national In.
teIests, commercial and political in Central Amer
lea; and the popular Judgment will doubtless also
determine for itself what substantial advantage
may innre to our national character and lawful
objects in that quarter from Capt. PauidiDg's
cent act. That officer Acknowledges that be as
sumed a grave responsibility in taking the step he
did: and throws himself upon the Administration,
Congress, and the country for his justificesion-
1t is bold and frank appeal, and will be met we
have no doubt. i'll proper spirit
In the mean time we hope that those of our
coGntrymeD who direct their attention TO the for
eign policy of the United States will not forget
that this policy can neither be wise nor successful,
unless it Is in conformity with justice and right,
and in harmony with the established principles OF
internati tional law. The law % nations which
exists for other countries exists also for own,
and, until we are prepared TO submit to aggres-
sions ourselves, We ought not TO encourage aggres
5ion3 upon others.
We eau we'll understand the regret which exists
In many portions OF the Uni1u. that the resources
of Central America have not been more fully de-
yeloped, and that the transit routes which connect
the two oceans should be subject to so many diff
cultes and Interruptions; bit this development is
pot to be secured by the continuance OF illegal
petitions against governments with whom We are
at peace and the safety of the transit routes Is
to be accomplished by making them the scenes Of
violence and the prizes of successful war. The
peaceful policy of the President. as defined In his
message to Congress- besides being the only policy
on this sulJect which is consistent with the Just
rights of our neighbors, is the only policy. We
rily believe, under which anything valuable can
be accomplished OF this contipent for American
interests.
We may fairly appeal, therefore, to every good
citizen To give it his cordial support; and we may
do so the more earnestly at this time when the
condition of affairs in Kansas and Utah reminds
daily of the great value Of legal restraints, and
the great danger of weakening any of those bonds
live III peace and harmony together. We give no
undue place in esteem 20 these restraints; but
what nation, state, or society can exist without
them Neither do We underestimate that spirit of
progress which is 50 often invoked by the apologst
for Walker. But We remember that the mission
of our Republic Is to teach the great lesson Of
self government and that tfs lesson is hardly 70
be taught by those whose conduct Is opposed to
law and In conflict with Justice. "our great. our
high duty dt has been well said ''is TO show In our
own example. that the spirit OF free government l.
a spirit of health well spirit of power; that
its benignity Is great rs its strength that It's
efficiency to secure individual rights, social rsla
tions and moral order Is equal to the irresistible
force with which it prostrates Prinepaiities and
powerso Does any man believe that this lesson
eau be taught by Walker and his followers.
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