The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-08
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, MAY s, 1858.

The question of the abrogation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty has again been brought up for dis
cussion in the House of Representatives. We are
sorry for it, With all possible respect Tor The
'sassembled wisdom of the nation, we cannot
help regrctting that Honorable Gentlemen should
have taken this diplomatic turn just at the present
moment There are home matters enough requiring
their attention, which would have occupied all
their time, and called into play the full measure of
their legislative capacity, from now until the 18th
of June, the day fixed for the adjournment of
Congress. Besides, we have our serious doubts
whether the probabilities of q speedy or ami
cable settlement of any diplomatic question
are greatly increased by the delivery of Bun
combe speeches in Committee of the Whole
which is about all that members of the lower House
can do iii the way of making or unmaking treat
ies,-all power in the premises having been con-
lded by the Constitution exclusively to the Pres-
dent and the Senate. To utter bald commonplace
about the Monroe doctrne-the manifest destiny
of the Republc-and the expansive and illimitable
energies of free people, is indeed within the range
of the humblest Congressional capacity, but to
discuss Understandings grave question of inter-
national law, to the perpexities of which the COM
plications of two centuries have contributed, and
whose settlement is further embarrassed by the pos
sible issues of peace and war in its solution,
is a task for a statesman 1t is a question, there
fore far better suited for the cabinet councils OF the
President or the executive sessions of the Senate,
than for debate in Committee of the Whole, and
we are quite sure that the President owes small
thanks to the Honorable Chairman of the Commit
tee of Foreign Relations for sprnging it upon the
House, at q time when its discussion in that Honor
able body can serve no useful purpose, but may
possibly embarrass the Administration in its nego-
tiations, or even wholly Illustrate its endeavors to
bring about a satisfactory adjustment of this long
standing difficulty Without entering to-day upon
the consideration of any of the diplomatic questions
which are raised by Mr.. CLINGMAN's resolution in
favor of the abrogation of the Cayton-Bulwer
treaty, we purpose merely to call attention to the
character of the international morality which
seems to have influenced the honorable member,
now Senator from North Carolina, to make this
move. On Thursday 1--WE quote from our report Of
the proceedings of the House, published yesterday:
Mr. Richie (Pa) spoke against the resolution propos,
ing abrogaon of the Clayton Bulwer treaty arguing
that there is particular emergency which requ res it,
The treaty when made prevented collision between
Great Britain and the United States and preserved the
peace 1t dictated by good and good feeling
both sides The practical difficulty between the two
tries amounts to nothing. 1t arises merely from techni
cal Interpretation of the treaty. lie could
its abogation except desire the part of the United
States to seize Central America.
Mr.. CLINGMAN IN c. said we ought to be free from the
treaty. that when wish to acquire the territory we
may do it lawfully.
Mr.. CLINGMAN evidently contemplates the annex
alton Of Central America at some future day, and
wishes to remove all legal obstacles out of the way
preparatory TO the execution of his grand project
His language might even be thought to evince
laudable degree of caution and a scrupuous regard
for the principles of international law, were it not
for an unfortunate admission which he made, in
debate, on the day Previous in reply to question
put by Mr.. GIDDNGs.
Mr.. GIDDNGs inquired whether Mr. Clingman in ia
vor of the annexation of Cuba.
Mr.. CLINGMAN replied that he should be glad to have
Cuba annexed and that four years ago the United States
had good ground and ought to have taken it after the
Black Warrior affair
IfMr. CLINGMAN thinks that the arrest and tempo
rary detention of an American vessel by the Gus
tonl-house officers of foreign State, for a sup
posed violation Of its revenue laws, constitutes
"good ground for sezing and annexing the terri
tory of that State, we afraid that a very small
provocation would be a sufficient pretext in his
eyes, for lawfully annexing Central America
Yet Mr.. CLINGMAN is chairman of the House
Committee of Foreign Relations and has Just
been appointed Senator If such loose doc
trines of international law prevail among legsla-
tors, need wonder at the growth of fIiJusterism
among the people. We afraid that Mr. CLIYGMAN
has acovetousdsposition and wishes to annex all the
world to our already ample domain. Cuba and Cen
trail America he has evidently set his heart upon He
regrets that we should have let slip the fine opportu-
mites we have had for Selling the former and wants
to pave the way for the 'sawfup' acquisition of
the latter He is decidedly aggressive and expan-
sive in his tendencies and quite LIBERAL not to say
a little wild, in his ideas of international law
Emergencies may undoubtedly arise which may
make it necessary for the United States to
have possessession both of Cuba and of the
Central American routes to our Pacific posses
sions. 1t may be, that the forcibe acquisition
both of the Island and of the Isthmus may, one
day, become for us necessary measure of self
preservation and military defence That time
however, has not yet come. Until, therefore, the
necessity does arise, or some better opportunity
presents itself, we cannot agree with Mr. CLING
MAN either in his estimate of the amount of just-
cation necessary for the seizure of Cuba or in his
proposition to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
in order to prepare the way for the annexation of
Central America. Our views upon the treaty
ITSELF and upon the interesting questions which it
was supposed to have settled, but which unfortu-
nately remain open for further negotiations, we
have reserved for q future article