Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-11-12

The PARAGUAY EXPEDITIONS Since il is
understood that president Lopez of Paraguay
will resist the demands Of our government
and is preparing to fight the battle out, there
is considerable interest to know how effective
force is embraced in the expedition fitting
out by our government. If Lopez is not tn,
man to be frightened into "A compliance by a
mere show of force, and we rather think he
is not, it becomes evident that the Paraguay
expedition is no holiday affair. and may turn
out to be more formidable than the govern
ment anticipated. We are making pretty
good show in it. Two frigates. four sloops-
oi-war, three brigs-ol-war, two wur-st,amers,
and eight steamers chartered for the occasion,
with several storeships and other crafts,
wenty-four vessels in all. is quite Il fleet,
and upon these vessels are 1855 sailors and
marines. 1t is to be taken into account.
however, that only the steamers Fulton and
Water Witch, out of the whole feet, can 90
up the Parana river, and that the whole
force of men and arms must be taken up in
these two steamers and other boats of light
draught, while the fleet remains behind at
Buenos Ayres with at least one fourth of the
men to protect it during the absence of the
expedition. Probably not over 1900 will be
taken up the river, and it isa question that
nobody has undertaken to answer, how they
expect to pass the formidable forts and bat
teries Of the Paraguayans at commanding
points on the river. 1t is evident that our
government anticipated a victory without
fighting, and if that anticipation is disap-
pointed, this expedition is not a third Cf the
force that will be required to carry on sue
cessful war with Paraguay.
An English officer direct from Paraguay
reports at Washington, that president Lopez
is building fortifcations and 0bstructing the
navi cation of the river. He has placed
chains and booms across, and proposes tn
sink light vessels. in which event our expe-
dition could not ascend, and we could only
blockade the mouth of the river, for which
Paraguay would care but little, as she has
next to no commerce.
A brother Of ex-consul Hopkins has COM
municated to the New York Evening Post a
statement of the claims made against the
Paraguayan government by Mr. Hopkins, as
agent OF the United States steam navigatiu n
company. This claim really constitutes the
chief cause Of war The whole difficulty ori.
ginated in this and in Mr., Hopkins mode Of
urging it, and other matters are merely con-
sequences of it, or are lugged in to make out
stronger case. Commissioner Bowlin is
authorized to demand from the government
OF PARAGUAY udll Il ulllllOu VI uDIldTs lOI
damages done this company for the capital
they had expended, besides the assumed
valne of certain patent rights granted by that
government for ten years, and the value OF
certain sawmills and cider factories-in all
amounting to some ten or twelve millions OF
dollars. This is an amount worth fighting
for, on the part of Lopez at least, and doubt
less consul Hopkins and his associates in
business think it worth the expense of war
on their part, since the government is to
foot the bills. General Lopez seems to have
failed to discriminate between Mr.. Hopkins
as the agent of company of speculators, and
Mr.. Hopkins as agent of the United States
government, and Mr.. Hopkins himself seems
to have mixed himself up pretty thoroughly
in both capacities in order TO promote the in,
teIists of S speculation by giving to il the
influence of his government. Whether 1t il
| quite legitimate for the government to under.
take the management and protection of en-
terprises established by our citizens in Other
countries, is a question the result of this ex-
pedition may help US to solve. If Para.
guayan or other capitalists invest on our soil
they must run the risk of reputation and
other accidents peculiar TO the country, and
we rather think the interference of the Para,
guayan government in any difficulty grow
ing out Of such accidents would not be tole.
rated or treated with any sort of respect
But international law does not seem to bt
applicable as yet TO the South American 60
vernments, They are not strong enough tC
command it,