The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-04-21


offices of General URoUIzA, President of the Ar
gentne confederation, those three agencies COM
bined, that brought about a speedy settlement of
our difficulty with Paraguay, we have yet to be
informed. President URQUIzA, in his proclama-
ton on the subject, takes the whole credit 10
himself. On the other hand, Commissioner Bow
LIN, in his very remarkable letter to Mr.. b.
cHANAN-intimates that LOPEZ was over
come by the excessive politeness of the Anne
rican envoy; and that it was only when there
was a slight hitch in the negotiations that UR-
oUIzA was called in, for the purpose of smoothing
away the difficulty. For our own part, we incline
to the belief that those cookie shells of steamers,
armed with DAHLGREN guns were the most effec-
tive persuaders after all. However this may be, it
appears that convention has been happily con-
cluded between the UNITED STATES and Paraguay.
President LOPEZ, Notwithstanding the implicit
faith which he protested to put in the batteries at
Humaita and in the various river defences which
he had thrown up to check the advance of our
squadron, has consented to satisfy US on those
points of honor, the adjustment of which did
not admit of the Intervention of third party, and
has agreed moreover to indemnify the family ofthe
seaman who was killed on board the Water Witch.
But, with regard to the claim for damages set up
by Consul HOPKINS, the representative of the
American Company, that is left to be adjudicated
by a commission to be hereafter appointed for the
purpose. In other words, LOPEZ has gotten off by
apologizing for the insult offered to our flag, and
by the payment of ten thousand dollars to the
widow of the sailor who was killed by shot
uvhnn ,rfa
hulled. So far as the indemnity to the American
Company is concerned, the probability is that it
will amount to nothing; for now that the steamers
are withdrawn, it will be many years before such
another squadron will be seen on a similar errand
in the waters of La Plata. But whether this ar
rangement be satisfactory, or otherwise it has
been completed, and as President URoUIzA has ex-
erted himself with so much friendly zeal to bring
matters to satisfactory conclusion, some slight
sketch of SO prominent and so respectable media
tor may not, perhaps, prove wholly undressing.
Our readers probably know already that URoUIzA
occupies, at this time-and has done so for the
last five years-the honorable position of President
of the Argentine Confederation, which consists Of
thirteen States of the Plata, whose ter
ritores border the rivers Parana
and Paraguay and their tributaries
The independent attitude assumed by Buenos
Ayres, and her persistent refusal to become men,
Der of the Argentine Confederation has been
source of dlsquieude URoUIzA but all his efforts
to reduce the recusant commonwealth to submis-
sion, have thus far failed of success. 1t was with
this intent that he allied himself with Brazil in
1852, for the expulsion of RosAs but although he
succeeded in driving that despot into exile, he
failed to induce the people of Buenos Ayres either
to join the Federal league, to adopt the liberal
Commercial policy, of which he is most en-
lightensd and distinguished advocate. Seven
years ago URoUIzA remarked, in an interview which
he then had with Commodore MCKEEvER that 'it
was time that the selfish views of the rulers of the
''Plata, should be made to give way TO measures
'more in unison with the spirit of the age, and
"that the wide rivers, and rich plains of those
magnificent countries should be thrown open to
1.-THE commerce, and he made free to the immigra-
''tion of people from all nations" But while
Paraguay objected to this measure as dangerous to
the independence of the riparian States, and Bue-
nos Ayres threw every possible obstacle in the way
of the free navigation of the rivers, so that she
might still continue to aggrandize the trade of the
Contederacy, URQUIzA had no recourse but
to wait until an opportunity should
occur for carrying out, under more
favorable auspices, the only policy which, in his
opinion, would tend to develop the immense re-
sources of the valley of La Plata. Apart then,
from the friendly feeling which URoU1zA is known
to entertain towards the government of the UNITED
STATES, we have here the key to his prompt CO.
operation with Commissioner BowLN in bringing
our quarrel with Paraguay to pacific solution.
By conceding to the UNITED STATES liberal COM
mercial treaty, Paraguay abandons her old COM
mercial prejudices and thus leaves Buenos Ayres
without support in contending for restrictions
which are not countenanced by the neighboring
Republics. But this is not the only advantage
which URoUIzA has derived from his recent visit
to Asuncion. By the tender of his good Offices
at time when LOPEZ stood in special need of a
mediator he has laid the latter under obligations
which may induce him to make common cause
with the Argentine Confederation in compelling
Buenos Ayres to become member of the Federal
Union. The difficulty in accomplishing this here
tofore, has arisen from the want of naval
squadron, to operate in conjunction with the Ar
gentine troops but if the new steamers, which
have been purchased in England by LOPEZ were
placed at the service of URoUIzA, this want would
be adequately supplied. When the latter took
possession of Buenos Ayres, in 1852, it was Brazil
who furnished the necessary vessels of war; but
the members of the Argentine Confederation ap-
pear to be exceedingly chary of resorting to Bra
iii for assistance, lest the aid thus rendered should
subsequently be made the basis of demands they
might be unwilling to grant. The chief object
of URQUIzA being to consolidate the whole of the
Argentine States under constitutionally ap-
pointed chief executive-a measure which he be-
lieves to he indispensable to their permanent
prosperity-our naval expedition against Para
quay has, therefore, had the double effect of
bringing LOPEZ to terms, and of promoting the
views of the enlightened President of the Argen-
tine Confederation, by demonstrating the inherent
weakness of the independent Republics, and the
necessity of forming common bond of union as
a common source of strength.
The advantages of travel are SO many and so