The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-01
FaoN ~ rlRae 80 sQuIpRoN.


December 30, 1859.
The British steam packet Camilla leaves thi. place To-
morrow, and avail my self Of the opportunity 10 for
ward the items of news u nav command regret
10 say that since my last communication there has been
no addition 10 force Ia the river The Prei5 and
lease have been looked for each day but ia vain
moment also when the stores Of the Release are In no
little demand II not OF actual necessity Thus far the
organization Of the expedition is completed the bs
and small steamers have been put state of efficiency
worthy Of better enemy than the President of Paraguay.
Shell guns Of heasy taibre have been made 10 supply the
place OF light batteries Of 81 aud "a pounder whilst arms
OF every description brse about the decks betoken ex
peciations OF fight The OF the Fulton Is four
nine inch shell guns besides howitzers battery not 60
be despsed by the best Notifications ON the Paraguay
river The other vessels have the same character OF
armament Additional sealnen aud marines have been
furnished 90 each and all anxious for the start up
the river The Dolphin, Indeed, has already proceeded
Der way, the Sabine cheering as she passed The Full
ton bearing the Commodores flag will sail tomorrow
The Water Witch and Perry, and the Brainbridge and
Harriet Lane, which latter released from quarantine
yesterday will weigh anchor almost Immediately after
Corri nies in the province of the same name will he
the rendezvous for the vessels of the expedition whilst
the Fulton will proceed directly TO Asuncion. The
President OF Paraguay may resort to of pre-
venting the American Of from ancboring OF his
capital by offering conveyance OF his to the
missioner. This however, will not be accepted and
there are sufficient presidents to Justify such refusal
The question here naturally suggests itself viii Judge
lSown snccccd in his mission That the mission Is
of difficulty, and calculated 10 embanass must be admit
ted by all who in any way familiar with its objects
and the attending circumstances. The commissioner
himself Is sahsninc OF sute.ss by peaceful means. All
are not of the sauie opinion The Seminario defes
the American government TO force its demands upon
President Lopez, and proclms Paraguay to be PREPARED
for war, If war there must be Yet there are many
reasons TO suppose that President Lopez draws
broad distinction between his public declarations and
private opinions With the low abuse OF President
Buchanan and orr government that pervades the
columns OF the official organ AT Asuncon, doubt not
but that the astue President has left nnsought media
ton that may avert the threatening storm that is fast
gathering around him This was made evident In the
official interview few days since of Commodore Shu-
brick and Commissioner Bowln with the President the
Band Oriental, Sr. Pcreira His exccency seemed
take exceedingly to heart the difficulty between the Par
aguy government aud ourselves. His humble services
Mt our command and 10 mediate in any way be
tween the parties would afford him the sncercst pleasure
Nor, he added did he make the proposition without hay
ing authority TO say that such arrangement would be
agreeable TO President Lopez. doubt not Int that
similar advance has beeu made TO thu President of the
Argentine confederation, ten Urquza, who however
assured will omit occasion communicate in the
most friendly and cordial spirit with the commissioner
1t thus to mind that most excellent friend
Sr Lopez is seeking the favor of the neghbong States
to arrest possible any acts of hostility if not to unite
with him in repeng, when necessary what is called the
invading fleets and armies of the great Colossus of the
North. Brazil also, doubt is watching advance
with the kecnes anxiety and whilst not daring open
ly embrace the feeble of her ncyhboring friend,
day or two only after arrival had elapsed when
the Brazilian minister very quietly left hercepor says
for Paraguay to confer with President Lopez and strong
ly to advise him to accev to peaceabc settlement of
difficulties putting at his disposal The treasury the
empire. There is much probability in this construction
upon the minister move that think it may be relied
upon Brazil being very tenacious of her territorial
rights and experimenting that the United States may have
uerior objects beyond the ostensibe demands upon
Paraguay is very SOLICITORS that amicbc arrangements
may be arrived at lest annexation Of territory should
from collision at with the United States This
may 'fnr-ietched" inference but policy is SO
little understood and appreciated by these distant govern
mcnts that suspected of graspng at territory
in these remote regions
Bat whilst secret effort is thus being made to
bring about Cancellation, strange contrast is shown
in the loud and bohasc tone that pcrvades the official
organ at Asuncion Personal abuse charges of false
hood and misrepresentation stand out in bright eIiet
from amongst the names of President Buchanan the
North American government Page, &c. The republic is
declared to be Young, but well-forthed powerful and
prepared for the worst If IL be challenge are bring
ing against them, the gauntlet is already thrown down
us, aud the rights and honor OF the nation will be pre-
served at all hazards, regardless Of consequences and
with blow for blow. The press ofc neigboring States
have caught up the words Of the eloquent Lopez and are
prophcsying sad and disgraceul issue to the Ameri-
We may despo Mexico, il is said, but Paraguay
will prove ''tbe altar of expation" The iorti6oa.
tons at Humata mpregnable, and the armies Of the
republic invncble 1t is unfortunate for these of
words that they should have the effect
explosion from ll-iuch shell the beautiful perform
of DJhIgrcp howitzer, the Spanish journalist
for hundred readers would rather stare aud gasp
than keep up his courage by whistling in the dark
II is not for us, however to in'Ierrpte enemy
That he has received ample supplies of guns, anmuni-
ton and ordnance stores of all kndsthcre can re-
main doubt The Notifications Mt Hmmaiti are uu-
mcroys and probably mounted by guns OF heavy
calhre portion said to be Gtponders The posi-
ton is exceedingly well chosen point of the
river and commanding the and descent for or
three miles. The batteries mostly h0rte1e as you
will from the plan enclose, prepared by person
who had the best opportunity of making il correct and
unprotected from the want supplied by force of
IL, 000 mea | now assured thot chains and every
Kind Of obstruction in preparation TO impede the adj
vance of vessels. confident to say, however that
material force at the command Of President Lopez
arrest the passage OF the Fulton.
There could be no more favorable opportunity for
cending the Paraguay than at the present time Pilots
just from those waters report the river high to overflow
Humaita The steamer is rapid, and will make the
passage in few days only stopping TO coal when the
nav gation is too intricate to at night
Commodore Forrest has determined remain ont not
withsandipg the permission granted him by the Secreta-
~ Of the Navy to return home. Lieut. Carter has been
detached from the Argentina, and ordered TO the Dol
phin. The English Admiral, Sir Stephen Washington,
entered the habor the other day and proceeds shortly
the Falkland islands He hopes TO return in time TO see
what he called ''thc fun Several American vessels have
entered here this week The r. c. Brent from Ialti-
the j. Richardson from Liverpool with coal, and
the Eiith yacht belonging TO r. Is Forbes of Boston
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lcoMMuSicATEp.