Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-02

noon, pitches into" the Administration for
its course in regard to Central American
affairs. Here is its article:-
I'VE sustained the President most cordially
in his original demand for the repeal of the
Clayton-Bulwer convention, because we per.
ceived the folly Of attempting to assert
American lsccndcncy on the lsthmuS : long
as England was allowed right of intcrycn-
ton in that quarter, and the energies of our
own diplomacy were paral wed by an embar.
RAISING engagement 1t was obvious To eve
rybody, that the first step in the exclusion Of
European influence from Central America,
was to annul Il treaty under which Great
Britain claimed to hold important positions
in the country. and to deny the United States
any pretence Of resistance to her aggrandze-
ment Hence the universal applause with
which the country responded IN the Execu-
tive denunciation Of the Clayton. Bulwer
compact.
But the President. instead of persisting i'll
his patriotic policy, on Il sudden, and with,
out apparent excuse, Withdrew his demand
for the abrogaton of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, and initiated negotiations for the adj
justmcnt of the lsthmian controversy, on the
basis of perpetual observance of that aboml,
nable engagement. Nay, more, by the con-
cession Of the official organ in an article now
before us, he admitted the English envoy
into the secret of his diplomacy, and made
Sir Wm. Gore Ouseley the representative OF
his policy. At the instance of that willy and
INSCRIPTIONS adventurer. the President repu'
toI ,l Oh MI u-u.
ready, rs IRE oye pJrpo,'d 10 prore, t" accept
remuneration Of the Clayton-Bulwer com,
pact, and with Sir Gore Ouselcy concoctci Il
plan of settlement which that impudcnt per-
sonage proposed, for the avowed purpose OF
perpetuating n treaty repugnant to all the
instincts and interests of the American peo-
pie. Nor was that all.
Such was the infatuation of Mr.. Buchan-
an, that he even deputed Ouseley to execute
the agreement; and while the British envoy
was assiduousl V operating to secure Eng
lands foothold on the lsthmus, the Ameri-
can representative was instructed to second
his efforts, and the American squadron order
ed to prevent any interruption in their pro-
gress by the inopportune interposition of Il
fllibustcr enterprise. Why did Mr. Buch-
anan consent to play the part Of accessory to
the disgrace and dispara cement Of his own
country? 1t was not, we do him the justice to
admit, with deliberate attempt to bctray
American interests
Mr.. Buchanan is victim of misplaced
confidence. He is the dupe of Ouseley's art
full diplomacy. He supposed himself to be
persuaded that England would negotiate in
the spirit of the American construction Of
the Clayton-Bulwer compact and would has
ten. if left alone, to abandon her usurped
dominion over the Mosquito coast and the
Bay Islands. Is an additional inlucement
10 the acquiescence of our Government, Gore
Ouseley stipulated to insure the ratification
of the Cass-Irisarr treaty. Mr.. Buchanan
was credulous He gave ear to Ouseey. ac-
ceptcd his proposals, dismissed him with a
benediction, and confidently anticipated the
triumph of his diplomacy, and the tulfllment
of his pledges.
His diplomacy is triumphant, but his
pledges-what of them? The story is al
ready told Suffice to say in recapitulation.
that by the conventions which Gore Ouse-
ley has negotiated, 50 far from renouncing
Engand's pretensions in Central America,
he has secured its confirmation. Nelthcr the
Mosquito protectorate nor the Bay Island
colony is abandoned; while, to aggravate
the injury. the Cass-lrisarr treaty is rejected
with every circumstance uf contempt for the
resentment of the United States. lgnobe
contamination Will the country submit ~
81 shameful a sacrifice of its rights? Does
il feel no blush ut his truthful picture of It's
humiliation?
AT the hazard Of tedious repetition, we
must entreat the public to recollect these
facts,-that Mr. Buchanan once advocated
the repeal of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty ;
that he subsequently shifted his policy and
commenced negotiations on the basis of per-
petuating that engagement that he refused
IN assurance from Lord Napier of rcadi-
ness on the part of the British legation to
annuI the uMyton- Rulwer compact, and gave
all his confidence to UuSeIoy, VITO desired
nothing 50 much rs to consolidate English
usurpatinn on the lSthmus, under cover of
that convention.
These are facts of which we defy contra
diction. And pray, in what IN attitude do
they place the Administration We pity
the weakness Of Mr.. Buchanan. The utter
humiliation of American influence on the
Isthmus. the commensurate elevation and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of European interests--the
rejection of the Cass .lrisarr treaty. the tri-
ugph Of 0useley Machicvellian policy
principles accorded 20 England of interior.
ence by arms to repel the inrNrsionH 9f Full
bnsterism. the establishment of a French
force in position to command c"mmunlcn-
ton with our Pacific possessions, these are
deplorahlG Consequences indeed, but III mItl-
CATION Of the popular indignation, Mr. Buch-
anan is entitled TO plead the mistakes of
too crcdulous nature"
The Union takes up the cudgels" in de-
fence of the Administration. and thus replies
to the attack uf 1.-The States -
An attack on the President has appeared
in an evening cotemporary, which demands
a passing notice 1t is full Of misrepresen-
tations We shall not quote its insulting
end offensive language but shall rcfute it by
IT,, stntcnIrnt If . few plain and indisputa-
bic facts
ist. The President ncvlr did Change his
,,y.;;@G, IN regard to the Clayton Bulwcr trea.
ty. Prom the une he vent to England a.
minister of the United States uDsI I'll. pre-
sent moment. it has been always the same.
He went to England for the purpose of CON
vinclng the British government that their
construction of this treaty was unfUuId6d.
They were in possession of the whole coast
Of Central America, with the exception Of Il
small portion, and they contendsd that this
treaty authorized them to continue in posses
,i,r, II t.as rontppIp,l Lv rho / uitaJ STATES