New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-01
rug PARAGUAY EXPEDITION.


Welfare AZ leusth news direct oithe arrival IN the
Rio De Ia Plata Of ii, vanguard OF our fee'' n"ea
out at much expense and with 30 much trouble aud
6slsy to operate ssain,t Paraguay. The steamer
Fu,tou, with the Commodore aud the Commissioner
on board, aud TIE Doiptin in tow, after some days
tpeut a. Montevi6eo, reached Bueros Ayfss on tae
last day of the year. and the next day proceeded up
beP.r.ns. The Water Witch, with the Banbndge
in tow, passed or ahead without stopping st
Buenos Ayres; sni the Harriet Lane, with the
Perry in tow, was to follow from Monseyideo,
where the heavier sailing vessels were stui AZ an'
Choir. Five or six Of the smaller vessas had not
yet reached Monteyideo.
As might be expected, the arrival of these vessels
in the waters Of the Plata had produced GER
tain degree Of excitement aud unessiness among al
the South American States bordering on that nVer
ard its tributaries So bad is our reputation,
growing ont of the events Of tte last ten years,
aid our dealings in that period with the Spanish
American States, tina! this expedition is strongly
su,pected 10 have in view some object which is 10.
openly ayowed. Lopez has put forth an sPpeal to
all tie States bordering on the river 20 make CON-
mon cause sgGnst cur intrusive ambition. and this
appeal hiss not been without its effect. As yet, 1t
is principally seen in anxiety TO have our dispute
with Paraguay arranged, IS the shortest aud
easiest way OF getting rid OF us. Brazil mas
offered her mediation, ard Crquiza, the President
of Montey;deo, has also offered hs. Although the
execution was received st MonteyideO with formal
hospitality, the object of it WAS evidently regarded
with very little favor. However those States may
quarrel among themselves, they seem ready enough
TO make common cause as against Intruders from
North Americs. Brazil perhaps thinks that che
has as good right to control the affairs OF the
river Parans, as We have to sct as Lord Paramount
Of the Mexican Gulf aud the Caribbean Sc.
1t would appear that the application made by
Commodore Shutrick to the Government at Mon
teyideo for permission to land his troops and also
the request to be allowed place Of deposit for coal,
had both been refused.
The plan Of operations seems to be for all the
vessels Of the squadron st least the smaller ones,
70 ascend together TO the borders of Paraguay,
whence it is proposed that the Fulton, with tho
Commissioner on board, shall proceed alone to AS
sumption, tie capital of Paraguay, there to try the
effect of negotiation.
1t may be doubted, however, whether Lopez
Will be inclined to accecs to this arrangement. lie
might regard the Fulton % being thus sent for
ward, not so much to negotiate, as to spy out the
state Of hi. Notifications. Perhaps he might prefer
to receive Mr.. BOwlin on the very borders Of his
territories, an arrangement to which so far as We
csn see, that functiOnary would have no right to
object.
Nothing is certainly known as to Whist no has
dore in the way Of defense and military prepare
ton. the communication for year past having
been very scsnty between Paraguay and the ports
down the river. The report, however Is that he
has availed himself of the services of European en-
gineers and that the approaches to his capital are
covered by formidable Notifications 1t seems
certain that he has received cannon and other mill
tary supplies from Ensland and, as he has had am-
pie notice of our intentions, it would be strange If
he had not done bis best to be ready to receive u.s.
The fitness of our vessels for the service they are
engaged n-many Of them, it will be recollected,
were merchant steamers, purchased and fitted out
By the Navy Departments very much questioned;
and, to judge from the correspondence published
from time TO time those on board do not feel per
fectly satisfied on that point. To ascend river
for many hundred miles is very different thing
from forcing fortified harbOr On the whole, it
is much to be desired that Mr.. Bowlin may be able
to arrange matters without calling in the assst-
ance Of the fleet.