The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-20

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vrrsment.
Our dispatches from Washington confirm the
views we have SO frequently expressed in re-
gard to the Central American imbroglio, and
state that the mission of Sir William Gore
Ouseley to Nicaragua has failed 80 far as regards
the chief poiats that it was hoped to establish.
When the Cas- Yrisarr treaty was negotiated
1t met the warm appreciation of the governments
of France and England, to whom its tenor was
communicated and they at once communicated
to our government the fact that they should ne
gotiate similar treaties with Nicaragua as soon
as the one drawn up by Gen, Cas- should be rati
fed. For this object Sir W. G. Ouseley was
commissioned, and instructed to pass through
Washington on his why to bis post The delay
on the part of President Martinez in ratifyng
the treaty detained Sir William nearly year al
Washington At last he got new instructions
from home, and went down 10 Leon in the hope
Of carry ing through treaty similar to the Cass-
Yrisarri, the ratification of which by Nicaragua
might lead to the acceptance of the American
treaty also.
A portion Of the Nicaragran Congress is now
willing to accept the wise and salutary provisions
stipulated by General Cass; but President Mar
tinez is opposed to them. He insists upon SO
shaping the new treaties that they shall protect
the Transit route and Nicaragua from touster
invasion, but shall leave the former open to all
kinds OF interference on the part of the Mica
raguan government and Nicaraguan rebels. He
goes even further. He covertly endeavors 50 to
form them that under pretence of calling for
Foreign assistance o protect the Transit route he
may obtain it to support his own rnle, which is
already hateful to large party in the country,
and thus force the republic into submitting to his
dictation. His demands are utterly iaadmissible
seek ng admission there for the purpose Of gain
ing possession of the territory for SELF Martl-
nez might ask for troops, and get them under the
treaty; but when once in, it wou d take some
thing more than treaty stipulations to get them
out. The occupation Of Rome and the Papal
States is present illustration in point; and the
domestic policy of President Martinez has very
little difference with that of Pho Mono.
Hisrecent foolish proceedings on the occasion OF
the appearance of the United States ship Decatur
off San Juan del Sur, prove that he in fact is him
self one of the chief evils from which he Tran
sit route is to be protected. Without cause or
provocation Of any kind, and merely on an alb
surd rumOr, he seized the steamers, impri-
soned their American officers and crews, and de-
stroyed the road and bridges which had required
mon BIS of time and many thousands Of dollars
for their construction. Our government has de.
termined that the transit of the several routes
across the American isthmus shall be free and
safe to the whole world. There are imperative
reasons that impose upon it the enforcement OF
this security. The grant of the transit privilege
is held by American citizens; American enter
prise and capital in fact the only ones avail.
able for the construction of the Transit
route; American interests are the ones that will
throng through the Transit, with great and
constantly increasing preponderance; and the
party now in transient possession Of power in Nj
| caragua has exhibited an ominous prejudice
| against American citizens and their Interests.
Under these circumstances there is but one
course for our government to pursue in the path
of duty. Gen. Lamar is coming home; Sir VIM.
Gore Ouseley has failed in the pacific views
which he is supposed to have enter
tanned; the Cass Yrisarri treaty, which is
the only convention that can place the vast ia.
,erests of the whole republic Of trade on safe
footing in those regions, still hangs fire. The
Transit route is closed. American interests are
violated, and American claims are insultingly
ignored. In view of these facts, the government
should at once replace Gen. Lamar with per.
son selected for his fitness for the post and not
for any influence he may possess in local politics
at home If his former career has been such as
to give him knowledge of party divisions in
his own State, or of lobby operations in Con-
gress, it is proof positive that he has had no time
to acquire the peculiar knowledge necessary to
enable him to carry out the instructions Of his
government and to protect the interests of his
fellow. citizens in a Spanish American commu-
nifty. Our Minister to those countries should
not be debarred from social intercourse there by
ignorance Of every language and the forms of
every society but our own. He should not be
compelled TO see, hear and learn everything
tuuoueu oluci eyes. edro anu ulluue tudu Ills own.
In conveying ms views and impressions to those
with whom he necessarily comes in contact, he
should not be placed at the mercy of an inter-
prefer, who, however competent iu tongue. must
distil the ideas Of the Minister through his
own less competent brain. And above all, he
mustpossess the ability to mix in and interchange
courtesies with other social circles than such as
may be afforded there by a few American resi-
dents, who sometimes are little more than very
questionable adventures.
When the President has appointed such
Mlnister-and any other will Gil-hc
should be instructed to say to the govern
ment of Nicaragua that they must ratify
the Cass-frisaTi treaty, pure and simple or
none; that the American citizens will be pro
tected in opening the Transit route, and Amcri-
can and all other interests in crossing over it, by
A Al