Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-03-09
Minister Lamar.

The Abolition press is publishing what pun
ports TO be letters from officers of the Unite
States ship Merrinac, full of ungenerous as
persions on the character and conduct OF ou
minister in Nicaragua. There is n suspicion
lnmlly resemblance in the tone and style o
these attacks, and were we not distinctly givei
10 understand that they emanated from officer
oi the navy, we would be inclined to Zane,
they were the manufacture of some one aspr
ing to disploee Mr.. Lamar in his mission.
Gen. Nj. b. Lamar is person OF simpl,
manners and democratic habits. file is II
tastes and principles "mnn of the masses, >
as he was styled when President of Texas
tie never learned to cringc to power; and when
he filled the executive chair he taught some
rich lessons TO the ministers of France and
England, who were sent out to wheedle oil
browbcut the young republic into Abolition
treaies-and this may be his real offence -
lie had then the same habits which now throw
the Miss Nancys oi the Merrimac into spasms
OF outraged "propriety;" and then, as now,
dainty cavaliers were shocked because the sol.
der statesman would occasionally take of his
coat TO fold it under his head, and. throw him.
self on the hard floor, or under the shade Of
tree, to sleep away the fatigucs of such toll
as it was not in the soul or body of these trim
fault.fnders even to dream of attempting.
Then, as now, he was censured for mnninp
too free y and cordially with the common pco.
pie. His sway of selling down with pubcans
aud sinners" gave unlimited disgust to the
Pharasees, but he was also the man TO take
the fore front of danger on the Indian frontier.
He was the man whose daring skill held Mex.
ican INVASION at bay during his whole term of
office by carrying the war into their own bor-
ders, and he was the man who won for Texas
the honorable recognition Of the chief Euro.
pean Powers. His diplomatic skill detached
Yucatan from Mexico while his bold naval
chief, Commodore Moore, swept the enemy S
coast and LEVIED war contributions a Sisal and
Merida. The administration of Lamar was
an era OF honor and progress in the history OF
Texas; but he had the vile, objectionable hab.
1t of "mixing too freely" with poor folks; and
as that is not the class to indulge in costly
wines, he sometimes disgraced his rank BY
taking glass of "miserabe whisky" with
them No one, however, ever accused him of
taking anything else from the people. His
kind heart, his stainless integrity, his patriotic
devotion to the interests of the masses, his
brave vigilance for the honor of his flag
his capacity TO embrace and fulfil the highest
duties of his position, are above suspicion and
beyond roproach But all this cannot balance
the enormity of "taking his siesta in his shirt
sleeves" and who SITS down with puhlicins
and sinners.
A minister could not well have more un-
pleasant mission assigned him than that of Gen.
Lamar in Nicaragua and Costa Rca. Those
republics have been playing fast and loose with
us ever since we relieved them from the pres.
ence Of Walker, and they refuse TO look upon
the American minister as anything more than
the diplomatic valet Of the British envoy
Yet in this false and discouuging position
Gen. Lamar has given general satisfaction to the
governments to which he is accredited, as well
MS his own. His dispatches are admitted to
be as clear, able, and comprehensive as those
of any other minister in Central America, and
whatever there may be to complain of in the
patering delay of our sthmus negotiations.
the fault is not in Minister WasAing-
ton States.