The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-03

bags Rio and Santos 460 mats Java and 40 bars Mara
caibo at rates given in another place. Freghts we're un
changed and engagements moderate
|
Our Foreign Policy-What Should be Done
| I'm Its Present Complications.
This Congress finally adjourns tomorrow
noon, allowing the extreme limit of its constitu-
uonal existence 1t may dispense at an earlier
hour, But in any event, upon our complicated
and critical foreign relations, concerning Cuba,
Mexico, the Central and South American States,
and the commercial and military balance Of
power" on this continent, nothing will have been
done-literally nothing.
| The enlightened, positive and decisive Ameri.
can policy comprehended in the Presidents last
annual message proposed, under the authority
and cooperation of CoDgress:-1. Active nego-
tia'ions for the purchase of the island of Cuba ;
p The occupation by the United States army,
| temporarily, of the northern frontier provinces
Of revolutionary Mexico; 8. The employment,
If necessary, of the army and navy to
maintain the peace and the free tran
sit Of the Isthmus routes of Central Ame-
| RIGA. In support of these recommendations the
President, in December, submitted the most
weighty considerations and only few days
| ago, in special message to the two houses, he
still more earnestly appealed for the powers and
| authorities from Congress, so urgently required,
| to enable the Executive to meet the exigences
which at any moment may call for our active in
terposition in these Mexican and Central Amer-
| can entanglements.
But neither in reference to Cuba, nor in rela-
ton to Mexican or Central American affairs, has
any response been accorded by Congress- Upon
the exploded Kansas agitation, the African slave
trade, the spoils corruptiOns of the lobby, the
Presidents annual message, free farms, Treasury
exhausting pension bills, French spoliations, Pa
cifc railroads, and what not, days, weeks and
! months of the session have been wasted in la
| bored speeches for buncombe. There has been,
| too, very formidable volume Of learned essays
and political harangues delivered in the Senate
upon the Cuba Thirty Million bill; but the CO.
pitulation Of the democracy upon this important
subject was practically equivalent to the rejec-
ton of the bill; for, with the adjournment to-
morrow the bill reverts to the pocket of Mr..
Slidell.
Assuming that the ways and means of the
Treasury will be patched up before the adjourn
ment, so as to hold together through the long
regular vacation of Congress, till next Decem-
ber the question still recurs: how can the Presi-
dent avoid an extra session should the political
affairs of Mexico or Of Central America, within
the next three or four months, demand the exer-
else on his part Of extraordinary powerss His
only alternative, in the absence Of any authority
from Congress in the premises, will be to ''assume
the responsibility" And why net? He may
find abundant precedents for this course, from
his last predecessor, Pierce, and his bonn
bardment and burning of Greytown, back to
Jefferson, and his negotiations for the pur-
chase Of Louisiana. The most powerful and
popular characteristic of General jackson, when
| pressing public emergency demanded on his
part, either in camp or cabinet, the exercise of
extraordinary powers, was illustrated in the
prompt and fearless manner in which he "as-
sumed the responsibility"
The examples thus furnished by Old Hickory,
and their enthusiastic endorsement by the Anne
rican people, are sufficient to indicate the policy
of Mr.. Buchanan. Accordingly should favor
able opening be presented, in the absence of
Congress, for active negotiations for Cuba, let
him seize the opportunity and conclude bar
| gain, if he can. So, too, should the suspicious
and threatening Anglo-French intermeddlings
| in Mexican or Central American affairs demand
the prompt interposition Of our government,
even to the extent of gunpowder, during the re-
cess of Congress- let the President assume the
responsibility" and trust the subsequent action
Of Congress to the public sentiment of the coun-
try. Some Of the republican leaders of this
Congress- if we are not mistaken, have suggested
this course. At all events, between the assump-
ton by the President of extraordinary powers in
a critical emergency, and national humiliation
and disgrace, there can be but one course for Mr..
Buchanan, and that is to assume the re-
sponsibility."
In this view, if during the absence of Con-
gress the President should exercise such
powers of diplomacy, and Of war, If you
please, as to startle the holy Anglo-French al
lance in reference to the balance of power"
in the Gulf Of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, he
may rely upon the American people. Thus, in
the matter of this truly American foreign policy
Of Mr.. Buchanan, in regard to Cuba, Mexico,
Central and South America, though shuffled of
by disorganized and refractory party in Con-
gress he may, in being left to his own discretion,
still vndicate the honor Of the country, promote
Its interests abroad, and place his administration
upon footing of popularity and power which
will render him Indifferent alike to the move
ments Of the opposition and the cliques and plots
Of the wrangling democracy.
FREE SorIsS IN TURKEY-A Nur FOR THE
ABoLITToNIsTs-It will be seen by the fol-
lowing letter, which has just been received BY
the Turkish Consul here, that negroes are to be
allowed the same privileges in the Ottoman en-
pire as white colonists-that is to say, they are
| In ho faxad vuhfrnad ond or;t $780,. ,.,