The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-16
THE WASHINGTON UNION
oUR FOREIGN PoLlcY


We stand at the threshold of great events The gov
eminent of the United States will be called upon fol-
action and Is about 10 open upon Ia our
national drama II may result In long stride upon the
continent Of North America over ground unrodden by
heretofore.
There is nowegathering IN the Gulf Of Mexico power
ul squadron OF European ships. They have never been
gathered there before. For what object They have
been despatched "a sudden. 10 what end They
represent two powerful governments allies Ia recsnt
war; and third one weak hut cycling us with suspicion
and fear For what purpose Are warke fleets the
instruments of peace We cannot close eyes 10 the
import OF a circumstance like this.
In May last GEN Leafs Cass, Secretary of State,
addressed TO Gen Lunar letter first automatically
published which aims this remarkable passage: 'lhe
OF things Indicates line of policy looking to Eu-
ropean Intervention la American afars, to which the
United States have long since avowed their opposition
aud which they viii resist under all circumstances.
These official declarations and they indicate the
derstanding at Washington TO be, that the armed ships
of England France and Spain have been sent to the
Gulf of Mexico GRAND of peaceful character
for they have gone there since the declaration Of General
Cass made and therefore additional circum-
stance to those which open to the view of our Sec
rotary when his letter was written.
In the face OF these things President Buchanan
out with conclusive presentation of grievances under
which American interests bor and proposes series OF
important acts The schedule which he gives
braces of action of the greatest importance and
one from which momentous consequences may ensue
and he supports all his propositions by facts and agu
ments.
He first recommends that our claims against spain be
presented and payment demanded fer The last time This
Is significant. He, at the time, proposes that the
purchase of Cuba be authorized by act of Congress
To open the eyes of Spain and remind her that there is
way to part with Cuba without humbng hersef he
ers to the example OF France ceding to the United States
the territory OF Louisiana. AT the time Congress
| is referred to the example of Jefferson in the
The statesmen of Spain will ponder upon these sugges
| tions. The will cling to island that elds
twenty millions of Bot rejecting and hon
est adviser of the throne fail to that Cuba
slip from the grasp of Spain ut any moment without an
equivalent single outbreak OF passion IN this coun
try reused by any wrong real faLced, to citizen of
the United States, would lead to popular demand for
the taking of Cuba without paying equivalent so
strong that no administration could resist it, With Spain
the opportunity for selling Cuba would then be past for
ever for could not in justice to ourselves permit the
transfer of it to any other power SPAIN therefore is in
the position of having valuable farm to SELL for
which he is offered fair price but the title (Which
Is preearous that he may at any Time lose it, and
what prudence would dictate in the of individual
situated applies equally well to government TO us
the policy indicated by the President seems wise one
and hope Congress will pass act authorizing the
purchase of Cuba and that it will contain provision
thozng advance to be made to Spain at the conclu
sion of the treaty Of cession.
All the considerations of prudence and selfpescrva-
ton which apply to Cuba arise also of the consider
alton OF relations with Mexico but with ten fold
force. If il be Indispensable TO our security that we
should Interfere and iociby prevent the cesson of Cuba
to any foreign power weighter npel us to the
same position in regard to Mexico Her English credi
tors have become and have appealed to their
government to enforce the payment of their claims
Mexico is both destitute and weak, and should be
driven from considerations of self preservation, to pro-
tcct Mexico IN the integrity OF her territory, against the
hostile interference Of any foreign power should
matter OF course, guaranty the claims due to the subject
Of that foreign power The President has but anticipated
the popular voice, believe in recommending that
prevent the acquisition of any portion of Mexico by
any European nation The geographical position of Mex.
leo is such that this becomes our direct interest and
indispensable duty This is view of the subject looking
to the future rather than to the present.
But there present duty to our citizens, and to meet
their Ga the Rrtsdent ecJmmends an ar9ed proteco-
rate oyer the Mexican satcs Of sonora and chihuahua.
ii the message They arise out o The weak and distract
ed condition of Mexico, Of which the world has been
witness for many years, They arise ont of the fact that
life and property there arc Insecure that the Indians
continue their dppedatios upon the white settlers and
that mining, in which large capital Is embarked by
Americans and other foreign residents, is either to be
wholly suspended or carried on with constant Interrupt
tors losses and annoyances from the Indians Added
to this the large claim of citizens against Mexico
for spoliatons considerably exceeding ten millions,
which it is high time for Mexico TO pay, and which it is
well known she will not pay without cempuson In
the ACTUAL occupation of portion of her territory we arc
in condition to ppoFe the terms we dictate and it is
easy 10 Withdraw ths protectoFaie when !, has ACCOM-
plishcd the design in which it originated
In regard TO Central American affairs the Presi
dent proposes that Congress empower him directly to
ploy the force of the United States TO maintain the
trality Of the Isthmus routes Leading all of Them
through territory inhabited by weak of semi bar
barans where government really means aqthi,,g, and
where, of course contract Is binding only when it is
known that II Will be enforced by the bayone all ma
,ions must rejoice If the United States government is
willing to guard the Ishms routes against awless vio-
lence, without claiming any monopoly Of their bepeis
sueh IN brief Is The togeisp ppey Of Chg aopinistration
as ennpated in tlp message. Iii boder line of pol
Ivy than any previous Hessage has deyeloped.
What the c1ieet Of is encouragement Will e on the
governments Of thu Old World soon TO be dsclospa In
few weeks, the mails will bring VS. an expression Of the
pMblip opinion Of England pr there flee press gives
iIttenncc 10 the sentiments Of the people and brings
them 70 bear on the government They will bring us,
also, from the French press, the views of the govern
thy have nothing to do.
polipY win be deeply pondercd by those powers Spain
Will speak but she will receive but little regard Her
voice is weak and in the affairs of Europe is but little
needed. Spain presents of departed glory.-of
tretful but impoent old age and should she pipsept
defiant OF husa altitude il will he only part pre-
pared fr her 70 play by the stronger governments,
which will in that Case he backing her petensons OF
herself, she Is nothing The Emperor OF France IL Is
sad, has authorized those structures foreign pol
icy which have appeared In the columns of La Pderie
and the Edinburg Review and the London Times have
seconded the views expressed in the Patre This has
occurred, too at time when France England, and
Spain concentrating considerable naval force in
the Gulf Of Mexico This Is "a coincidence indicating
concert of action the pant of these three powers,
either in anticipation of some apprehended movement
of ours, or in furthcrance of ambitious designs
of their The interest which English capitalists