New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-21
,,o, 7gE PARAGUAY ExPEDTyoyn
-vs~ssSspes Of The N T. Insen~
- III. 8. FLAG SIR ST. LAWRENCE.

ve received Of the Uuited SIates ot'os "
.,.ke ,ome hostile demonstration against paraguay
Yves derived from public journals brougn. 70 hi
Sy an American bark, last August. No'hiDs o
scial was communicated to US on the saojsc u"'n
ia early part of October, when Admiral FORREST
"a. pretty ineligible information that before our
s.;n .ould look hotnewsrd, be must do. If neces-
vary. little service under higher orneef 'u1'
himself which did no. please our spunSy CIV
erpor. Az ali may guess who kno" him. 0u' H'A'
1,patcb Was Of more explicit natu'e' ana came
n hard on the oath Of October, or toeresoout''
II ,ussested, rather than commanded the con 'eh-
.x,.,on ~ the Brazil squ.dron IN the waters OF the
La Plata and hinted that all short comlDgs on the
art n the vessels Of the feet should be remedied
=. speedily as possible. The smaller craft were 70
vroceed up as far as Buenos Ayre,; AID if the ST.
Lawrence could conveniently get near the otiing oil
hat port, abe was TO do 50. In compliance WIN
these Instructions, everything underwent general
Cerhaulinc. Divisions were daily drilled with
cannon and nlusket; marines were put through the
manual Of arms innumerable times; general quar-
tsrs was an everyday matter; and boat exercise
became too common an occurrence 70 pos
sess any interest. The COmmandern-Chlei o1
his Imperial Majesty's (of Franco f1gate
Alceste reviewed us from the quarter-deGA
with a huge opera glass; Rear Admiral Lush
ingfon of the old British ordinary Madagas-
Ear stimulated 10 industry by our Daneuvering,
.ent out baats in charge Of beardless middles 10
eompete with ours; and even the old-iasmODeo
Commodore Of the Brazilian hag-shp lowered
few of bis cutters which lay rOtting on the OaVls,
and Joined in the evOlutions OF rowing SahlhS ana
fring. For several weeks things went on tins
Way, until, one bright, beautiful day in November
--Noyember is ever bright and beautiful here--the
limited States brig -of-war cambridge arrived at
Rio: and her appearance as the pioneer on the
hostile feet, was the signal for active preparations
a. TO the disposition of vessels. IL dId not take
very long to leave Fort Santa Cruz behind us; ana
now that We are swinging from our anchors on the
margin of the Paraguayan Republic, allow me 10
20 over, briefly as the circumstances will allow,
the cause and nature of our difficulties with Presl
dent Lopez You may object that everybody
knows ali about these things long ago. | answer,
there are some matters in connection with them
which are very important, and which / viii publish
for the first time.
1t may seem strange proceeding for ne to at
tach more Importance 10 the most trivial item IN
connection with this affair than to what, IN the
usual course Of things, would be in reality most
worthy of attention; but will do so because l
chronicle facts rather than criticize them. may
state. by way of preface, that my information has
not been hastily amsssed, but is the result VI care
3ul and discriminating research. ...
. The Misunderstanding which existed between
the United States and Paraguay, relative to the
treaty made by Pendleton and Schenck, deserves
merely 10 be mentioned, as its bearing on the pres
ant aspect of affairs has assumed significance only
by Misrepresentation; because happen to knop
that any American, not mercantile rival OF Lopez,
could have settled IT in an hour. III the hring
into the Water Witch was more substantial
cause for building quarrel upon, it was oar own
tha fault ~ tho nfiear in command nf that
vessel Now, touching this passage, the explora-
ton Of which would be Of about the same value to
the inqusitive world as an exact estimate Of that
Classic locality known as the Five Points in New
York City, have also to submit a new fact About
ten years ago, English brig Ot-war attempted to
enter this channel, under what pretext is not
known. Her commander was informed, as was
the officer in charge of the Water Witch, that none
hut vessels belonging to the Government of Para
ruay were allowed there az il was a little military
avenue used exclusively for transporting things
between the batteries at one side and the camp at
the other But naval officers are generally fond OF
violating trivial laws of weak powers, and the brig
was still kept steering in. A blank cartridge
probably in all respects similar To that which
warned the Water Witch of her intrusion, failed TO
stop the Englshman; but well-dirccted ten
pound solid shot striking with wonderful accuracy
shout water mark was more successful, and the
spunky John Bull, concluding that discretion was
the better part of ysOr bOuted ship ana sailed out
of the forbidden waters-a wiser If not better
pilot The MISTER was reported to the commander
In-chef of the British squadron, who ordered the
captain of the brig to cauk the hole and never at.
tempt such an adventure again. Indeed, so Just
was the action of the Paragraphs considered, that
even the British Admiral not officially notified
on the subject. Now the uses Of this little stream
have undergone no change since that time; its d.
mensions have not Increased nor has any circum-
stance transpired that would be likely t. invest il
with interest. | therefore consider the conclusion
inevitable that the Water Witch was VII, re she
had no business to be when she was fired on, aud
that consequently, this clause in our list OF griey
ances may be considered disposed of.
Now We come 10 what would seem to be the
most trihing part Of the difficulty, but which in
reality, as l have already stated has been the pra-
cipal incentive to warlike preparations by our Gov
eminent. 1 alude TO the business controversy
between our Consul to Paraguay, Mr.. Hopkins,
and President Lopez. The current version of this
dispute is that Lopez broke up the United States
and Paraguay Navigation Company; that he de-
stroyed or deprived the concern of its property,
and that be refused, and still refuses, 10 make any
naturalization whatever for his alleged unjust aud
cruel conduct. Here are the facts: Daniel Web
ster as is well known, desired 70 Ministers and
Consuls appointed 10 foreign countries, who knew
something about the people and the natural fca-
tures Of the nation with whose Government they
were TO represent the United States. Now, Mr..
Hopkins had spent some time IN Paraguay previ-
ousy TO the year 1851, where he was just then;
and his knowledge of that country being neither
very limited nor by any means imperfect and his
influence IN political circles being quite consdera
bic, II IL no wonder that Mr.. Webster considered
him just the man for Paraguay, and Paraguay just
the place for him. Accordingly, Mr.. Fillmore was
easily prevailed on 10 give Hopkins commission,
and NE . Observing Yankee, as Lopez called him.
N. 4 IL. a.. y