The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-23

was FIRMLY held whne sales were moderate AMI 1t full
prices quality conrdered. Sugars steady and ID
good request with sales Of 100 goo hhss. and 1888
boxes, at prices given in another place Freigh.s were
steady, with . fair amount Of engagements.
Important from Washtngton-Threatc
fng Aspect or Our Relations with Spain
and Mexico.
The advices from Washington inform us
that the government will call upon Spain to
know if the Miramon cruisers were fitted out at
Havana with her connivanee, and for the pur-
pose Of annoying our commerce and indicate
that the black republican Senators are disposed
to review their hasty and ill-advised action on
the Nicaragua treaty, and to take such mea-
sures for restoring the respect due to our flag
and the safety of our citizens and their inter-
eats in the aparchical countries south of us as
becomes our honor as people and our cham
pionship of the American name.
When, with the full knowledge Of past and
recent events in Mexico and the Isthmus re-
publics, we remember that the Senate Of the
United States has refused to ratify the treaty
with Nicaragua, and delays that with Mexico,
on the sole ground that they confer upon the
President the authority to order any officer of
the army and navy who may happen to be on
duty in the vicinity, to see that the lives and
property of American citizens are secured
to them, and their just rights respected, we
tremble for the consequences that may accrue
to our countrymen resident abroad, and
to the vast interests that flow continually
between our Atlantic and Pacific States. The
action of the black republican Senators, as q
party, on this vitality important subject, gives
assurance to every revolutionary leader in
Central America that he can despoil with i'm.
punity any American citizen that he can lay
hands upon; and no one will doubt that they
would be quick to act upon such an assurance.
The making such denial Of authority to the
President party cry is the most dangerous
thing that could be done by Congress. 1t is
an abandonment, in fact, of the vast interests
that now cross the American Isthmus to the
tender mercies of Spanish-Ameri pronun.
ciamientos and the milk and water protection of
diplomatic notes. 1t is the withdrawal from
every merchant ship in those ports of that mo-
raj palladium which the American flag should
ever be. More than this, it throws open the
sea to these partisan strifes, to the danger of
commerce everywhere.
Fortunately the gallant and energetic course
lately pursued by our navy in the Mexican wa
tiers has stopped this danger at its very initia.
ton. The domestic strife now raging In
Mexico had succeeded, through the con-
niyance of the Spanish authorities in Cuba,
in descending to the sea. The war was
to be made to harass all foreign commerce
that frequented those waters, just as it had ha-
raised and violated the rights Of every foreign
merchant within the country. But at the very
time that the black republican Senators, ga
thered in party caucus, had determined to
withhold national protection to our commercial
interests abroad, a small knet Of navy officers,
looking only to their national duty, overhauled
the corsairs, and when these thought to fright
en- them with few guns, gave them broad
side which SOON taught them the respect which
our flag is entitled to. The event was provi-
Dental. A base and unpatriotic partisan spirit
was on the eve Of inaugurating q national po-.
Icy which would have enveloped our com.
merce in danger and our name in Disgrace. It
has come at the very moment when 1t was re-
quired to recall Congress to its senses, and to
awaken the country to the disgrace that was
prepared for it by the black republican
Senator'S.
The probability now is that the Senate Will
wake to reason and retrace its steps. 1t has
resumed the discussion of the Nicaragua treaty.
and it is to be hoped that it will reconsider
the unwise action it took a few days
since on that instrument. But something more
than this must be done. The position of Next.
co, and its territorial, political and industrial
relations with us, require action on our part
Of decided and energetic character. The re.
bellious government Of Miramon has been at
open war with our citizens and our diplomatic
representatives for more than year. With
the aid of the Spanish authorities in Cuba it
has fitted out corsairs. We now learn that the
Spanish sbips-of-war at SACRIFICES were sup
plying him with war materials for an assault on
Vera Cruz. This gives color to the statement
that there are secret articles in the treaty 80
Gently made between Almonte aud the Spanish
government, under which Miramon is to re.
ceive assistance from Havana. If he triumphs
in Mexico, or even if he merely captures Vera
Cruz, we have war in fact upon our hands;
and, perhaps, not one war, but two. Spain is
becoming complicated in this quarrel; and be-
sides reconqueripg Mexico, we may yet have
to take Cuba before we can secure peace.
The honor Of the country requires, and the adj
ADMINISTRATION is determined to enforce, a demand
on Spain, to kno,c ,chether the fitting ont Of the
cruisers Of Mirdmon at Hapana ,cas done ,ciN.
the kno,c'elge or the confluence Of the Spanish
officials, and serious complications may at once
ensae. These great questions cannot be de-
layed by palliation and discussion and indie
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