Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-16
The Tripartite Treaty

q
T IL il announced In foreign journals that Eng
land, France and Spain have entered into TIL
partite treaty or agreement for the seizure Of
the revenue accruing in the principal ports Of
Mexico and the appropriation OF one hall tne
same to the payment Of claims, which they pro
fess TO have against the latter country.
Tripartite is understood to mean consisting O
three parts. II may have reference to the par
ties to the treaty or agreement or to the suoleo'
matter of the stipulation, or to both. In thii
case Il seems there are three parties to the al
legged treaty, and that the revenue collected o'
more properly seized 10 first to be halved-0ne
halfto be retained by Mexico. and the osner 70
be divided among the three powers, Engano'
France and Spain. :.
The United States as we'll as the parties 70
tho ,,inartite treaty has claims against Mexico
But It does not appear that we were asked 70
.hecome a party to the treaty, and thus make II
n ouadruple alliance. 1t has been asserted IN
an Euglish journal that the treaty had the con-
cu,rence of our Government, but there does moi
annear to have been any authority for the state
ment.
England, France, Russia, ETC., have long peen
attending to the case of "sick man " In Eu'
rome. Now it seems they are disposed to extend
their kind Offices to patient on this continent
and administer upon her goods and chatteis
while che is yet reckoned among the hVing
This is hardly, according to the common under
standing, "in due course of laws" bus ~ may
bs ali right according to the course OF Eu'
ropean diplomacy. :.
Itis said that Mexico, in order to save herseh
f,om the three buzzsrds that are lowering over
her vet animated form, has applied to the Uni
ted States for loan Of from four to ten MIL
lion dollars. and that Minister CoRwIs thinks
our Government should grant the application as
a measure of policy. 1t would no doubt %
very good thing on our part to let Mexico nave
the money, If we have 1t to spare, as ~ wou'o
secure her friendship and gratitude and con
vince the trIpsrtites that we are still strong in
the "sinews Of war" Bat whether we can
make the loan or not is question to be se'leo
in Cabinet council.
There is something significant in this joint
alliance Of England, France and spain' In re-
gard to Mexico. A primary object Is to try the
metal of the United States. If Mexico cannot
help herself, and we cannot help her in her pres
ent strait, the next step the tripartite powers
will take may be to establish joint protector
ate over the "sick" Republic, and eventually
divide her landed estate between themselves.
We know what extravsgant notions some Of
our own leading men entertain; and It may Dc
that some European statesmen cherish ideas
still more visionary. 1t may be that some Eng
lishmen are dreaming Of ultimately au9exing
our Northern States to Canada that some
Frenchmen have dim, yet pleasing anticipations
of reviving and perfecting some sort Of an OBJ
selete claim to Louisiana and the Southern
States, while Spanish Dons may be even think
ing that Captain G Generalship over a few Of
our States in the neighborhood OF Cuba would
be fat and agreeable Office, These points
have, we presume, been discussed and arranged
t, their mutual satisfaction by mobiles and gen.
tlemeu belonging to the three powers.
All this, our readers will say, is harmless
sport. Not altogether harmless; for it fosters
in the European mind the notion that the Uni
ted States have become divided and weak, and
are, therefore, a subject of lawful plunder. 1t
would be well to check the first motions to carry
out such an extravagsnt surmise; otherwise, we
may have to teach foreigners the folly Of enter
tainingit, in more decisive and expensive mode.