, 1869-02-19

VI OUuSlCoo uO lutGI6uC6 uuldVUTdUI0 W LILO
success of it's treaty can be drawn from the
delay OF it's consideration in the Senate. On
the 18th day of January instant a special envoy
Of the Dominican Republic arrived here to in
form us that the Government had reconsidered
it's selection of our propositions for the purchase
of SANTANA, and desired now to agree upon
terms and desired terms of c%ession. 1t was
due to the Senate and the country to give a fair
consideration to the Dominican proposition.
That subject is, therefore, now under discus
sion in this department. 1t is not unlikely that
the Senate will prefer to wait for the result of
my conferences with the Dominican Minister
before proceeding to a final consideration of
the Danish treaty. Certainly the treaty for ST.
Thomas and st. John looses nothing in popular
favor by a free examination upon it's merits.
In another letter Of same date, but marked
''private and confidential" Mr.. Seward says:
L should regert if you were disturbed by the
reflections and criticisms concerning the pro-
gress of the negotiations for the Danish Islands,
to which you allude. It may we'll be under
stood, once for all, that no new national policy,
deliberately undertaken upon considerations OF
future advantage, ever finds universal favor
when first announced. If it were otherwise,
and if the public in'every nation were so we'll
informed as to be prepared to accept a policy
of that sort Immediately upon it's announce
ment, it would be difficult to conceive what
necessity there would be for craftsmanship. In
that case the nation would direct beforehand,
infallibly, in all cases, what should be done and
what should be left undone. 1t is the great ad-
vantage of a free republic that all important
subjects are examined in all the lights, favor
able and unfavorable, in which reason, interest,
prejudice, and passion can place them. Ger
tainly all that could be desired, and all that
can be expected, is that decisions. upon public
questions shall be made within a reasonable
time, be wisely made, and shall receive uniVer-
sal acquiesence. | am not aware that the
Government of the United States, although. it
is rendered very complex by internal checks
and balances, has failed at any time to act,
with not only as much wisdom, but also with as
much prOmptness in the conduct of its foreign
affairs as other nations generally do. 1t is now
seen that it was not necessary for M. jefferson
at any time during IL years to protest against
hostile criticisms on the purchase of Louisiana.
No one now thinks that the Government decided
either rashly or unwisely in the acquisition of
California. The sharpness of criticism upon the
acquisition of the United States into the tropical
seas is an affair scarcely less important than
either of these. 1t would have been wonderful
if it had escaped a searching popular investiga-
ton.
At the same time that Mr.. Seward was thus
hopeful the American Minister at Copenhagen
writes:
Mr.. Yeamam to M. Seward.
Legation of the United States, }
Copenhagen, Jan. 20, 1868.
Sir The treaty has been voted for by the
Folkething, thelower house of the Rigsdag, and
is now under consideration in the Landsthing,
upper chamber, where it is also expected that
the result will be favorable. 1t is now believed
that the treaty will be ready to leave Copenha-
gen by the 31st inst. Ihave now confidentially,
Groro dsGonnn4 a,,nao zuLo4 L lAAA.- A-L.-1--