Year: 1859

The Secretary of States letter to Gen. Lamar.
Of which detached passages have already been
communicated to the public, appears even better
~ whole than in fragmentary FORM 1t is a
paper OF uncommon ability in respect ofltcrary
execution; but its chief excellence in ito sub.
stance OF argument and policy. The vigor of
spirit. =


Secretary Cass propounds three principles az


The basis Of our relations with the States of
Central America First, that this government
does not desire any exclusive use Of the 18th.
mian highways, but would prefer that they be
thrown open to the free enjoyment If ali ma.
tions. The United States will not act the DOG
in the manger in regard to these transits, for e
is our obvious policy to attract the commerce
OF the east across the American continent.
SO much on the SCORE Of expediency but if
our interests were different, we could not ven.
ture to claim IN exclusive possession of the
lsthmiaa routes, since we, of all nations, have
exhibited the greatest pertinaciy in ob;ecting
to arbitrary impedments in the channels Of
trade. The United States initiated the move
mcnt for the abolition of the Baltic and State
dues, and it is not for US to abandon a liberal
enlightened policy for the sake Of selfish adyan-
tages. ~ ..


But, while this government is willing TO ac.
cord an equality Of commercial privilege over
the lsthmlan highways to the other nations of
the EARTH it asserts for itself peculiar political
interest in that quarter Hence. in the second
place. General Cass cmphatically protests a.
Central America. Nay, he distinctly declares
that the United States will resist such an en-.
enactment BY all the means in their power.
This avowal by the government il simply res
ponsive to the popular sentiment of the country.
1t is nothing to US If the western powers" and
Great Britain in particular, attempt to exercise
prOtectorate over the weaker States of the
eastern hemisphere. We have long since dis.
claimed any wish to take part in the politics of
Europe. But with an equal force of resolution
We have determined TO admit no other nation
to share of authority on this continent and
We are not likely to renounce this traditional
policy when its maintenance is essential to the
protection Of our interests in very delicate
quarter. We have paramount right to unin-
terrupted communication between the Atlantic
and Pacific dOminions, and we do not intend
that any power shall thrust itself across our path.
either in America or upon the Central Ameri-
can Is'hmus.


In regard to the relations subsisting between
this government AMI the States of Central Anne.
rica, Gen. Cass PROCESSES readiness to discharge
all the engagements which treaties and public
law may exact Of US but, at the same time, he
avows determination To insist upon the literal
performance of the obligations which those
States have contracted with our citizens. In
announcing the third proposition of his letter,
be distinctly declares that 1.-The American peo.
pie and government have yielded enough to the
weakness Of these republics, and, without doing
injustice, we will now take care that we have
justice ourselves The country will cordially
sustain the patriotic Secretary in this resolute
purpose.