202
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
coasts and levied war contributions at Sisal and Merida. The admin- istration of Lamar was an era of honor and progress in the history of Texas; but he had the vile, unpardonable habit of "mixing too freely" with poor folks; and as that is not the class to indulge in costly wines, he sometimes "disgraced his rank" by taking a glass ·of ·"miserable whisky" with them. No one, however, ever accused him of taking anything else from the people. His kind heart, his stainless integrity, his patriotic devotion to the interests of the masses, his brave vigilance for the honor of his flag, and his capacity to embrace and fulfill the highest duties of his position, are above suspicion and beyond reproach. But all this cannot balance the enormity of "taking his siesta in his shirt sleeves," and who sits down with publicans and sinners. A minister could not well have a more unpleasant mission assigned him than that of Gen. Lamar in Nicaragua and Costa Ripa. Those republics have been playing fast and loose with us ever since we re- lieved them from the presence of Walker, and they refuse to look upon the American minister as anything more than the "diplomatic valet" of the British envoy. Yet in this false and discouraging position, Gen. Lamar has given general satisfaction to the governments to which he is accredited, as well as his own. His despatches are admitted to be as clear, as able, and as comprehensive as those of any other minister in Central America, and whatever there may be to complain of in the paltering delay of our isthmus negotiations, the fault is not in Min- ister Lamar.
THE STATES.
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 8, 1859.
No. 2730
[1859 Feb. 9] OUR MINISTER IN NICARAGUA" 40 Oun MINISTER IN NICARAGUA. - A telegram from Washington, which we published yesterday, stated that the Administration was in- clined to discredit the reports of Gen. LAMAR'S excesses in Nicaragua. We are not surprised to hear it. Every American would be naturally disposed to discredit rumors of conduct so utterly unbecoming to Gen. LAMAR personally, and so disgraceful to the country which he rep- resents. But the President has no right to yield to this very natural and proper inclination at the expense of truth, and to the damage of the public interest. He has it in his power to verify these statements at pleasure. There are now, either on file in the State Department, or in the private possession of Gen. CAss, representations from American officials to precisely the same effect as those published in the Turns, and confirming, to the fullest extent, everything we have said upon the subject. If these are not sufficient, let the President call upon the officers of the Decatur, the Merrimack, or any other ship of the United States squadron at the port of Leon, - or upon the Commodore of the
"°Clipping from The Neu York Times.
Powered by FlippingBook