Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, February 3, 1851

February 3, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—You will receive the suggestion which I am about to make as being unexpected.

I look upon the Nicaragua Mission, and all the Nicaraguan affairs, as being, at this moment, the most delicate and important point in our foreign relations. Among all who are applying for appointments abroad, members of Congress, and others, I do not know a man whom I think qualified to be Chargé d'Affaires at Nicaragua. We are in danger of collision with England, and of entanglements, on the other hand, with these little republics.

At the same time, the amount of transit of goods and passengers across the Isthmus, at this point, is very large and fast increasing. We need a well-informed, safe, sound, and accomplished political agent; and the best qualified man I know is William Hunter, one of the senior clerks in this Department. Mr. Hunter is about forty years old, belongs to Rhode Island, and is a sober, clear-headed, hard-working man. He was originally well educated, has been in this Department a good while, and for ten years or more has had charge of all the correspondence with the South American States. He reads and speaks Spanish well. All the South American Legations here, know him, and regard him highly. He is perfectly familiar with the constitutions, interests, and objects of all these American States, from Mexico to Buenos Ayres. If he were at Nicaragua, I should feel perfectly confident that no European agent, and no American government or minister, would obtain any advantage over him, or be able to lead him into any act of imprudence.

As to political effect, I know nothing to be expected from his appointment, but the general satisfaction which the selection of a person purely from considerations of capacity and fitness would give to the country.

All this is merely for your consideration. Of course I have said nothing of it to Mr. Hunter himself, nor has any such idea, I presume, ever entered his mind.

Yours truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 416-7

Five Days Later From Europe

FT. DOENLSON NEWS IN ENGLAND.

How it was Received -- American Securities Higher -- Cotton Lower.

PORTLAND, March 19. – The steamship Anglo Saxon, Capt. John Graham, from Liverpool on the 6th, via Londonderry, arrived here this morning.  Her dates are five days later.

GREAT BRITAIN. – The importance of the Federal victory at Fort Donelson was generally recognized in England, causing an advance in American securities and a depression in cotton.

The London Times admits the success of the Federals and their importance, and says, “they have been gained in districts where the allegiance of the population was divided, but they have scarcely brought the Federal Government any nearer than before to a reconstruction of the Union.”

The London Morning Post hopes that both the Unionists and the secessionists will look upon the present state of affairs an affording ground for a compromise of their difficulties, and the conquest of the south is beyond the attainment of the North, on the one hand, and the complete establishment of their independence on the other, may be beyond the power of the South.

Cyrus W. Field had an interview with Earl Russell recently, in regard to connecting Europe and America by a cable from Iceland to Newfoundland.  The interview is understood to have been satisfactory and encouraging.  The annual meeting of the Atlantic Telegraph Company was to be held in London on the 19th of March, to receive the report of the Board of Directors.

Great excitement and violence attended the election of the member of Parliament for Longport, Ireland.  The military were called out and charged upon the rioters several times.  No lives were lost, but many persons were injured.

Sir Henry and Edward Mugridge, extensive iron manufactures in England, had failed.  Liabilities, £5,520,000.  It was feared their assets would turn out unsatisfactory.  The continuous fall in breadstuffs is alleged to have been the cause of their failure.

The Paris correspondents of the London newspapers give reports that many hundreds of arrests had taken place there.  All men suspected of having been chiefs of barricades in former insurrections have been imprisoned.  These measures had increased the uneasy feelings prevailing.  Bourse on the 5th flat and lower.  Rentes quoted 69 70c.

The emperor has sent a quarter of a million francs out of his own private purse to be distributed among the workmen at great industrial centers.

Brazil mails have reached England.  Buenos Ayers was quiet, and peace was expected to be fully restored by the end of February.  The probability of a war between England and America restricted operations in produce at Brazil. – Business in Coffee was limited, owing to extreme prices, which had advanced to 69½@71.

The following is a summary of the news taken out by the Glasgow:  There was no news of the City of Baltimore when the Glasgow left Liverpool.  She was a week overdue.

Mr. Layard stated in the House of Commons, in reply to enquiries, that an officer of the Sumter named Myers, accompanied by a Mr. Tompkins, of Cadiz, had landed at Tangiers from a French merchant vessel, and were arrested by the United States Consul, who requested the assistance of the Moorish troops for this purpose, but he (Layard) was not aware that any pressure had been put on the Moorish Government.  Myers and Thompson have since been released.

Lord Palmerston, in response to enquiries, said the Government originally intended sending a much larger force to Canada than that dispatched, and it was only in consequence of representations from the Colonial authorities that the number was reduced.  He believed the promptitutde, vigor, and power displayed by the Government had tended greatly to a peaceful solution of the difficulty with America.  The total number of the British army is 227,000, and of these over 24,000 are in the American possessions.  The House of Commons has adopted a resolution declaring that the colonies exercising the right of self-government ought to undertake the responsibility of providing for their own internal security.  Mr. Halliburton protested against the resolution as ill-timed.

The steamer Bermuda left Liverpool on the 1st inst. for Bermuda.  She had a large general cargo, including a considerable quantity of merchandise under the designation of hardware.  It is believed her cargo was destined for the Southern ports.

It was stated that Mr. Peabody had offered if the funds collected for the Prince Albert memorial should be devoted to a charitable institution, to give £100,000 towards it, or failing in this, that he had determined to spend the sum in building houses for the working classes of London.  Mr. Peabody quits England for a time with a fortune of £60,000 per annum.

It is reported that Smith O’Brein had challenged Sir Robert Peel, offering to meet him in France or Belgium.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 3

From Washington

WASHINGTON, March 4.

Besides taxed articles telegraphed by the Associated press flour is taxed at 10 cents per brl.; carriage valued above $50 for one horse $1; ditto for two horses $2; carriages valued over 200, $5; over $600, $10; plate of gold 50 cents per troy ounce; plate of silver 3 cents per troy ounce; slaughtered cattle 50 cents each.  Those are not included which are for the slaughterers’ consumption.  Hogs 10 cents, sheep 5 cents – the last to be levied annually, when specified animals are slaughtered.  For soap 5 cents per pound to tallow chandlers and soap makers.  Apothecaries, photographers and other manufacturers, not specified, each $10.

Andy Johnson’s nomination as Brigadier General, was sent into the Senate and confirmed unanimously.  He leaves for Tennessee speedily.

Brevet promotions of all the officers at Pickens have been sent to the Senate.  Some are promoted one grade, and some two.

The statement that Blair procured or attempted to procure an appointment for Sigel, as Major General, as wholly untrue.

The common Council of the city of Washington passed a resolution last night remonstrating against the abolition of slavery in the District by 10 to 5.

One man, said to have been a mail carrier across the Potomac, declared himself a friend to slavery in the District and in every State of the Union, and was willing to wear the brand on his forehead.

The water was all let out of the Ohio and Chesapeake canals on Sunday night, between Georgetown and the Chain bridge, used heretofore for the transportation of provisions to the troops.  The canals will henceforth, be guarded.

Andy Johnson accepts the military governorship of Tennessee, whither he will soon go.

The first five million of new Treasury notes will be issued to pay Quatermaster General’s debts.  With the next issue western and southwestern troops will be paid.

The House military committee is considering the proposition for a National Cemetery, by which three hundred acres will be apportioned among several States.

Gen. Blenker was before the Senate Military committee to-day.

Robt. O. Kirk, late Lieut. Governor of Ohio, has been nominated Minister to the Argentine Confederacy.

Secretary Chase sent the excise bill to the committee of ways and means too late for use in this dispatch.  It makes taxes much heavier, in some cases fifty per cent., than the bill before reported.

Ex-Congressman Abram Wakeman, was nominated Postmaster of New York City to-day.

Thos. Merritt is appointed general superintendent of gunboat Construction.

In the West twenty new gunboats are to be built.

Mr. Cowan made a pettifogging speech against Trumbull’s confiscation bill to-day.  He was fittingly congratulated by Messrs. Powell, Saulsbury and Wickliffe.  Mr. Morrill has the floor to-morrow.

Five or six members are absent from the Washington Common Council, otherwise they would give about a tie vote on the abolition question.

WASHINGTON, March 4.

The following dispatch was received to-night from the correspondent of the Associated Press:

Gen. Banks’ forces occupied Martinsburg yesterday, without opposition, and the pickets continue to bring prisoners; although few in number, they are of much importance.

Among those taken, last night, was the Rev. T. J. McVeigh, chaplain of the 2^nd Va. Infantry.  He was captured by company K, Michigan cavalry, near Berryville.

Intelligence from Winchester leads to the belief that Jackson is there in full force, and has completed his preparations to oppose our approach.  Three miles east of that place the same authority says, the enemy is well provisioned, supplied and clothed.

Gen. McClellan issued a general order, announcing with deep regret, to the army of the Potomac, the death of Brig. Gen. Lander.  He pays a high compliment to his public services, intelligence and courage.

Gen. McClellan to-day issued a general order, dismissing Col. Kerrigan from the service, for the various offenses of which he was convicted by Court Martial.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 1

Later Foreign News

PORTLAND, Feb. 10.

The steamship Jura, which left Liverpool on Thursday the 30th and Londonderry 31st, arrived at 11:45 to-night.

Mason and Slidell had arrived at Southampton. No demonstration was made. The former went to London, the latter went to Paris.

Sales of cotton for the day 28,000 bales, including 12,000 to speculators and exporters. Market firmer, with an advance of one quarter. Advices from Manchester favorable.

It was rumored that the Government had ordered the Nashville to quit Southampton but extended the time for her departure, owing to danger from the Tuscarora. It was also rumored that the government will prohibit armed ships of either party remaining over 24 hours in any British port.

The following is the Etna’s report. Earl Russell, in a dispatch dated January 23d, to Lord Lyons, says the English government differ entirely from Mr. Seward’s conclusions on the question whether the persons taken from the Trent and their supposed dispatches were contraband.

It was rumored that the vessel which the Sumter engaged off Algiers was the Iroquois. There was no news of either.

It was reported that the Tuscarora was about to quit Southampton. The destination was kept secret.

The Times, in a characteristic article, calls for something decisive in America. It says: “Unpleasant complications must arise of the present state of affairs continue much longer.”

Napoleon opened the French Chamber on the 27th. He said, “the civil war which desolates America has greatly compromised our commercial interest. So long, however, as the rights of neutrals are respected, we must confine ourselves to expressing wishes for an early termination of those dissensions.

France recommended Rome to reconciliate the Court of Turin. Antonellia absolutely refused all terms.

There were contradictory rumors of an enlarged French expedition to Mexico.

The London Times remarks on Mason and Slidell that both will probably keep quiet and wait events that are at hand.

PARIS, Jan. 30. – The Moniteur says the dismission of Mr. Cameron gives England great satisfaction.

LONDON, Jan. 30. – Mason and Slidell have left for Paris.

MADIRD., Jan. 30. – Mr. O’Donnell declares that France has made no separate engagement with Spain. The Spanish Government has no reason to suppose that France intends settling the affairs of Mexico without considering the wishes of other powers.

Very latest via Londonderry. – A telegram from Lisbon announces further satisfactory news from Buenos Ayres. Strico’s Fleet was taken by the Buenos Ayreans.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 12, 1862, p. 1