Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-15
More Annexation.

While our government is busy in carrying
on its schemes of annexation IN North Ameri-
ca, Great Britain is not only suhjugating In
dia, but it seems, is turning her attention
toward the acquisition of territory in Cen
trail America.
About thirty years ago, one Sir GEoRGE
McGREGoR, an Englishman, or probably a
Scotchman, got himself elected chief of the
Poyais Indians, branch of the Mosquitoes
South Of the Mosquitoes, is the outlet of lake
Nicaragua, and San Juan, the most feasible
route for canal from the Gulf Of Mexico
10 the Pacific.
This route, the British Government means
10 get under its control. Pretending to be-
friend their ally the Mosquitoes, because
McGnEGon, British subject, was once
their chief, British officials, acting, avowcd-
~, under ministerial Instructions, suddenly
set up a claim to the port and the whole
river of San Juan, as properly belonging,
not to themselves, indeed, but to their inter-
esting allies, tribe Of semi-ciyilizcd. or
uncivillzed Indians, whose rights and limits
they are determined to Neutrality-suspicious.
any regard TO the claims of the feeble Gov
ernment of Nicaragua, though founded on
actual settlement aud undisputed occupation
from time immemorial." A consnl's 90 n
gent"-ior the consul himself keeps in the
background-writest to the "Honorabe Com
mandaDt of the Government of Nicaragua
in magisterial tone:-" II is proper should
state to you, as you can scarcely have been
otherwise informed of il, that Mr.. Char
FIELD, Her Majcsty's Consul General in
Central America, has received instructions
10 point ont to the Suites of Central Ameri-
ca, the limits which the British Government
h determined TO maintain, as the right of the
King of the Mosquitoes, aud that those limits
comprehend the San Juan river" The Nj
caraguan Minister of Foreign Relations re-
plies to the British Vice Consul, MIR. JouS
Foster, reminding him that " il is notorious
TO the whole world, that from time imne-
morial, Nicaragua has had quiet and peace
able possession of, and sovereignty in, the
said port" of San Juan; "that il is the only
port she possesses on the Atlantic coast, and
the seat Of her principal export and import
trade with all other nations; that from this
is derived the principal revenue of the State;
and that, consequently, il il be intercepted
by the occupation in question, she will be
deprived Of oae Of the principal resources
upon which she relies to pay the debt due in
Great Britain" But what will all this avail
to Nicaragua, followed as il is, by gentle
threat of reputation, and even of resistance;
in which the State Of Salvador gallantly
promises IL aid. Jamaica is but few hun
drcd miles distant, with ships and regiments;
Mesquite recruits or auxliaries are near at
hand in numbers; aud few launches and
periaguas would enable British expedition
TO perform the double duty of surveying the
San Juan up 10 the lake--the canal route
in the most scientific manner, and taking
possession of the city of Nicaragua, the key
20 the whole country, at one and the same
moment. Il would not prove very sur
prising event to Us, TO learn, before many
months, that such an expedition was on its
way up the San Juan.
What il Mr.. Polk stands up to his dec
larations, that no European Government
shall. make any new colonial settlement in
America' John Bull, il driven to finesse-
Ing, will reply, Dear brother jonathan, |
am making no new col lnial settlement |
am only enlarging an old settlement, and
extending the area Of the Mosquitoes, -
What would MIR. Polk replyi