The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-20

To the Editors Of The Union :

To the Editors Of the Union;
From all the facts OF which the public are now in pos
session respecting the "Nicaragua difficulty" the whole
question seems worthy of consideration in national
point OF view How do our rights stand they
cognsed by the laws OF nations in the first place Mr.
Chatied, who u the agent Of his government and is
doub acting under specific instructions, protests against
me execution Of the contract between the government OF
Nicaragua and certain citizens OF the United States on
Two grounds LIST % the ground that the grant IN qaes-
on is IN conflict with the territorial rights OF the Mos
quito King and 2dly that there debts due by Central
America 10 British subjects which must be first satisfied,
provided for BY the company TO which the grant OF them
s made; or the consul protests in the name OF the
British government against the ratification oil the con-
tract, and declares in emphatic language shat the
Queen Of Great Britain has decided TO sustain the
rights OF the Mosquito King and in consequences,
whatever act may be done against him, will infalli
bly, draw down on Nicaragua the most severe chas.
tisement' This declaration involves question of ter
riory between the Mosquito King and Nicaragua, and
England undertakes 10 arbtrate the matter lit the quota
tion above is by the direction sanction OF the British
governmenD without the consent OF the Nicaraguan gov
eminent; and they by that declaration have decided that
the Nicaraguan government have no right to the terri
tory IN question: and he further declares that his govern
ment has decided TO sustain the decision" IL the Brit
ish government can lind any principle in the laws OF
tons that will warrant such unjustable interference
with the domestic affairs OF another government they have
searched the pages OF Vatte, Pudendorf and Grous,
with more than "America" On the contrary, Kent
(vo l. p 2o) declares .that each nation has right to
govern itself il may think proper, and nation
entitled TO dictate form OF government or religion,
titled to take cognzance notice OF the domestic admin
istration OF another State"
The same principles be found in Vattel, Droit des
Gems, b. 2, c. 4, 81. And Gen. Washington said "No
governments ought to interfere with the internal con
Germs OF another except for the security of tat due
them Sparkss Wriiingse Washington. poi 1I
p. 3S2 The opinion OF Gen. Washington seems pecu-
ary applicable TO the under discussion Admit,
for the sake OF argument, that the proposed canal
Dun through territory that is claimed by the Mosquito
King. II such the case il would be the duty OF
IN
protest against the grant. and not for the British govern
nent to make that protest on his behalf and there is
proof, that have seen, that the Mosquito King considers
he grant as an infringement Of his territorial rights
Therefore is to be presumed, in the absence Of such
proof that the British government has taken the sole re-
,ponsibity OF the protest
The second proposition is, that the debts OF Central
America due to British subjects be first satisfied be-
fore they will recognise the grant Both OF these posi-
belongs to Ss Ks s has
# the debts 81 British subjects being provided for by the
company This view of the c2se leads one to believe
hat the Mosquito kingdom is bare name, and that Eng
and is Emporium IN imperi0."
But let US, for the sake OF argument suppose that the
grant will not be recognised by Great Britain if the debts
grant be nevertheless good 1t would undoubtedly by
every principle of law recognised by civilized nations
The Minister OF Foreign Affairs Of the Nlcaraguan gov
eminent lays down the principle thus: 81" those aena
lions (neaning the grant to Brown, and renewed by
White do furnish her meanng the Nicaraguan gov
ernmenU with necessares sufficient to pay her debts the
result will TALL upon her in its full force" And further
eason as well as law dictates the principle that cred
Tor has right to dispose OF his property he thinks
proper provided he has sufficient left to satisfy all just
demands against hm and this principle is equally just in
Is application to nations Taking this equitable view of
he subject, the declaration OF the British CONSUL Mr.
.hatfeld amounts 10 decree OF bankruptcy against the
Nicaragnan government II is the duty OF creditor to
exhaust the property possession OF the debtor before he
seek TO annu contracts made by him and this Great
Britain IS bound 10 DO with the property OF the Ncara
yuan government before they resort to the property
conveyed by the said government to bona file purchasers
third point for consideration is the declaration of Mr.
Squer, our charge TO Nicaragua, in his diplomatic
speech to the Ncaraguan minister's: "The American con-
lnent must belong to Americans" This is only the re-
teraon Of the doctrine of President Monroe, on the
,round that would be incompatible with the peace and
security Of this government 10 allow any foreign nation
o obtain foothold on this continent Let US now see
of nations. In Kent vol; l. p, 20, is the following
Every nation has undoubted right to provide Tor its
safety, and TO take due precauton against distant
well as impending danger. The right Of set-preserpa-
hon paramount 10 all other considerations And again:
may be engaged n in behalf OF our neghbors If II
be very certain that we must suffer BY their ruin"
Now il is the duty Of the United States TO inquire how
The interference OF Great Britain into the Ncaraguan az
fairs affects us as a nation and il the sages OF the
try find that the claims OF the British government
sustained, with the prosperity and peace
Of this country. nothing remains Tor us to 40 but to
government do not want to be understood as advoca
ling war; for, Heaven such calamity but merely
determination 10 sustain our rights and TO compel an
observance OF tbempeaceaby if we can, orciby II we
must"
Another question arises: "How far our government
will interfere in sustaining the rights OF citizens in
and to The grant as made by the NIcaraguan govern
ference Unsuitable on any other ground " But l defer
'' y : '''''i''"' ''' AMERICA.
For the Union.