New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-12-27
Gcntrai America.

with information from nesry every portion Of
Central America to the lst o. that month. lt'
tenor 10 OF such importance tia. W. have decided
TO present, instesd Of on, letters, careful ard
temperate digest. The Authenticity Of the state
nents as Of fac. may be relied on
The facts that ths British Com missioner Chat
field has for some time been pursuing most sg'
gfessive and hghhsoded course-shas ne has
seized upon an island previously ceded ~ the
government Of n Jn3uras 10 the United Statcs-
and that be acts ss though determined 10 outrage
eyerv essential right ard sentiment OF sel'rtspec,
cherished By the feeble republics among and upon
whom he is operating, have already been So, birth
Ia our columns. Bat We did not till now know, Or
Rad not remarked that bic seizure Of the island d
Tigre was made in tbs face Of "a Official Dotiscs
ton that il bad been ceded 70 the United Slater
Nor bsd we been spprissd that the outrage thQi
committed ~ a British force acting under hia di
rec.ion had been repeated at the port OF Troxiiio
We refrain from irritating comment on these gros'
wrongs, because we are confident they were ners'
authorized AID will DO promptly di'avoved b. the
British q JvernmeDt and that all causes Of oHense
whether On the part Of Honduras or Of the United
States, will thss DO removed. Bat TO our relation
Of the facts
The River Gan Juan and its source, the LAKE
Kicar.eu, afford, it 10 now morally certain. the
only practicable route for 5bip Canal connecting
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at suy point be
tween Behring's Straits and those OF Magellan.
BY this route there is already practicable water
communication from tina Atlaoiic 10 the head Of
Lake Nicaragua, within Gf.eeD miles Of the Pacific,
through which fifteen miles 4 Ship CANA can be
made with grea. facility and inexhsustby fed
from ths spacious Lake In question. AressonsbIy
oapaoiOus Ship Canal on this route would be worth
not less then One Hundred Millions Of Dollars to
tho human race, and would probably afford AZ
income OF Three Millions per snnum while lts
entire cost need not exceed Five Millions
This route lies entirely within the rightlul limits
of Niearagus, formerly portion Of tho Republic
If Central Americs, but more recently indePend-
ent by reason Of tho dissolution OF the Central
American Federation. Nicarsgus has granted
to citizens of this country the right - construct
tho Ship Canal in question, under most favorable
charter, which is Understood to be guaranteed and
upheld by treaty, net yet promulgated between
our own Government and that Of Nicaragua 1t is
we'll Known, however, that there 10 an express
and essential stipulation that said Canal, which
constructed, shall be open TO the vessels OF oil
nations on equal terms Why, then, should the
fact that Americans hold the charter excite Jesi-
ousy or hostilityf
Yet the British traders and specu sIors ia ecu
trail Anerics-of whom we think 1t will prove
that Mr.. Cha,seld is a more faithful representa-
tive than he is Of the British Government have
regarded the project of Ship Canal constructed
ssd controlled by Americans with undlssemblcd
aversion and active enmity. Hence the stretch
ing Of the claims Of their trumpery King OF Mos
quito down to and across the river San Juan, and
their forcibe seizure In his name OF the Nicara
gasn port OF dreytown at its mouth hence also
the moro recent outrsges OF which We are about
40 speak more freely
Tue Gulf OF Fonseca or Conchs qua 10 the Pacific
terminus Of the proposed Ship Canal between the
two Oceans. l. 10 a magnificent body Of water,
aud around II cluster the independent States Of
Nicsraguh, Honduras aud San Salvador. With
the sole exception Of the Bay OF sss Francisco, it
10 probably the most important and valuable po-
si.on on the Western coast Of this continent. It's
Islands, harbors. ports and resources, are scarcely
paraleed on that coast, who 1t lies very nearly in
the direct line Of communication between Europe
aud the chief seats Of Asiatic Population and
Commerce. Whenever the great Pacific Railway
shall have been completed, San Francisco or what
ever point in California or Oregon may be its IVES
terra terminus, may hops to rival the Western out.
let Of tbs Nicaragua Ship Canal in Importance to
the commerce of the wide world
The British Government saw fit 10 have this
Gulf or Bay scientifically examined by Com
Belchor in her behalf 90 long since as ls37. His
report affirmed its great importance, s al,o tha,
any ship canal through Nicaragua must terminate
therein. Such, We believe, 10 now the general
conviction.
On the ssth Of September lmt, in view Of the
setzdre Of Greytown by British force aud the
steady enoroachmen,s Of British influence along
the line OF the proposed Canal and around its
eastern terminus, Our Charge 10 Central Ametics,
NJ. K. g. Sqaier arranged the terms Of q Treaty
with Honduras which 10 desgne to afford addition,
al facilities and guarantees to the construction Of
the Snip Canal aud among them provided for the
oession of the small island of Tisre, holding a
mos, important position ia tho 6uf or Bay Of
Foasscs. to the United States. The popriety Of
this act is g question between MIR. Sguisr and b,
own Government, which We shall not here d s.
cass All tho material facts are not ye, before
,hs pablic, and cannot be until the Treaty shGl
have been approved by the Presden, aud ratified
OF rejected by the Senate. II Great Britain O
Mr.. ChssRsld has anything to oiler, j, viii then he
10 order.
The TACT Of such ces'on was Immediately pro-
mslsed by Mr.. sQaisr in an official cirou'M. 4
terntgh aftcrrsr4, Me Chs,deid, the British
mans sllwork ia Central America proceeded 70
me ast IN the British war steamer q ,rsoa on tae
io'o o. October he landed on the isl,nd OF riere.
esaee but not yet formally transferred to the
oa''ed states, AID took lorcible Military pos,e,
s'on thereof In the name Of Great Britain See
the eiiieial documents snnex.dl Th., M so.,s,
Immediately and emphssically protested go,
this act and demanded restitution Wa o.,n,ia,,
matter Of oearse. bat NO zach prs,.., h.. -,
tHsnspired. and Of course no response ,r,,, ~.
Cha,Hed.
Tee latter did not stop hsss-iuae.a ~h,
shoald he 1.-The is to have his own x,y ~.
shoald be thankful tor Whatever be may Condo.
seend 70 leave. he seixed slands b.lonsips :,