The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-30

The NIcARAeUA QUESTION A..
intelligence which reached = .uSs ~
we are incline .' =, ra
- -; :, h",,' not insist on the pretensions
49, n AL ,hs .p in regard to the Mosquito ter
49, ~ n;r claims of his coppercolored majes-
- y, ms ~ Bowlegs of Mosquito, whom that DIS
'N Sed government has taken into its particular
v re and keeping, provided that the American COM
pany to whom was granted the privilege of con-
structlng communication between the two oceans
will allow it, when finished, to be open to the CON-
merce of the world, no nation having preference
over another. From the tone Of the latest English
papers, We have no doubt that such an arrangement
could be easily effected; but although it would be
TO the interest of the American company to take
such course, and although they probably intend
ed, in the first place, to adopt that policy, there Is
no reason why 1t should be forced on them by TO-
reign government, under cover of claim which
really has no foundation in right, and which is
nothing but ilimsy pretext for acquiring posses
sion OF the only practicable route for constructing
ship canal between the two oceans. We have
no hesitation in declaring, that If that portion of
the continent did not offer facilities for forming
such communication, his majesty, Billy Bowlegs,
would have been, TO this day, not only an un-
crowned monarch, but a sans cuiotfG-a bare head
ed, whiskey drinking, besotted Indian, as he
and all his tribe were previous TO his coronation
in jamaica England saw that Nicaragua pos
sessed that particular point, and she determined
to have it. Some show of claim should be set up,
and she manGuvred to bring about separate
dependency within the precincts of the State of
NicaTaDua n
with, all she had to do was, to employ her agents
to folm separate kingdom, independent of Mica
ragua-scare up an lndan-crown HIM King-and
then take him under her charge, and guaranty the
integrity of his kingdom. When such determine
ton was entered into, England doubtless contem-
plated. at no distant day, 10 possess that point
clusively, to construct the canal, and to be sole
owner lhereol-allowing British vessels to pass
through II at Nominal rate, but charging the
vessels of all other nations pretty well, with the
double view of favoring British commerce. and
making the canal "A source of revenue. The prin-
ciples of tree trade, however-which have made
such progress, within few years, throughout the
world-havipg proved, practically that any regula-
ton tending to limit the field of commerce in any
way, whether by imposts, taxes, or duties of any
kind, while il coniers no immediate benefit on the
party making it, INJURIES ALL more or less England Is
now willing enough not to push her pretensions,
provided the American company, when it con-
structs the proposed canal, will throw it open to
the commerce of all nations, equal terms, giving
one a preference over another.
This is the position In which this Nicaragua
question stands at present. England has set up
certain pretensions, which she will insist on if
the proposed canal be not free to all nations.
If it be free-if ships of all countries be al
LEVIED to pass through it on equal terms
then her claims will not be put in the way
of accomplishing the work. But this is a piece
of dlc,ation which We ought not to submit TO
for England cannot convince us that the preten-
sions which she has set up in favor OF the Mosque
TO boy-kirg, have any legitimate foundation. In
fact, her Intervention in the matter was merely
piece OF fraud and trickery, and can be proved to
be so, by the written declaration of one Of her own
commissioners, through whose insrumentality the
boy-ln was caught and crowned Testimony
OF this character In the handwriting OF such COM
missioner, is we are informed, in the possession OF
the cabinet at Washington, and will be exhibited
to Great Britain at the proper time if she desires
an inspection Of it. The only stand for this 90
yernment TO take, is 10 act in this Nicaragua mat
ter as # England had no legitimate claims on the
Mosquito territory, and as if his Majesty, the Mos
quito Billy -Bowlegs, is more than he was before
the farce Of GROWING him was performed-an In
dian savage.