The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-19
THE REPUBLIC.


has continued 10 be occupied by wild Indians is ridi
culous The republic of Mexico rsublugated tne
Camanches, the Apaches, and other tribes OF rude
savages within the boundaries OF the State oil New
| Mexico. Does the British Government, therefore,
deem il TO be within its competence TO throw It's
mantle of protection over these savages, anu 70
deny citizens of the United States right OF way
| To the Pacific through the tract oil country over
| which these Indians have from time mmemonal
| roamed free and unconquered? No such act OF
! folly would Great Britain think of perPetrating;
yet she might do it, rather attempt To do IL Win
as much justice, reason, ana PROPHECY as sue -
now exhibiting in interfering in this Nicaragua
| business. The Camanches have been as little con-
| quered by Spain or by Mexico as have the Mosqui-
toes by Spain the republic oil Central America, or
| the separate States which formerly composed that
| republic. Ii the circumstance Of non -subJu-
cation the part of Spain or Of the State OF Nj
| caragua renders it within the competence" OF
Great Britain to assert the independence and SOW
erelgnty of the Mosquito king, and 10 protect MN
in the exercise Of his called territorial rights,
It Is equally within her competence to assert the
| independence and territorial rights OF numerous
| Indian tribes in New Mexico, In Oregon, and IN
| every one Of the republics Of Spanish America.
What boundless field she has for the exercise OF
her Indian sympathies. and for the application Of
this new principle of protection TO uncivilized In
| dans residing within the old and long established
4 limits of sovereign and independent States, which
she is now, appears DESTROYS of inerpolating into
/ the laws Of nations
| Again: The Mosquito shore independent,
|
| l76S, in 1885, and again in 1885, indispltably ac
k,Oicedsed the sovereignty of it to be in SPAIN and
most solemnly promised that he would cause it to
| be completely evacuated by all of his subjects who
had settled it, and never thereafter to encourage,
but on the contrary disavow any subjects of his
| who should thenceforh, under any pretence what
| ever, attempt to settle it; the Mosquito shore,
we say, unconquered then it has been
since. What fairness what consistency, therefore,
can there be in Great Britain's asserting princ-
pie in her dealings with the poor, little, weak State
of Nicaragua which she, three several times, with
all the soemnities of treaty stipuatons surrendered
in her negotiations with Spain, after long lcar, too,
and lchel that country toas one Of the most formida
| ole Of the European popers?
Soon after the treaty of 1855, according to the
writer in the Dublin Unipersty Magazi ne,') and
the evacuation of the Mosquito shore by the British
residents thereon, by reason of the thoughts and
minds of the English government and people be-
coming engrossed in the spritstirring events that
grew of the which broke out first in India
and then in Europe
''Mosquitia became dead letter in the cabinet OF
Great Britain, flung into the shade, lay alike forgot
ten and neglected or but grudgingly aided and but
| feebly protected. The only ties which appeared
still unbroken, were the custom of each Mosquitan
| king being crowned at Jamaica or Balze, or
educated at either of these places in England"
In his will, made at Balze in the year 1910, the
father of the present king commended his heirs and
nation to the patronage and protection of the Queen
| of Great Britain, which, however, were " feebly
and ftfully bestowed on his son. until 1874 when
|
| majesty Agent and Consul General for the Brit
ish Government at the Mosquito shore," who, upon
his arrival there, at once taking -" Prince George
| Augustus Frederick" under his immediate and
| personal superintendent, commenced new line
| of policy.
| &c He found the incpent king, if not newer of
wood and drawer of water, without establish
| ment, suite, attendants-a kind Of Punch and
Judy majesty, brought out particular occasions
only, but generally employed in offices degrading
! to the little parsonage"
Soon he was taught his proper position, his pre-
sent prospects, and future grave responsibility
was provided with an executive council, pages and
] attendants, and was crowned at Balize (where he
| was received with royal honors and Hospitality en-
tertained in right royal style) in May, lS45, being
| then fifteen years old. The whole ceremony we
| are told was conducted in most imposing and
| impressive manner, and the arduous duties of the
| youthful monarch ably explained, in clear and
| comprehensive sermon, by the Rev. DR.. Newport
The object of this 1ummery is transparent enough.
| The English authorities at Buefeds and Jamaica
| were manufacturing ga Punch and Judy king
| to serve their purposes at a future day
In ls47, the people of Nicaragua. having estab-
| lished themselves at the town of San Juan de Mica
ragua, at the mouth of and commanding the river,
imposed hartor dues and imposts upon all vessels
trading to that port, despatching goods up the
river to the interior Consul Walker soon made
an occasion to appear of the coast, one hne morn
! ing In October, lS47, in a British frigate, and
| caused the Nicaragua flag, which was hoisted on
the northern side of the river to be hauled down,
| cember following, Consul Walker proceeded again
| to the town of San Juan de Nicaragua, in
steamer, and appointed governor, port captain,
| and town major thereof. Col. Salas, a Nicara qua
officer, not well pleased with this proceeding,
after marched into the town, hauled down the Mos
quitian flag and hoisted that of Nicaragua in its
| room, not forgetting TO capture the three British
officials and Ia send them up to country quarters
| for change of air.
Upon receiving intelligence of this affair Consul
| Walker Immediately sent to San Juan the British
| steamer Vixen, the captain of which addressed
despatch to Col. Saas, which, In the language OF
our British major ''brief, but energetic, de-
handing instant reparation for the insult offered
and an humble apology, concluding with the pithy,
wholesome advice to consider well before the Mica
| ragua government drew down their country the
| Just vengeance of her Britannia ma csty." Notcon-
tent with this, Mr.. Walker despatched the Vixen TO
Jamaica, with letters for his exceency Sir Charles
Grey, the governor, who, upon receiving them, sent
to San Juan expedition, consisting of the British
| frigate Alarm and the steamer Vixen, having on
board company Of the 3Sth regiment from
which, on the 18th OF February, lS4S, combined
force of two hundred and sixty officers and men
stormed and captured the strong fort and well de-
| Tended stockade of Serapaqui, 10 which place Col
Salas and his troops had retired
Thus has Great Britain very recently and, il is
| To be presumed upon full consideration, asserted
both by force OF arms and officially, through her
consul at New York, the territorial rights of the
Mosquito king over the lower part of the river San
Juan, including the port at its mouth, and her obi
1
Now, II Is through the port, and up the river San
Juan, that ship communication across the isthmus
| and between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
| alone be effected. Such communication, free and
open to all nations upon the terms, is OBJ
ject OF interest and Importance 10 the whole com
mercial world, and the successful accomplishment
of that object II cannot be endured that Great Brit
ain should prevent, by trumpng up preposterous
and wholly untcnable territorial claims, in the name
of"a Punch and Judy" Indian king-a mere man
OF 'raw-and volunteering 70 protect him in the
assertion of those claims This can never be. In
the charter granted by the State Of Nicaragua to
company composed OF citizens of the United States
Tor the construction of this canal, no exclusive
privileges granted To the citizens of the United
States IL is to be opened by the express terms of
the charter to all the nations of the earth freely, at
all times, and upon the same terms. And into any
assumptions by the British government with re-
spect TO the territorial rights Of the Mosquito king
and TO the obligations resting upon it TO protect him
in the exercise of those rights-into any such as
sumphons which may stand in the way of the
construction of this great public highway of ma
tons, between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
under the grant recently obtained by company
| of from the % NiCAra