The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-22
The troubles on the Istbmus.

We published on Thursday telegraphic des
tch relating to the fight on the Isthmus. The
Commercial Advertiser throws new light on this
in eresting item Of news, and We think, explains
satisfactorily the origin and inconectness of the
rumor.
We notice that some Of the morning papers
copy the Panama EchOS account Of the riotOus
proceedings among the Chagres boatmen. as II
il was a new outbreak This II a mistake
The Stars narrative is merely another version of
the affair which took place at the departure of
the Cherokee, a. is manifest by a comparison Of
the dates. Like the reports heretofore received
in this city, the Star states that twenty or thirty
Americans were killed, and a much larger num-
Der Of blacks. The whole matter, though bad
enough, has probably been much exaggerated
II IL not very likely that 40 manv as twenty or
thirty Americans had been killed. and no more
particular account Of il brought by the steamers
which left Chagres so long after the occurrence
There is little doubt, however, that affairs are
in very bad condition at Chagres, and call for
measures to be taken by our government for the
protection Of the lives and property Of its citi
zens, whose business may require them 10 pass
through the place. TIE s. ar says
An American scarce dare own himself M
such now in the neighbOrhood Of Chagres. else
will he have horde cf semi-savages uron him
TO cut and hew him into pieces. Ills only safe
ty is TO deny bis country, and say he is an Eng.
lishman or Frenchman. This is outrageous
and If our government will not protect us here
we must solemnly band together and teach those
who would modest in the peaceable pursuits
Of our business or pleasure, that we will depend
upon our arms--hsg or no fiag-to protect our
,,d pf.s,, A
liberties.
Gov. Diaz il, we believe, anxious and willing
10 remedy these evils, but without assistance
and CO. operation from the other branches Of his
government, he can do but little, and in many
instances, If we have been correctly informed,
he has been severely censured by his own coun.
trymen, for the little he has done.
If the grievances under which The American
residents and soiourners on the llhmus have so
long been laboring, are not soon remeded, we
cannot see how either this government or our
own can expect anything else but that war Of
races will spring up which will send It's rivers
Of blood from ocean to ocean, and which, in its
course, will carry desolation and misery that
years upon years cannot heal.
II further states that Gen. Diaz left Panama
on the goth Of October, accompanied by his Sc
cretary, for the purpose of investigating the
doings.
The Panama Echo, in ar article on the dis
turbahces, advocates the necessity Of United
States force at Chagres and Panama, so disposed
that il can be brought to bear on any point Of
the Istbmus. II is Of opinion that the neces
sary permission Of the Grenadian government
can be obtained if matters are correctly repre-.
sented at Bogota. The Star also advocates the
stationing Of armed U. s. troops on the Tstbmus
whether permission can be obtained from New
Grenada or not