The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-20
Cen sral AMerfea A.,

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Central Auseriea.
TO THE EDITOR OF TIKI NEW YORK HERALD.
Allow me 10 add few more remarks, concern
ing Central America, to the many that have already
appeared in the columns Of your journal-so ready
always TO receive communications which tend 20
eniighien as well as amuse the American public.
In the first place will speak, in few words. Of
the inhabitants OF that cosntry. Being estimated
at about one million and half of Inhabitants, and
occupying the peninsula extending from Mexico to
New Granada; and hat peninsula being covered
principally by the range of the Csrdilleras, lakes,
rivers, CULTS, volcanos, and innumerable tracts Of
70 ky mountains, sterile, ana unprooucuve to 4
degree, leaves but small portion of land TO be
cultivHted and much OF that. TO the contrary not
withstandiDg Of what has been said, very, very
poor ind unpr0ductye indeed. Consequently,
from the fact of the Cordlleras running
parallel with the coast of the Pacific, at about
twenty to thirty miles distant in the interior,
and thence 10 the Gulf OF Mexico, the mountains
almost prohibiting cultivation, has induced the ma
nves to settle, as IS now the case commencing at
San Jose IN Costa Rico, to the town OF Nicaragua,
Granada, Leon, San Miguel, San Salvador, up to
Guatemala, all ranging from fifteen 70 thirty miles
into towns for mutual protection, arising from the
fact Of their internal feuds and not from any COM
mercial advantage as topositlon but comparative
ly from that Of agriculture, az the most, snd in
fine, may say nearly all composing town IN
Central America are Dsenas de una hacienda, or
owners Of plantation, by which they live, owning
house in town. and living there from the product
Of the farm. which may be ten, twenty. or fifty
miles OIL. The governor of a town or province,
owns his hacienda, and in the corner Of his house
in town. will have ''rienda;" which is a retail
when Inc Indian (after having toiled throughout
the week upon an indigo plantation, or more la
bonously, with crowbar IN hand, has made the
towt ring peak lof some high mountain shake,
WI in "A IA
and dismal hole, where the willy Spaniard, in tho
days Of COrtez, sought the pre- ciOus metal that
induces him to waste his life and substance con-
tending with the vapors, &c.,) brings his little
GAIN probably two to four ounces of silver to ex-
change for few yards Of muslin, tape, or, posi-
bly,, bottle Of some spirtuous liquor. You see all
ever the country this same state of things There
are three grades Of society: First, those holding
the reins of government, comprising the higher
order OF society, being principally whites, and, az
a general thing, men Of considerable attainments,
particularly In political point of view. Outvieing
even the intrigue and diplomacy of the celebrated
Frederic Chatfeld, the nstigator Of internal feuds
in that country, and the proud champion and vindi
Gator of her Majesty's rights and pretensi0ns on
the coast ofthe Pacific, from Ti9re Island to Tur-
tie bay. and back again the other way, from Mus
quito, TO Balize, including half way up the ST:
Johns river, over the mountains and valleys Of
Honduras, to the devil only knows where.
The second class of society is what we would
call half breeds, or, in other words they are de-
scended from the Spanish and Indians, and are Q
very decent race Of beings The girls in this class Of
society are very pretty, and well behaved, but,
of course, ignorant The third and last class are
the Indians and workers, poor devils indeed, igno-
rant TO letter, but harmless as mice having
no great vices, neither do they drink much but
will pfer little, and are given to idleness. In fine.
here you have the Central American people When
you the picture OF one class, tits true likeness
of the whole and venture to say, there is not a
people living on the face Of the globe, save our
selves, more favorably disposed towards strangers
than these very same Central Americans; know
il Humble nj n AL
kind, know them to be-not like the proud Mexi-
car, who, looking alone upon the picture Of the
approaching the halls of his former greatness No,
they know their ignorance, and are willing to re-
medy it.
The question now arses-as we have COM
menced operations in that country tor its future
greatness and our gain, and as we have rejected
the ue ATTY made for the protection OF Americans
interests In that country, by Mr.. Squer, and we
now have three ministers from Nicaragua. HINDU
rae, and San Salvador, | ask the question, what
are we going to do with these mini.ters, and Anne
rcans' interests there First, the so.called Clay
ton and Bulwer heaty amounts to mere matter
OF moon shine to Americans with their all en-
barked in that uade, because II has nothing TO do
with Central Americans. The Central Americans
are forgotten. and tire ated az ship canal What
have we TO do with ship canals, entire oce1ntc,"
that may be commenced twelve or twenty years
from hence ! have said, and repeat, that
he Central Americans want TO cultivate CONNER
cial relations with the United States, and the
Americans, who have engaged in the ir ide Of that
country, not from the fact OF ship canal being pro-
Jected or contemplated, but from the fact Of
potent lever having to bear upon i-California
and its gold. This is what is opening the COM
meIce Of Central Amerca-asd this i. what will
make il equal 10 Peru or Chill. Therefore why
reject Treaty by which an American can claim
the protection OF his government, notwilhstandng
what the Board of Commissioners on the Mexican
indemnify say II We were 10 make some CON-
meroial ueaty with Nicaragua, and appoint a
Charge, with full powers To act as such, aud not
treat him shabby Gs Mr. Squier was, why, then,
the commerce OF our county would be protected
from Their civil commotions, and Mr.. Cnatfieid
might blockade and Keep them in a state Of war,
only so long as II was convenient for our people TO
let him do so. Now, all this fumbling about the
canal may do for future generations. | believe in
i'll feel confident IL is practicable but, before II
IS bull, why, many OF us, We hope, will have re-
tired from the contest for gai1 there, and, gliding
Gweeily DER the Enc, IN dear native land with
Z brscIng air around us, only wondering il they are
going to commence the sxue oceanic canal or No
hope and trust we may make come special treaty
with the State of Nicaragua. Now, we have so
many minister's here, cannot see the great oAjec-
ton VI entering into some arnicabr arrangement.
IL not, there will dsrk cloud arise in the south
EN- horizon, and we may be brought into collision
with Great Britain this trivial question. Ths
Americans will COLOMBO Nicaragua.
The IslsDd or Roatan.
As the public attention has again been called 10
the British aggression on the coast OF Central Ame