Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-04-07

side, and the representatives Of Costa Rica and
Nicaragua on the other. This conference, how
ever, was without any favorable results. About
this time Nicaragua had entered into a partial
confcderacv with Honduras and San Salvador,
to strengthen herself against Costa Rica. She
had thus merged her separate sovereignty, and
had no longer the power if she had the desire, to
treat upon the subject aud consequent delay Of
eight or ten months followed.
At length 1t was thought by the two govern
ments that further delay was ont % the question (;
that 1t was already amounting to an indefinite
posip0nemen, Of all really energetic proceedings
towards the construction of the canal. and 1t was
absolutely necessary that something decisive
should be DONE Accordingly in the month of
April, 1852. the Secretary Of State and the Brit
ish Minister. acting under the instructions Of
their governments respectively. came together
and held conference on this subject, and after
mature deliberation, they agreed upon propas-
tons, commonly called the propositions Of the
30th of April, 1852 which were to be offered 10
the two governments. They were only advise
ry; they could be nothing else. They were
recommendations, and they were Recommended
tons Of two friendly powers; having no inter-
ests al variance with that of the other parties re
gardmg them both with most friendly eye, and
anXiously seeking the best method by which all
those difficulties should be reconcied, and an
eiiectual impulse given 10 the execution Of the
great work. The arrangement was only propos-
ed it was not a convention; it was basis Of a
convention, which was to be submitted to the
governments of Nicaragua aud Costa Rica. -
Accordingly, after having been arranged here,
these propositions were sent by special commits
sloners 10 the capitals of Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA. They were accepted by Costa Rica, and
they were rejected by Nicaragua.
And now let rs consider for moment what
these propositions are. ! avn not going TO take
up the time OF the Senate by gong into any
great detail, which would be hardly understood
without map of the country, and more time
than 1t wos,d now be convenient TO devote to the
subject. But the main objects are few and sim
pie, The FIRST was this 10 retain out Of the
large tract of country east of Nicaragua, cover
ed by TIE c,aln OF the Mosquito Indians, mod
crate reservation for their temporary use. They
were % be there collected, and 10 be withdrawn
from every other point that they now occupy, and
all the rest Of TINS large territory was TO be ceded
10 fol, sovoreig nty 90 Nicaragua. This cessiou
included the much desired por, Of San Juan. -
This great bone oi con'iOn. It | may so call It
was to he given np 10 Nicaragua by these term.
Of Arrangement; and IN consideration Of thu.
large cession of territory, and the getting rid o.
Tor, as have said. tais was proposition only
not settcment-tha Nicaragua, as a pecunary
indemnity TO the Mosquito nation, would pay tn,
net proceeds Of an nd uG'0rem duty of ten pei
cent. upon all articles imported INTO San Juar
for three wears How much that would amoun
to, | will not undertake TO say +; but ] do no
suppose 1t would be altogether more than $50,
coo or 500 COO That was the entire pecunlary
consideration to be paid for the surrender Of the
sovereignty Of San Juan and the cession of al
the rest of the territory lying west and south o.
this reservation.
But that was not all that was to be DONE
This reservation itself was not intended to be
perpetual on the contrary il was expressly pro
ylded by another article, that these terms OF set
Element should not preclude Nicaragua from ma
king any private compact that she might pleas'
with the Mosquito Indians for what shou.,
call the eXungushment of their title. She wa
10 be at liberty 10 make, at any time. private
arrangement with them for the final eXtingush
ment of their tile. and, consequently, The ahsOrp
ton Of this reservation also into the State O
NicamEua Indians 10 be incorporated witt
the citizens Of that State, which of course i'm
posed no hardship, as by far the larger portion
of the present population of that State is com
posed Of the descendants OF It's aboriginal inhab
ltants.
Now Nicaragua being SO highly favored Of
the one side. 1t was thought nothing more thar
reasonable that Costa Rica, on the other hand
should be somewhat favored also, not by giving
her all that she asked, because she claimed Il
90 up the San Juan River. through its whole ex
tent, and also claimed an equal right with Nc
aragua 10 the port ofSan Juan. This last clam
could not certainly be allowed, because the ex
elusive sovereignty of that port was to be giyel
TO Nicaragua. But 1t was proposed that Cost,
Rca should follow the right bank OF the Colora
do up TO IT'S junction with the San Juan, ihenc
along the right bank of the San Juan, TO III
lake, and then by the Southern shore of the lax
boundary, having at the same time mn equa
right to the navigation of the lake with Nlcarag
ua and thence by the river La Flor to tine Pa
cfc. This was an arrangement Of boundary
favorable to Costa Rica, | admit though no
giving her as have stated, all that she though
she was entitled TO. But in controversy hk'
this between two powers of about equal strength
how can YOU ever come 20 settlement upo
any other basis than that Of compromise and mu
tual concession: What have the United State
and Great Britain done over and over again ?
We claimed boundary upon the north-ea.
running far beyond the st. Johns riyer-ior W
have San Juan, too. England said that tn
true line between the possessions of the tw
countries began at Mars Hill. far south of III
st. Johns. That controversy lasted for fit
wears, and we at last settled IL by a division q
the disputed territory, Such was the case upo
the coast of the Pacific. There we cnimed Il
to 81 deg. 40 m the British on the other hanC
said that the line Of the boundary ought TO fol
low the Columbia river to the Pacific Ocean,
Matters were brought upon this question to a We
nv dangerous pass, almost threatening coils
ION between the two countries. But at last
was thought, on all sides, that the most reasona
Bile and honorable mode OF settlement was TO a
dept a middle course, and continue the boundar
line east of the Rocky Mountains, the 49th deg
of latitude, TO the Pacific Ocean. Now, If Nv
powers like Great Britain and the United State
the leading commercial and maritime power
of the world-colld find It necessary and expe
dent TO settle their boundary controversies b
this mutual concession and sacrifice, can Nlcal
aqua and Costa kica expect TO adjust their col
troversies Of like character upon any bette
basis
These terms of settlement, however, as | hav
before said though accepted by Costa Rlc'
were not thought by Nicaragua such as sh
ought 10 accept While these things were goln
on, although no intelligence Of them had reach
ed the United States, very singular event OK
CURED IN the town Of San Juan itself; the cha
acter of which can best make known TO ii
Senate by reading an extract from the despatc
of our Consular Agent there, Mr.. Boone, wi