The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-04
ASPECT OF SOUTH AMERICA.
VIEWS OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN PRESS
ATTITUDE AND RESOURCES OF THE
YOUNGER REPUBLICS,
&c. &c., sc.


&C., &c., sc.
s~.s~r erom Mr.. r. G. Squicr, late Representa-
81. or thc United States I'm Central America.
New York, Jan. %, 1853.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
SE-As personal explanations seem to be the order
of the day, beg that you will permit me to write to
" question of privilege" In article published
A few DAYS since in the HERALD, in reply to COM
munication from Mr. Walsh, late Commissioner of
the United States to Costa Rica, a paragraph is
quoted from a letter written, presume, by the Di-
rector of the Republic Of Nicaragua, in which he
gives an account of an interview with Mr.. Walsh on
the subject of the rejected project OF Messrs Cramp
ton and Webster In this extract find the follow
ing passage =
He (Mr walsh) referred rudey to Mr. Squier, saying
that his conduct in Nicaragua had been condemned by his
government inasmuch he had, in many things, ex-
oeeded his instructions, etc.
If Mr.. Walsh did not make the remarks here at
tributed to him, ample time has been afforded for
him to correct the statement He has not done go,
and shall therefore assume that his language has
been correctly reported.
How far Misrepresentation may have been neces-
sary 10 the success Of Mr.. Filmores extraordinary
policy in Nicaragua, | shall not undertake to says
nor shall undertake to say how far the systematic
depreciation of the acts and policy Of their prede
cessors, in which the representatives of the United
States in Central America, under the actual admin
istration, have INDUCED, may have been reflection
OF the feelings and spirit OF their superors at home.
| only know that Mr.. Walsh was not authorized in
using the language attributed to him. and that the
corresponding language held by certain presses here,
is untrue in fact, and malignant in purpose.
Amongst the commissions with which l was
honored in Central America was one for the negota.
ton of treaty with Nicaragua. This proceeded
to do Immediately upon my arrival in the country.
Ita int I'm ledO rod Inv nm
the following terms =
MARCH 1S50-The treaty negotiated ~ you with Mica
ragua having met~he appreciation OF the PRESIDENT has
been 10 the Senate has also the treaty negotiated
MAY, Is6O-Your conduct in the negotiation of the
treaty with Nicaragua which the great business of
your mission has been highly approved BY your govern
ment.
1t was not until this treaty had been smothered at
the nstgaon of the British Minister, by the existing
administration, that the public was apprised that
had exceeded my instructions, and had acted in a
very irregular and unauthorized manner. This was
alleged as the reason for my recall, so far as any
reason was given; but the allegation wholly
untrue. The influences which produced that result
are notorious-my presence in Central America was
disagreeable to Sir Henry Bulwer. / should have
proved an exceedingly bad agent in urging upon
Nicaragua the acceptance Of pro1d organizing and
defining ''the Mosquito Kingdom" after having been
previously instructed that the United States "had
never acknowledged, ana could never acknowledge,
the existence Of any claim to sovereignty in the Mos
after having made treaty in which the sovereign
rights of Nicaragua over the Mosquito shore were
virtually recognized. was spared the humiliation
of presenting to the Ncaraguan government q pro
position 80 dstasteful and SO violatve of all our
principles and professions. That was reserved for
my successors They had right to urge its acccp-
lance, as they were best able but not to misrepre
sent or reflect inuriousy upon those who had proceed
ed them. and whose conduct had not only been in
conformity with their Instructions but had received
the entire approval Of the President who had ap
pointed them, and to whom they were alone res
pOnsible.
In respect to another allegation which has recent
ly been revived, that during my stay in Central
America provoked controversy with Costa Rica-
upon Costa Rica herself by the attempts of her go.
yernment and agents to place that State under the
protection of Great Britain preliminary probably to
its ultimate organization as dependency, and then
as a colony, Of the British crown. Ii is notorious
that such attempts were made, and the tenor of my
instructions left me no alternate but to resist them
by every means in my power Events soon led to a
correspondence in which the reasons upon our part
for opposing the medated step were distinctly put
forward-all centering on the Monroe principle,
settled point in American policy. Az this letter
extensively published in Central America ut the
time and issued in pamphlet form by the govern.
ments both Of Nicaragua and San Salvador, as tes
timonial of their adhesion 10 the prin pes which il
set forth, cannot suppose that am violating any
trust in sending you the accompanying extract
which constitutes the head and front Of my offend
ing" a. respects Costa Rica-
am sir, truly yours, j.. @. SQrIEB.
Extract from letter to the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs of Costa Rica in opposition to the applca-
ton OF that State to be received under British pro-
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES
Leon DE NrcAEAGUA, Oct !, ls4s.
now come to matters OF more importance, on
which it is my desire to speak with the seriousness
and earnestness which their importance demands,
and in spirit friendly as the relations which ex-
LIST between the United States and Costa Rica are
amicable. II cannot be unknown to you that for
some time past rumors have been current, not only
in Central America but in the United States and in
Europe that it is the design Of the existing govern
ment of Costa Rca to place that republic under the
protection Of great monarchical power Of Europe.
This rumor, important as involving q principle,
did not fail to reach the government Of the United
States but it could not be credited that pro-
ceediDg 20 directly in contrayention Of the whole
spirit and tendency of republican institutions,
could be seriously contemplated by any State de-
serving the name or respecting the institutions of
republic much less could 1t be credited after the
explicit denial of any such intention the part of
Costa Rica, made in October, ls4s, by Mr.. Molina
the minister Of that republic the government of
Great Britain, to Mr.. Bancroft the American minis
ter at the same point Il was there intimated to Mr.
Molina that the United States could not witness with
indifference a procedure upon the part of any
American republic such as it had been runored was
contemplated by Costa Rica. The grounds upon
which the United States bases its interests in ques-
tons OF this nature exceedingly simple and just.
The primary principle upon which the people of the
American continent threw of the dominion of Europe,
and asserted their free and separate existence,
that of the exclusion Of foreign, and especially mo-
narchial authority and influence, as prejudicial TO
their rights and interests They all declared, in the
most solemn manner (and no subsequent assertion
by any community OF distinct national existence
can relieve them from the obligations then ncurred
their adhesion to new and more liberal principles
than had previously been acknowledged by the ma
tons Of the globe, among which none were more
distinctly understood than that all the American pro-
yinces and colonies by entering the brotherhood Of
American republics, took upon themselves the obiga-
ton faithfully to adhere to system Of policy which
might best protect the rights secure the safety.
and promote the interests of each other. This
system Of policy, as distinguished from the corrupt
ances, and of intrgues solely directed to the
selfish purpose OF individual national aggran-
dizement, was in harmony with the high position
assumed by the new array Of sovereign States. Since