Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-12-13

| intercourse and vast interchange of commercial
i productions between those remote divisions of
the Republic At the present time, the most
practicable and conllnodious route for cornuuni-
cation between them. is by the way of the 18th
mus of Central America Ii IS the duty of this
government 10 secure these avenues from all dam
ger OF interruption.
i In relation to Central America preprexipo q
questions which existed between the T. s and
kGreat Britain al the time OF the cesson of Cali
lfornia, as well as questions which subsequently
arose concerning inter-oceanc communication
across the lsthmns, were. as 1t was supposed.
adjusted by the treaty of April 18th, 1850 - but
unfortunately, they have been reopened by Sc
rious understandings as TO the import OF
some of its provisions a re- adjustment of which
is now under consideration. Our Minister at
London has made strenuous efforts to, accomplish
this desirable object, bat has not yet found it
possible TO bring the negotiations TO terrnina-
ton As incidental TO these questions, deem it
proper to notice an occurrence which happened
in Central America, near The close OF the last
session OF Congress SO soon as the necessity
was perceived of establishing inter-cceanic com
munications across the Isthmus, company was
organized under authority of the state of Nicar-
aqua but composed for the most part of citi>
zens of the T.. S for the purpose OF opening such
a transit way by the river San Juan and Lake
Nicaragua, which soon became anlellgible and
murh uSeu route IN tHe trdflSp Cii-
zens and their property between the Atlantic and
Pacific In the meanwhile, and in anticipation
of the completion and importance of this transit
way number of adventurers had taken posses
sion af the old Spanish town at the mouth of the
river San Juan in open defiance OF the state
or states of Central America, which, upon
their becoming independent had rightly succeeded
to the local sovereignty and jurisdiction of Spain
! These adventures undertook 10 change the
,~ta, 60, I,taR ,ial
/ Greytown, and though at first preteniipg to act
/ as the subjects of the fictitious sovereign of the
/ Mosquito Islands, they subsequently repudiated
the control of any power whatever, assumed to
adopt a distinct political organization. and de
cared themselves an independent sovereign
! State. IT, at some time, faint hope enter-
tanned that they might become stable and re-
publican community, that hope soon vanished
I They proceeded to assert unfounded claims to
civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas a port OH the
opposite side of the river San Juan, which was
then in possession, under title wholly independent
of them of citizens of the U. s. interested=in the
} Nicaragua Transit Co. and which Edspensa-
bly, necessary TO the prosperous operation Of that
route across the Islhmus lst,,
The company resisted these eroundIess claims
whefeupon they proceeded to destroy some Of
its buildings. and attempted violently to disposess
it. At a later period, they organized strong
force for the purpose of deniolishng the esab-
| Ilishment at Punta Arenas; but this mischieyous
design by the interpositon of OF ships
| OF war, at that time in the harbor of San Juan.
was. prevented. Subsequently to this in May
last body of men from Greylown, passed over
to Punta Arenas, arrogatng authority to arrest,
! on charge pf murder. captain of of the
steamboats, of the Transit Company. being well
! aware that the claim to exercise Jurisdiction
there would be resisted then, as il had been on
the previous occasion They were prepared to
| avert it bv force OF arms. Our Minister Cen
tral America happened to be present the occa>
sion Believing that the captain.of the steamboat
was innocent, for he witnessed the transaction on
which the charge was. founded, and believing also
| that the interfering party. haFing no iurisdics
tion over the place where they proposed to make
the arrest would encounter desperate resistance
If they presisted in their purpose he interposed
effectuallv, to prevent violence and bioodshed.
! The American Minister afterwards visited Grey
town and while there mob including certain
of the so called functonares of the place, sur>
rounded the house in which he was stopping.
avering that they had come to arrest him by order
OF some person claiming the chief authority
While parlving with them, he was wounded by
! 4 missile from the crowd A boat despatched
from the American steamer N6'ehern Light to
relieve him from the perilous situation in which
he was understood to be, fred into by the
town guard and compelled to return.
These incidents together with the know char
acter Of the population of Greytown and their
excited state, Induced just Apprehension that the
lives and property OF our citizens at Pnenta Are
mas wonld be in imminent danger after the departs
ure of the steamer with her passengers for n.
| York unless a guard was left for their projection.
For this purpose and in order to insure the
safety of the passengers and property. passing
over the route, temporary force was organized,
at considerable expense to the United States, for
! which provision made at the last session of
Congress. -s.. -.zz..... .--
This pretended community, or heterogeneous
assemblage. gathered from various countries and
composed for the most part, of blacks and per
sons of mixed blood had previously given other
Indications Of mischieyous and dangerous propen-
sites. Early in the same month"; property was
lclandestiney taken from the depot of the Transit
Co, and taken to Greytowp. The plQnderers oh
tanned shelter there, and their pursuers. were
driven back by The people, who not only pro-
tected the wrongdoers. and shared the pluuder
| but detained with rudeness and violence those
who sought to recover their property.
| Such in substance, are the facts submitted TO
my consideration, and proved by trustworthy
evidence
could not doubt that the case demanded the
| nterposition of this government Justice re-
quired that reparation should be made for so
/ rnanv and such gross wrongs. and that a course
of iEsoence and plumber, tending directly to the
| insecurity OF the lives of numerous travellers,
and of the rich treasures belonging to our citi-
zens passing over this transit way should be pc
remptorily arrested. = =. natever might be in
/ other respects the community IN question: its
I power TO do mischief was not despicable II was
well provided with ordinance. small arms and
ammunition, and might easily seize upon the
armed boats freghte,l with millions OF property
which passed almost daily within its reach.
| II did not profess 10 belong TO any regular gov
| ernroent and had in fact no recognized deT1end-
ence unon or any connection with any one 10
which the United States or the injured citizens
might apply for redress OF "ileh could be held
| responsible in any way for the outrage commit
ted a,s ss
No. Standing before the world in an organized
political society. beng neither competent To
exercise The rights nor 10 discharge the Obligations
OF a government it was in fact naraudng es
tablisAu2ent too dangerous to De. disregareed,
and TOO guilty 10 pass nnpuhIshed. and eli in
capable of being treated many other way laan as
a pirafiral resort of outlaws, a camp OF sava-
pes tepretIatina on enigrant trains or caravans