The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-26

md the former denied The Mo- mite .overe;on-
", and the validity OF the b /rlish uroteotorste.
Then was the true time r. settle the Question in
dispute; the issue " - fairly made but the
Of ar. Fillmore evaded Crap
ping with it, ~ consenting to statu quo.
The qussti.,n, by mutual consent, was left in
aheyanse, and both governments issued o.ders
to its naval commanders to recognize and sup
port the de faeto government. This was q sur
render to Great Britain, and q betrayal Of its
duties to Nicaragua, by the United States, and
to IL we may Justly ascribe ell The difficulties
which have since arisen.
While these events were occurring, the transit
ofpassengers increased, and the influx Of Ameri-
cans became proportionately great. San Juan
was filed up with Yankees, and they soon at
tanned numerical preponderance. Without
waving their rights as American citizens, they
elected their own men to the council. The Nj
caraguan portion of the population sympathized
with them, and the election of 1852 resulted in
the choice Of an American Mayor and council
tuition, the council called new council and
framed new one, in which there was but slight
allasion to the King of Mosquito, and nothing
beyond a ncminal reference to his alleged
rights. There was no recognition whatever of
English authority. In fact the English indu-
ence was wholly lost, and the place became to
| all inteUss and purposes American.
The British government saw the coarse Of
| events, and comnehonded the fstility Of en-
| deavoring to change it. Its interest declined
| as American influence augmented, and it ceased
| TO attempt to direct affairs in San Juan.
The Americans, sympathizing in the views Of
their government, recognized the Nicaragua
title to sovereignty over the port, ard were
| disposed to favor its restoration, provided
! Nicaragua would consent TO give them such
municipal rights as their condition required
They sent a commission to the Nicaragua CAPT
toll to effect such an arrangement ;but the Mica
ragans blinlly insisted on an unconditional
resumption of authority, and, irritated at what
they conceived the bad faith Of the Unit; "a
States, met the advance in spirit rather Of
hostility than friendship.
To counterfeit this movement, The English
agents and partizans started the project of
an organization Of the port, with a
liberal amount OF adjacent territory, as
free port, after the manner of some Of the
Germanic cities. The British government,
growing weary of the Mosquito imposture,
at once favored the project, and early in 1858
submitted to the American government plan
Of " final adjustment of all questions touching +"
San Juan. A synopsis Of this proposition was
sent to Congress by Mr.. Everett, the Secretary
Of State, on the 10th of February, 1853, from
which we make the following extract -
I'd. The British government regards the erection Of
San Juan into free and Independent city whose poii
Germany the best course Of settling the controversy
TO the sovereignty Of that place. That though a
entered into by the two powers Great Britain desires
the concurrence Of the United States in eectng these
objects.
Mr.. Everett did not openly favor the adop-
ton of this plan, innsmuch as the United States
had always asserted the Nicaragua title TO sove-
reignty; but he evinced clearly enough that he
would like to see it carried out. This is evil
dent from the whole tsne and spirit Of his COM
munication to the President, in which he says
and we call special attention to this para
sraph-that
within the limits of her proecorate, has, for about
year been really governed in the of the tituar
King of Mosquito, BY co~miaee of fire Amerioaa oai
Gems, chosen by the people
Again,
The British government regards the Committee Of Gov
erpment of San Juan the only real power which
cises power in that part Of Central America and desires
TO have the apparent state Of things conform TO the
reality
And subsequently, March Il, having mean
time gone from the Office Of Secretary of State
into the Senate, Mr. Evere tt made speech on
Central American affairs in which he said
In san Juan we see an independent municipal govern
ment created under the OF the Mosquito King ii
Is true, oct IN fact by American citizens etc.
The fact that San Juan had thus became on
american town, under the government of
Americans with only nominal dependence
upon the so-called Mosquito King, which it was
ready at any convenient moment to discar
must not be forgotten in considering the recent
occurrences at that place. Americans hg71
houses and stores, and nearly monopoIh Il
the trade Of the place. They institu I'D
sound regulations, an effective police, main
tanned order, and discharged faith
fully and well all the duties OF government.
Life and property were no where in the United
States better protected nor more secure than
in San Juan. These facts, we repeat, must be
borne in mind, for it will be pretended by those
who are implicated in recent transactions in
that quarter, that the place was made up of
pirates" 'negros," and Englishmen, where
as the fact is that ninetenths Of the property
and interests which existed in San Juan be-
longed to Americans.
The bombardment and destruction of San
Juan was, therefore, the bombardment and de-
struction Of de .facfo American town. Nor is
this all. A majority of the houses and property
in the place, not belonging to Americans, be-
longed to the people of Nicaragua, to
whom we profess friendship, and not
to Englishmen, Mosquitoes, or Jamaica