Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-12-14
ID

terprises, and greatly increase the difficulty
Of enforcing our obligations of neutrality
Regarding ii as my solemn duty 70 fulfill eff
ficiently, these obligations, not only toward
Mexico, but other foreign nations, have
exerled all the powers with which am IN
vested TO defeat such criminal proceedings
and bring to punishment those who, by la
king part therein, violated our laws
The energy and activity Of our civil and
military authorities have frustrated the de-
signs OF those who meditated expeditions Of
this character, except in two instances
One Of these, composed Of foreigners, was
at first coun,enanced and aided by the Mex
lean Government itself, it having been de-
ceived as TO their real object. The other
small in number, euded the vigilance oil the
magistrates at San Francisco, and succeed
ed in reaching the Mexican territories; but
the effective measures taken by this Gov.
eminent compelled the abandonment OF the
undertaking.
The commission to establish the new line
between the United States and Mexico, ac-
cording TO the provisions of the treaty Of the
Both OF December last has been organised,
aud the work is already commenced.
Our treaties with the Argentine Confcd-
eralion, and with the Republics Of Uruguay
and Paraguay, secure to us the Tree naviga-
ton OF the river La Plata, and some OF its
larger tributaries; but the same success does
not attend our endeavors TO open the Anna
ION. The reasons in favor Of the free use Of
that river, had occasion to present fully in
a former message; and, considering the cor
dial relations which have long existed be-
tween this country and Brazil, il may be ex-
pected that pending negotiations will, event.
ually, reach favorable result.
Convenient means of transit, between the
several parts Of country, are not only de-
sirable for the objects Of commercial and
personal communication, but essential 10 IFS
existence under one government. Separa-
ted as are the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of
/ the United States by the whole breadth Of
the continent, still the inhabitants OF each are
closely bound together by community OF or
/ igin and institutions, and BY strong attach
ment TO the Union. Hence the constant and
increasing intercourse, and vast interchange
of commercial productions, between these
remote divisions of the Republic. At the
present time, the most practicable and only
comnndious routes for communication be-
tween them are by the way of the Isthmus
Of Central America. II is the duty OF the
/ Government to secure these avenues against
all danger Of interruption.
! In relation TO Central America, perplex-
ing questions existed between the United
States and Great Britain at the time OF the
cession of California. These, as well as
questions which subsequently arose conccr-
ming inter- oceanic communication across the
lsthmus, were, as it was supposed, adjust ed
by the treaty of April 10, 1850; but, unfor-
tunateiy, they have been re-opened by seri.
Gus misunderstanding as to the import o.
some OF its provisions, a REIMBURSEMENT o.
which is now under consideration. Our
Minister at London has made strenuous er.
forts TO accomplish this desirable object, but
has not yet found it possible to bring he ne
gotiations TO termination.
AS incidental 10 these questions | deem il
proper TO notice an occurrence which hap
pened in Central America, near the close Of
the last session Of Congress. So soon as tho
necessity was preceived OF establishing
inier-oreanlc communications across the
l>'hmus, Il company was organized under
authority OF the State OF Nicaragua, but com
posed Tor the most part, of citizens Of tht
United States, for the purpose OF opening
such transit way, by the river San Juan
and Lake Nicaragua, which soon became al
eligible and much used route in the trans
portation Of our citizens and their property
between the Atlantic and Pacific. Mean
while, and in anticipation OF the completion
and importance OF this transit way, mum
Der of adventurers had taken possession o
the old Spanish port at the mouth of the riv'
er San Juan, in open defiance of the Stat,
or States OF Central America, which upor
their becoming independent, had rightIull!
succeeded to the local sovereignty aud juris
diction Of Spain.
These adventures undertook 10 chang
the name Of the place from San Juan de
Norte TO Greytown, and, though, at frs
pretending to act as the subjects Of the tic
titious sovereign Of the Mosquito Indians
they subsequently repudiatad the control q
any power whatever, assumed TO adopt
distinct political organization, and declare,
themselves an independent sovereign state
II. at some time, "A faint hope was entertain
GU tlldt lhVN uilpll UFClhllc anu IVH
pectoble community, that hope soon vanish
ed. They proceeded to assert unloundet
claims to civil jurisdiction over Punta Arc
mas, position on the opposite side OF In
river San Juan, which was in possession
under title, wholly independent OF them
, Of citizens of the United States, intereste
in the Nicaragua Transit Company AN
} which was indispensabIy necessary to tn
: prosperous operation OF that route across tn
: I>thmus. The company resisted thei
gr1nnIleS> claims; whereupon they procee
ded 10 destroy some OF its buildings, and al
| tempted violently to disPossess it.
At later period they organised a stron
force for the purpose OF demolishinG the e,
adjustment al Puntn Arenas, but this mis-
, chievous DIES IN WAS defeated by The inter
1 position Of one Of our ships OF war, at thG
l time in the harbor of san Juan. Subsc
: qrrntly to this. in My last, body OF me
, from Greytown passed over to Punta Are
; mas, arroga'ipg authority to arrest oil III
= charge OF murder, q cuptain OF one of tI