Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-12-14


ton and with The republic Of Urueuay and
| Paraguay, secure to us the free navigation of
| the river La Plata, and some Of its largest tri5-
lutares; hut the same success has not attend
ed our endeavorS TO open the Amazon. The
reasons in favor of the free use Of that river,
had occasion to pteSent fully IN former mes
I sage; and, considering the cotdial relations
| which have long existed between this Gov
and Brazil, It may be expected that pending
negotiations will eventua lily, reach a favorable
result.
Convenient means of transit between the
several parts Of country are not only deSifa-
bic for the object of a commercial and person
al communication, but essential TO is existence
under one government. Separated as are the
lAtlantc and Pacific coasts of the United States
by The whole breadth Of the continent, still the
Iinhabitants of each are closely bound together
by community Of origin and institutions, and
| by strong attachment TO tie Union. Hence
the constant and increasing and vast inter
T change Of commercial productions, between
these remote divisions oil the Republic. A.
the present time, the most practicable and
| only commodouS routes for communication
J between are by the way of the lshmuS Of
Central America. Il is the duty Of The gov.
eminent 10 secure these avenues against all
| danger of interruption.
In relation 10 Genital America, pe!plexing
Iouest,0ns existed between the United States
and Great Britain at the time Of the cesSion Of
California. These,as well aS questions which
, subsequently GrOSe concerning iGteT-oceamC
communications across the lsIhmns, were, aa
f i; was supposed, adjusted by tie treaty Of
!. April 9, 1880; but, unfortunately, thej have
been reopened By serious misunderstanding
b as 10 tie import Of some of us provisions,
reaGiuSmeMt of which is now under cUn1itcr-
, atibn. Our minister at Lonion las made
$ strenuous efforts 10 accomplish This dtsifahir
= object but las rot yet found it possible 10
e bring tbe negotiations 10 q ermina' ion
As incidental TO these Questions, | deem it
4 proper 70 Eo'ice an occurrence which happen.
Z ed In Central America, near the close OF HE
| last session of Congress-. So soon as the ne
d ceSsity was erceiyed Of establishing inter
c oceanic communications across the lstInus a
% company was organized, under authority Of
S the STATE Of NiceGugla, bul composed, forie
e most part, Of citizens Of The United States, for
c The purpose ofpoMling such transit way b.!
IT tie river San Jnan and Lake Ncafu ugua,
= which soon Uecame an eligible and much used
route in the transportation Of our citizens and
S their properly between the Atlantic and Pa
: cifc. Meanwhile, and in tie anticipation OF
= the completion and importance OF tins transit
!. way, o humber Of aJyenlurerS had taken pos
e session Of HE old Spanish port at the mouth
IF, Of the river San JuaH, in open defiance Of the
Il State or States Of Central America, which,
:, upon then becoming independent, hac light
10 fully succeeded 10 the local sovereignty and
l. jurisdiction of Spain. These adyeulurers un
:. dertook TO change the name OF the place from
- L 4 4,ta
at at first pretending 10 act as the nbjecs Of tic
nj fictitious sovereign OF the Mosquito Indians
10 they Suddenly lepudiaed Tie control OF an,
,e mower whatever, assumed 10 cd pit diStinc
~ political organization, and declared items I've
IN an independent sovereign State. IT, at somt
time, faint hope was entertained that the!
10 might become stable and respectable com
N munity that hops soon vanished. They pro
II ceeded TO assert unlounded claims TO civil iu
m rSdlclion over Punta Arena, o position on lht
- opposite side Of i!e river San Juan, which wa
N in possession, under title wholly indepcnG
Of enl of them, of citizens of the UHi'ed States
H. interested in the Nicaragua Transit Company
o. and which was indispensably necessary to til,
le prosperous operation of that route across thC
n lSthmus The company resisted their ground
IN less eams; whereGpon they proceeded 10 de
g stroy some OF its buildings, and attempted VIC
es entIy to dispossess it.
,is AT later period they organized stron!
10 force for the purpose OF demoIshing the eStab
v. lishment at Pun;o Arenas, but this mSchiev
IN Gus design was defeated by the Iuterposilio
re Of one OF our ships of war, at that time in th
,b harbor OF San Juan. Subsequently 10 this. il
in May last; body Of men al hreytown cTosser
,r( over TO Pumta Arenas, arogatng authority 1
n arrest, on charge of murder, a captain o
N one of the STEAMBOATS, of the Ir1nsit Company
en Being we'll aware that the claim TO eXerclS
jurisdiction thefe would be resisted then, aSsl
yo had been OH previous occasions, they Wen
e prepared TO assert it BY force of arms
en- Our Minister 10 Central America happencu
N, 10 be present on that occasion. Belley!n
n. that The captain of the steamboat was Inno
RTE cent, for he witnessed the transaction Ui
a. which The charge was founded, aud Uelevin
ly a! 0, that the nirudIng party, hay ng no jurS
nj dieton over The place who're they proposed +
: Ike the arrest, would enccunter deSperai
he resistance if they persisted in their purpose
ur he lnterposed, ellectusly, to prevent vloienc
n. ,and bloods he'd The American Minister GlieI
,rs ward visited Greytowu, and while he wa
ST. there, a mob, including certain of the SOCIAL
t1y ed public funGti0nareS OF the place, surround
ur ed The house in which he was, avowing ths
to they had come 10 arrest him by The order
Dr. some person exercising the chief authority
rio While pareyng with them he was wounde
in by a missile from the crowd. A boat, DIS
led patched from the American steamer NOrthsr
nv Light 10 release him from the perouS situf
ms ton IN which lie was understood TO be, wa
lis fired into 10y the town guard, and compelle
NV TO return. These incidents, together with III
We known character Of the population OF Grey
,se town, and their excited state, ladnced Ju;
me appreh6nSiOnS that the lives and property {
,e our citizens at Punta Arenas would be-in in
en- m;nent danger after the departure OF III
M steamer, with her passengers, tor New lori
a. unless guard was left for Their projections
ms Fer this purpose, and in order TO secure tl
lly safety ofpaSsengers and property passing owe
nv the route, temporary force was organized, ;
, / considerable expense TO the Unet STATES, IL
am which provision was made at the last SeSSO
rs, of Congress.
inr l. This pTetendedcommuni!y, a heterogeneou
er laSsembage gathered from various countTle
IA aud composed, for he most part, OF blacks an
ose persons of mixed blood, had previously give
er other indications of miscnleyOuS aud dangerou
m nrapensities. Early in the same month, prof.
ned erty wsS cIandeStinely absiIacted iT6ln ii
Elf. Idepot of the Transit Company, and taken
,ci. Greytown. The plundererS obtained Shelf,
gi- there, and their purSuerS were driven back
md 4 its people, who not only protected the wron
es. doefs and shared the phnder, But treated wi
oy- ruleness and violence those who sought to n
the Icover their property. stt ff tnl