The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-13

The old Spanish port at the mouth of the river
San Juan, in open defiance of the State or
States of Central America, which, upon their
independent, had rightfully succeed
ID to the local sovereignty and jurisdiction of
Spain. These Adventures undertook to change
the name of the place from San Juan del NOrte
TO GreytOwn, and, though at first pretending
to act as the subjects of the fictitious sovereign
Of the Mosquito Indians, they subsequently re-
pudiated the control of any power whatever,
assumed to adopt distinct political organlz-
alton, and declared themselves an independent
state. If, at some time, faint hope
was entertained that they might become sta
BILE and respectable community, that hope soon
They proceed to assert unfOunded claims
to civil jurisdiction over Pmta Arenas, a
position on the opposite side Of the river
San Juan, which was in possession, under
title wholly independent of them, of citi.
zens of the United SITES, interested in the
Nicaragua Transit Company, and which
was indispensably necessary to the prosper
GUS operation of that route across the 18TH
mus. The company resisted their ground
less claims; whereupon they proceeded to
destroy some Of its buildings, and
attempted violently to dispossess it. AT
a later period they organized strong force
for the purpose of demolishing the estab
shmcnt at Punta Arenas, but this mis-
chievous design Yves defeated by the interpo-
sition of one of our ships of war, at that
time in the harbor of San Juan. Subse-
qucntly to this, in May last, body of men
from GreytOwn crossed over to Punta Are
mas, arrogating authority to arrest, OH the
charge of murder, captain of one of the
steamboats, of the Transit Company.
Being well aware that the claim to exercise juris-
dicton there would Ike resisted then, it had been
on previous occasions, they went prepared to assert
it by force farms. Our minister to Central Amcri
Ca happened TO be present on that OCCASION Believ
ing that the Captain of the steamboat Innocent
for he witnessed the transaction which the charge
was founded, and believing, also, that the intrudins
party, having no jurisdiction over the place where
they proposed to make the arrest, would encounter
resistance if they persisted in their purpose he inter-
posed ehecually to prevent violence and bloodshed
Ike American minister afterwards visited Greytown,
and whilst he there, mob, including certain of
the so-called public functionarcs of the place,
rounded the house in which he was, avowing that
they had come arrest him. by order of some person
exercising the chief authority.
While parleying with them he was
wounded by a missile from the crowd.
A boat, dispatched from the American
steamer "North Light" to release him
from the perilous situation in which he
was understood to be, was fired into by
the town guard. and compelled to re-
turn. These incidents, together with
the known character of the population
eff Greytown, and their excited state,
induced just apprehensions that the
lives and property of our citizens at
Punta Arenas would be in imminent
danger after the departure of the stea-
mer with her passengers for N. York,
unless guard was left for their protec-
ton. For this purpose, and in order to
ensure the safety of passengers and
property passing over the route, a tenn
porary force was organized, at consid-
cradle expense to the United States. for
which provision was made at the last
session of Congress.
This pretended community, a heterogc-
ncous assemblagc gathered from various
countries, and composed for the most part
Of blacks and persons of mixed blood, had
previously given other indications of mis-
ch:cvous and dangerous prOpcnsities. Early
i'll the same month, property was clandcs-
timely distracted from the depot of the
Transit Company, and taken to GrcytOwn.
The pluEdcrcrs obtained shelter there, and
Their pursucrs were driven back by its peo-
pie, who not only protected the wrong
doors, and shared the plumber, but treated
with rudcncss and violtn :c those who sought
to recover their property.
Such, in substance, are the facts submit
ted to my consideration, and proved by
trustworthy evidence. / could not doubt
that the case demanded the interpOsitiOn Of
this government Justice demanded that
rcparation should be made for so many and
such gross wrongs, and that conrse of in
science and plumber, tending directly to the
insecurity of the lives of travellers, and Of
the rich treasure belonging to the citizen:
passing over this transit way, should be
p(rcmptorily arrested. Whatever it nigh
e in other respects, the community il
question, in power to do mischief was no
deSpicable. 1t was well provided with OF
dinance, small arms and ammunition, ant
might easily seize upon the unarmed boat
freightcd With millions of property, which
passed almost daily within its reach.
1t did not profess to belong to any rcgu
lar government, and had, in fact, no recog
nized dependence on, or connection with
any one to which the United States or he
injured citizens might apply for redress, o
which could be held responsible in any wa.
for the outrages committed. Not standing
before the world in the attitude of an OF
ganized political society, being neither com
petent to exercise the rights nor to dis