Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-02

endeavOrs to open the Amazon The in favor
the free of that river had occasion to present fully
in former message and considering the cordial relations
which have long existed between this and Brazil
may be expected that pending negotiations WILL eventu
ally, reach favorable result.
Convenient of transit between the several parts
OF country, not only desirable for the objects
commercial and personal communication but essential
it's exience under government Separated the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States by the
whole breadth of the continent, still the inhabitants
each closely bound together by community of origin
and institutions and by strong attachment tOhe Union
Hence the constant and increasing intercourse and
Interchange of commercial productions between these
mote divisions of the Republic At the present time the
most practicable and only cOmmOdous routes for
ncaOn between them by the way the Ithmus of Cen
trail America is the duty of the government to
these avenues against all danger of interruption
In relation Central America, perpexng questions
existed between the United States and Great Britain at the
time of the cession of California. These well as ques-
tions which subsequently arose concerning nteroceanc
communication the Isthmus were, was sup
posed adjusted by the treaty of April 49, 1850 but u-
fortunately they have been reOpened by serious msnder-
standing to the import of of it's provisions re-
adjustment of which is under consideration. Our
minister at London has made strenuous efforts to
psh this desirable object but has not yet found possible
to bring the negotiations to a termination
As Incidental to these questions deem proper
tlce an occurrence which happened in Central America
near the close of the last session of Congress- SO
the necessity perceived of establishing nteroceanc
communications the Isthms company was organ
zed under authority of the State of Nicaragua but
posed for the most part of citizens of the United States
for the purpose OF opening such transit way by the
SAM and Lake Nicaragua which became eligible
and much used route in the transportation of citizens
and their property between the Atlantic and Pacific Mean
whle and in anticipation of the completion and Importance
of this transit way number of adventures had taken
session of the old Spanish port at the mouth of the river
San JUAN open defiance of the State States of Central
America, which, upon their becoming independent, had
rghtuy succeeded to the local sovereignty and ursdc-
ton of Spain These adventures undertook change the
of the place from San Juan del Norte Greytown
and though at first pretending to act the subjects of the
fictitious sovereign of the Mosquito Indians they subse
quenty repudated the control of any power whatever
sumed to adopt distinct political organization and de-
clared themselves independent sovereign State If at
some time, faint hope entertained that they might
become stable and respectable community, that hope
vanished They proceeded to unfouded claims
to civil jurisdiction Punta Arenas position on the
opposite side of the river San JUAN which was in posses
siOn under title wholly independent of hem of citizens
of the United States interested in the Nicaragua Transit
Company, and which ndspensaby necessary to the
prosperous operation of that the Ishmus
The company resisted their grOundes claims whereupOn
they proceeded destroy some of its buildings and at
tempted violently to dispossess it.
At later period they organized strong force for the
purpose OF demoshng the establishment of Pnta Arenas
but this miscellaneous design defeated by the nterpos
ton of of ships of war; that time in the harbOr
men from GreytOwn crossed Punta Arenas,
eating authority to arrest the charge of MURDER cap
tain of of the steamboats, of the Transit Company
Being well that the claim exercise jurisdiction
there would be resisted then had been previous
occasions they went prepared by force arms
Our minister to Central America happened be present
that occasion Believing that the captain of the steam
boat innocent for he witnessed the transaction which
the charge founded and believing ALSO that the nr
ding party, having jurisdiction the place where they
proposed to make the arrest would desperate
resistance they persisted in their purpose he nterpOsed
eeQaly, to prevent violence and bloOdshed The Amer
lean minister afterwards visited Greytown and whilst he
there mob including certain of the so-called public
funconaries of the place. surrounded the house in which
he avOwing that they had arrest him. by or
der of person exercising the chief authority While
parleying with them he wounded by missile from the
crowd. A boat despatched from the American steamer
Northern Light to release him from the perlOus sua
ton in which he understood be- fired BY the
town guard and compelled to return These Incidents
geter with the known character of the population Grey
town. and their excited state induced just apprehensons
that the lives and property of citizens at Punta Arenas
would be in imminent danger after the departure of the
steamer with her passengers for New York. unless guard
was left for their protection For this purpose and
der the safety of passengers and property passing
the route, temporary force organized consd
cradle expense to the United States for which provision
was made at the last session of Congress.
This pretended community, Heterogeneous assemblage
gathered from various countries and composed for the
part of blacks and persons of mixed blood had
vousy given other indications of mschievous and danger
prOpensites Early in the month"; property was
candestinely distracted from the depot of the Transit
Company, and taken to Greyown. The plunderers OBJ
tanned shelter there and their pursuers driven back
by its people, who not only protected the wrongdoers and
shared the plumber but treated with rudeness and violence
those who sought to recover their property.
Such in substance the facts submitted to my con-
sideraton and proved by Trustworthy evidence could
doubt that the demanded the nterposon of this
government Justice required that reparaton should be
made for many and such wrongs and that
of nsoence and plumber tending directly the insecurity
of the lives of numerous travellers and of the rich
belonging to citizens, passing this transit way
should be peremptory arrested. Whatever might be-
in other respects the community in question: in power
do mischief not despicabe 1t well provided with
ordnance, small arms, and ammunition, and might easily
seize the unarmed boats reghted with millions of prop
erty, which passed almost daily within its reach 1t did
profess belong any regular government and had
in fact recognised dependence on connection with
any which the United States their injured citizens
might apply for redress which could be held RESPONSE
be in any way for the Outrages committed Not standing
before the world in tn attitude Of organized political
society," being neither competent to exercise the rights
discharge the obligations of government was in fact
maurauding establishment, too dangerous be dsre
garded and guilty pass unpunshed and yet ncapa
pabe of being treated in any other way than praca
of outlaws, camp of savages, depredatng
emgrant and the frontier settlements of
civilized states
Seasonable notice given to the people of Greyown