Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-12-09


by taking part therein violated laws The energy
and activity of civil and military authorities have
frustrated the designs Of those who medtated expeditions
Of this character except In two instances One of these
composed of Foreigners at first countenanced and
aided by the Mexican Government ITSELF it having been
deceived to their real object; the other small in
ber eluded the vigilance Of the magistrates Mt San Fran
cisco and succeeded in reaching the Mexican territories
but the effective taken by this Government
PEELED the abandonment of the undertaking.
The commission to establish the line between the
United States and Mexico according to the provisions Of
the treaty of the 80th Of December last has been organ
ized and the work is already commenced.
Our treaties with the Argentine Confederation and
with the Republic OF Uruguay and Paraguay to
the free navigation of the river La Plata and of its
larger tributaries but the has not attend
ed endeavors to open the Amazon The reasons in
favor Of the free Of that river had occasion pre-
sent fully in former MESSAGE and, considering the
dial relations which have long existed between this Gov
ernment and BRAZIL it may be expected that pending
gotations will eventually reach a favorable result
Convenient Of transit between the several parts
of country not only desirable for the objtcts Of
commercial and personal communication, but essential
to its existence under Government Separated
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of the United STATES by
the whole breadth Of the continent still the inhabitants
of each closely bound together by community Of orr
gin and institutions and by strong attachment 10 the
Union. Hence the constant and increasing intercourse
and vast interchange of commercial productions btween
these remote divisions of the Republic. At the present
time the most practicable and only commodous routes
for communication between them are by the way Of the
Isthmus of Central America It is the duty of hs Gov
ernment to secure these against all danger OF in
terrupton.
In relation to Central America perplexing questions
existed between the United States and Great Britain at
the time Of the cession of California. These well
questions which subsequently concerning inter-
oceanic communication across the Isthmus, were, as it
was supposed adjusted by the treaty Of April 49, 1850
but unfortunately they have been reopened by serious
misunderstanding to the import of Of its proy
tpnpO nfy VIII 10 vppIar
ton Our Minister at London has made strenuous efforts
to accomplish this desirable object but has not yet found
it possible to bring the negotiations to termination.
As incidental to these questions deem it proper to
notice an occurrence which happened in Central America
near the close of the last session of Congress So
as the necessity perceived Of establishing nteroce
anic communications the Isthmus, company
organized, under suthority of the State of Nicaragua
but composed for the most part of citizens of the United
States, for the purpose of opening such transit way by
the river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua which be-
came eligible snd much used route in the Transports
tion of citizens and their property between the At
lantic and Pacific Meanwhile, and in anticipation of
the completion and Importance Of this transit way,
number Of adyeiurers had taken possession 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 rghfuy succeed
ed to the local sovereignty and jurisdiction OF SPAIN
These adventures undertook to change the Of the
place from San Jlan del Nore to Greytown and though
ut first pretending as the subjects Of the fictitious
sovereign of the Mosquito Indians they subsequently
repudated the control of any power whatever assumed
to adopt distnc political organization, and declared
themselves an independent sovereign State IT, at some
time, faint hope was entertained that they might be-
stable and respectable community, that hope
vanished They proceeded to assert unfounded claims to
civil jurisdiction Punta Arenas position the
opposite side of the river San Juan which in pos
session. under title wholly independent Of them of cit
of the United States interested in the Nicaragua
Transit Company, ard which was indspensably
say to the prosperous operation of that route across the
1shmus The company resisted their groundless claims;
whereupon they proceeded to destroy of its build
ings, and attempted violently to dispossess it.
At later period they organized strong force for the
purpose Of establishment of Punta Arenas
but this mischevous design defeated by the nterpos
on or one of ships of at that time in the harbor
of San juan Subsequently, to this in May last body of
men from Greyown crossed to Punta Arenas
eating authority to arrest, the charge Of murder
captain of one of the steamboats, Of the Transit Company
Being well aware that the claim to exercise jurisdiction
there would be resisted them it had been previous
occasions they went prepared assert it force of
Our Minister to Central America happened to be present
on that occasion Believing that the captain Of the steam
innocent for he wtnessedthe transaction which
the charge founded and believing also that the intru
ding party, having ourisdcton the place where
they proposed to make the arrest woad encounter desper
ate resistance if they persisted in their purpose he inter-
posed, efectuay, to prevent violence and bloodshed.
The American Minister afterwards visited Greytown, and
whilst he there mob, including certain of the
called public unconares of the place, surrounded the
nousc III winch ne aVOWlng tney come 10
arrest him. by order of person exercising the chief
authority. While parleying with them he was wounded
by missile from the crowd. boat dispatched from
the American steamer Northern Light to release him
from the perous situation in which he understood
to be- fired into by the town guard and compelled to
return. These Incidents together with the known char
acter Of the population of Greyown and their excited
state, induced just apprshensons that thu lives and
property of citizens Punta Arenas would be In
imminent danger after the departure of the steamer with
her passengers for New York. unless guard left for
their protection For this purpose, and in order to
sure the safety Of passengers and property passing
the route, temporary force organized at consider
able 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
most part of blacks and persons of mixed blood had pre-
vousy given other indications of mischeyous and dam
gerous propensites Early in the same month property
was candestney absracted from the depot Of the Tran
sit Company and taken to Greytown The punderers OBJ
tanned shelter there and their pursuers driven back
by its people, who not only protected the wrpgdoers and
shared the punder but treated with rudeness and vo
lence those who sought to recover their property.
Such in substance the facts submitted my con-
sideraton, and proved by trustworthy evidence could
not doubt that the demanded the nterpoon Of this
Goyernnent Justice required that reparaon should be
made for many and such gross wrongs
OF Dsoence and punder tending directly to the insecure
ty OF the lives of travellers and Of the rich
treasure belonging to citizens passing this
sit way, should be peremptorly arrested Whatever it
might be in other respects the community in question
In power to do mischief not despcable 1t well
provided with ordnance small arms, and ammunition,
and might easily seize the unarmed boats, fregbted
with millions opropery, which passed almost daily with
in its reach. 1t did profess belong any regular
Government and had in fact no recognised dependence
sny u.l - ,Is f lT.ssA GaA.na