New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-01

Courts have had their ndepepd eDce Ir,ted vvi.b;r
safe bounds and the foreign ConsuIs have acquired
hgai right of interference, which thew did not
possess before.
Inc Congress OF Costa Rica is not composed of
two houses ss il is in the United states, bnt Of
only ope Assembly OF twelve men retarned for siy
years by me hive Provinces into which the Repub-
nc Is @yioed. This Assembly is presided over, ex
ohci0, by the Ficepresident oftbe State lat pres.
ent Don Jose Maria Oreanuno. one of the few
agreeable Costa Rcans met. and sit. in ordinary
scsson ior the dispatch of business, from the Ist
o. S'a! Tor i've or six weeks, each year Daring
the recess a Committee of the uonse in which
You VIII always find the men most devoted TO the
tive body.
Inc LAecutivc rs the supreme and absolute
ruler OF the State. This branch Of the Goy-
eminent is composed Of the President and his
Two Ministers; the Minister of Finance and
War, Don Manuel Carazo, who is the lead
ing mind in the country, and Don Bernardo Calvo.
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the
Home department, whom / cannot define better
than by saying that he is hard-wo rking Seereta-
ry Of State.
The master-mnd Of Costa Rica is undoubtedly
Don Manuel CarazO. In his youth he spent sew
eral years in the United States and speaks English
huently. He is shrewd trader, with clear head
aud great natural talent. COnstitutionally timid.
be has perfect horror Of military men. and ia
painfully apprehensiye that the Americans will
seize upon his country. Whoever should wish TO
settle in Costa Rca is sure to find friend in
Don Manuel, who ia great patriot and has the
welfare and advancement of his country sincerely
at heart.
Tie President Of the Republic, Don Juan Ra-
fael Mora, began life as merchant 10 times when
the commerce Of the country was very limited
and when it was usual for traders to 20 in person
10Th lo1o Ion .k..a
of which they were in want. In those times Punta
Arenas Lad not yet become the port of entry of the
little Republic: Matina, on the Atlantic, was the
place OF landing, and the mule path the high
road through which the merchant and his wares
laboriOusly wended bis way to the upper valleys.
The road was dangerous one; in a worse and
more perilOus condition than the one of Sarapiqu
Of which have endeavOred to give an idea; and
many were the hair breadth escapes the enter
Irising yOdng Mora had during the fourteen jour
neys he undertook over that frightlul mountain
path. One among Others He and two friends
were travelling from Matina and had reached the
banks of one of the numerous streams which in
terstct that part of the country; they crossed
narrow arm Of this river and passed the night on
an island. AT dawn eXtmOrning they found that
the river had so much sw0Olen during the night as
TO he unfordable. Day after day they waited. AT
last the water rose 50 high that it covered the ISL
and, and there was every prospect of their being
drowned should they remain any longer. They
had ere then been compelled 10 throw OIL their
clothes, which they had no means of drying. So
young Mora, tying the bundle upon his head,
dashed of into the tUrbd stream, directing all his
efforts toward snag the upper branches OF which
appeared above the water on the opposite bank
couple OF hundred yards below the place where
thew stood. This he was fortunate enough to
seize with one hand as the current was carrying
him beyond il, and here he clung 81 outing TO his
friends to Gene on in succession. They did 30;
and as each in turn was whirled past by the vO
leDce of the stream, the youth still hanging on to
the snag successfully rescused both his friends
from certain death.
Don Juan Rafael Mora is short man with
smiling cOuntenance, and an eye beaming with
kindness. DESTROYS TO please, but timid, his man
ner is nervous when speaking to foreigners; aud |
cannot but smile at the recollection of our first
interview. Ii was at ball given by the officers Of
the militia shortly after my arrival. A person
with whom | was not acquainted came up to me
and politely asked me if | desired to be introduced
TO the President On my affirmative answer, he
led me into another room where many Ofthe guests
were drinking and laughing and in corner of
which there stood n small man, dressed in black,
around whom a group OF gentlemen were talking.
This was II. +. the President OF Costa Rica. He
received NE with a smile, hearty shake of the
hand. expressing warmly bis satisfaction at seeing
ne. Nevertheless, there was in his manner
tpee of uncasiness. This feeling is frequently
contagious; it proved so on this occasion, for
soon became very much embarrassed, and with
faint smile on the lips and a tongue full OF COM
pliments. was glad when relieved by some one
addressing the President with familiar - Senior
President
Don Juan Rafael Mora is the most popular of
the many Presidents who have governed Costa
Rica. and be is, in great measure, indebted for
his popularity To his largo estates, which bring
him, as landed proprietor, INTO constant and
daily intercourse with the people whom ne always
treats with fatherly kindness. His countrymen
call him by the familiar name Of Juan" and the
peasant-people by that of I" Juanito' (or little
.Jobp) Whenever there is a storm in the - col
"fce-cup. that wife is Jealous and scOlds her
spouse or the guilty man beats his better hall IN
order to hide his sin and persuade her that she Is
wronc-you may see the offended WIFE muttering
between her teeth that she will tell 1t Juahl-
"tor stealtbiv enter the Presidents house, that
she nav coHfide TO him her grievance. In such
cases Don Juan, after she has left, sends for the
naughty man. speaks kindly TO him, gives him
good advice. and dismisses him with recomnen-
datOn to behave himself better. 80, you nave
"heen telling tales TO Juanito" says the husband
as he returns TO his hut - Jesus Maria p ex-
claims the wife who breads that he should know
the truth. Z" has lie spoken TO you lie must
have heard it all from the neighoors
1.-THE President is the father OF his people IN thus
restoring peace to the Peasants household his gov
eminent does not fail also to exert the paternaau-
thority whenever they Judge it necessary. Iheir
mode is very simple. Ii the offender is eitl'
zen the government politely sends him pass
port 10 foreign parts, and in some occasions
thew are so very considerate as to add to the
passport "A sum Of money TO delray expenses
but If the ofenderis OF the lower class an arrest
and prompt departure of the culPrit, between