Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-12-08

proceeded to assert unfoundsd claims
to civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas
a position on the opposite side Of the
river San Juan, which was in posses
sion. under a title wholly Independent
Of them. OF citizens ofthe United States
interested In the Nicaragua Transit
Company. and which was indispensa-
bly, necessary 10 the prosperous opera
ton OF that route across the Isthmus.
The company resisted their groundless
claims: whsreupon they proceeded to
destroy some Of It's buildings, and at
tempted violently to dispossess il. AT
later period they organized u strong
force for the purpose of demolishing
the establishment at Punta Arenas, but
this mischievous design was defeated
by the interposition Of one Of our ships
Of war. at that time in the harbor Of
San Juan. Subsequently to this, in
May last, abody OF men from Grey.
town crossed over to Punta Arenas.
arrogating authority TO arrest. on the
charge OF murder. captain Of one OF
the steamboats, Of the Transit Com
pany. Being well aware that the
claim to exercise jurisdiction there
would be resisted then, as il had been
on previous occasions. they went pre-.
pared TO assert 1t by force of arms
nH mi
happened to be present on that occa-
sion. Believing that the captain of
the steamboat was innocent, for he wit
messed the transaction on which the
charge was founded. and believing. al.
so. that the int uding party, having no
Jurisdiction over the place where they
proposed to make the arrest. would
encounter desperate resistance il they
persisted to their purpose. hs interpo.
ssd efeclually. to prevent violence and
bloodshead The American minister
afterwards visited Greytown, and
willis, he was there mob. including
certain of the so called public func-
tionaries Of the place. surrounding the
house in which he was. avowing that
they had come to arrest him, by order
Of some person exercising the chief
authority. While parloying with them
he was wounded by 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
fred into by the town guard, and CON-
PEELED to return. These incidents, to.
gsther with the known character of the
population of Greytown. and their ex
cited state. induced just apprehension.
that the lives and property Of orr cit
isens at Punta Arenas would be in i'm
minent danger after the departure OF
the steamer. with her passengers. for
New York, unless guard was left for
their protection. For this purpose,
and in order 10 ensure the safety oil
passengers and property passing over
the route, temporary force was or
ganised. ct considerable expense tc
the United States. for which provis-
sion was made at the last session OIL
Congress.
This pretended community, hete-
rogeneous assemblage gathered from
various countries, and composed, fol
the mos. part, OF blacks and persons
Of mixed blood, had previously giver
other indications Of mischievous and
dangerous propensities. Early in tn,
same month. property was clandestin.
ly distracted from the depot of the
Transit Company, and taken to Grey
town. The plunderers obtained shelf
er there, and their pursuers were div
en- back by its people. who not only
protected the wrong doors and shared
the plsnder. but treated with rudenes
and violence those who sought to re
cover their property.
Such. in substance, are the fact
submitted TO my consideration, ant
proved by trustworthy evidence.
} corld not doubt that the case deman
ded the interposition Of this govern
J ment. Justice required that repara
ton should be made for so many an,
such gross wrong. and that a course o
insolence and plumber. tending direct
ly to the insecurity Of the lives Of nu
merous travellers. cnd Of the ricl
: treasure belonging TO ourcitizens. pass
ing over this transit way, should b
peremptorily arrested. Whatever !
Il might be in other respects, the com
munity in question. in power TO d.
mischief. was not despicable. 1t wa
we'll provided with ordnance. small
J arms and ammunition and might ca
7 silly seize upon the unarmed boats
freighted with millions of property
r which passed almost daily within il
reach. 1t did not profess to belong Il
any regular government, and had, il
fact, no recognized dependence on, o
E connection with, any one to which tn
, United States or their injured citizel
might apply for redress, or whicl
could be held responsible. in any way
for the outrages committed. No
G standing before tho world in the att
tude OF m organized political societ,
J being neither competent TO exercis
the rights nor to discharge the obliga
tons Of a government, il was, in fact
r a marauding establishment. too dan
gerous TO be disregarded, and to-
: guilty to pass UNPUBLISHED, and yet in
8 capable Of being treated in any othe
, way than as a piratical resort of out
laws, or camp of savagcs, depreda
| ting on emigrant trains or carevan
Q and the frontier settlements Of civil
i. zed states.
( Ssasonable notice was given to tn
y people Of Graytown that this govern
: ment required them to repair the in
a n 4