Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-12-14

ries to be respected, not only by oul
citizens, but by foreigners, who hay,
resorted to the United States for III,
purpose Of organizing hostile expedi
lions against some Of the States Of tha
Republic. The defenseless condition
in which its frontiers have been left
has stimulated lawless Adventures L
embark in these enterprises, and greatly
increase. the difficulty Of enforcing ou
obligations of neutrality. Regardin!
it as my solemn duty to fulfil, efficiently
these obligations, not only towards Mex
leo, but other foreign nations, | have
exerted all the powers with which | an
invested to defeat such criminal pro
ceedings, and bringing to punishment
those who. by taking a part therein,
violated our laws. The energy and &C
tiyity of our civil and military suthori-
ties have frustrated the designs Of those
who meditated expeditions of this char
acter, except-in two instances One Of
these. composed Of foreigners, was at
first countenaneed and aided by the
Mexican government itself, it having
been deceived as to their real object
The other, small in number, eluded the
vigilance of the magistrates at San
Francisco, and succeeded IN reaching
the Mexican territories; but the effec-
tive measures taken by this government
compelled the abandonment Of the un-
dertaking.
The commission to establish the new
line between the United States and
Mexico, according to the provisions Of
the treaty of the 3Oth of December last,
has been organized and the work is al
ready commenced.
Our treaties with the Argentine Con-
federation, and with the Republics Of
Uruguay and Paraguay, secure to us
the free navigation of the river La
Plata, and its larger tributaries; but the
same success has not attended our en-
deaYors to open the Amazon. The
reason in favor of the free use Of that
river had occasion to present fully. in
former message; and, considering the
cordial relations which have so long ex-
listed between this government and Bra
zil, it may be expected chat pending
negotiations win, eventually, reach a
favorable result.
Convenient means Of transit, between
the several parts of country, are not
only desirable for the objects Of com
mercial and personal communication, but
essential to its existence under one gov
eminent. Separated as are the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts of the Unitad States
by the whole breadth Of the continent,
still the inhabitants of each are closely
bound together by community of origin
and institutions, and by strong attach
ment to the Union. Hence the con-
slant and increasing intercourse, and
vast interchange Of commercial pro-
ductions between these remote divisions
of the Republic. At the present time
the most practicable and only commo-
dious routes for communication between
them are by the way of the Isthmus of
Central America. 1t is the duty of
the government to secure these avenues
against all danger of Interruption.
In relation TO Central America, per-
picking questions existed between the
United States and Great Britain at the |
time of the cession Of California. These
as well as questions which subsequent |
ly arose concerning inter-oceanic com
across the Isthmus, were, |
as it was supposed, adjusted by the
treaty of Abril l9, 1850, but, unfortu-
nately, they have re-opened by serious
misunderstanding as to the import of
some of its provisions; re-adjustment
Of which is now under considerations
Our minister at London has made siren
uous efforts to accomplish this desirable
object, but has not yet found it possible
10 bring the negotiations to a tcrmina-
ion.
As incidental to these questions, !
ieem il proper to notice an occurrence
which happened in Central America,
lear the close o. the last session of
Congress. So soon as the necessity was
perceived of establishing inter- oceanic
across the Isthmus, a
company was organized, under the au-
hority of the State Of Nicaragua, but
for the most part, Of citizens
# the United States, for the purpose of
opening such a transit way, by the 1
iver San Juan aud Lake Nicaragua,
Which soon became an eligible and
much used route in the transportation
# our citizens and their property be- I
ween the Atlantic and Pacific. Mean
While, and IN anticipation Of the com
'letion and importance Of this transit
ray, number of adeenturers had I
aken possession Of the old Spanish {
'ort at the mouth Of the river San Juan, !
D open defiance Of the State or States
f Central America, which, upon their {
ccoming independent, had rightfully
to the local sovereignty and i
Jurisdiction Of Spain. p g n
These adventures undertook to c
hange the name Of the place from San y
uan del Norte to Greyton. and, though !.
{ first pretending to act as the subjects i
f the fictitious sovereign Of the Mos d
uito Indians, they subsequently re- P
udiated the control of any power Z
-batever, assumed to adopt q distinct +
olitieal organization, and declared $
n