The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-09
VOL. XV---N0. l6.

sonal communication, but essential to ito exis-
tence under one government. Separated -
"a are the Atlantic and Pacific coasts OF the
| United States by tho whole breadth OF the
continent, still the inhabitants Of each n,
closely bound together by community OF on
GIN and institutions and by strong at.ssh.
ment tO the Union. Hence the constant and
increasing intercourse, and vast interchange
of commercis! productions between these rs-
mote divisions of the Republic. At the pre-
sent time the most practicable and only com.
inodious routes for communication between
them are by the way Of the ls,hmus Of Cen.
trail America. 1t Is ths duty Of the govern.
nent to secure these a'cnues against all dau.
ger Of interruption.
In relation to Central America, psrpexing
questions existed between the United State
and Great Britain ut the time Of the cession
ot California. Ihese, rs well III questions
which subsequently arose concerning inter.
oceanic communication across the lsthmua
were, as 1t was supposed adjusted by the trea.
ty Of April 10, 1850; but unfortunately thov
have been re-opened by serious misunder.
standing as to the import Of some Of its pro-
visions, adjustment Of which is now un.
der consideration. Our minister at London
has made strcnuou, efforts to accomplish this
desirable object, but has not vet found 1t Dos.
sblc 10 bring the negotiations to a te-mina-
ton.
a. Incidental to these questions deem il
proper to notice an occurrence which happen
cd III Central America near the close of tho
last session Of Congress, So soon as the ne
| ,t Iiul,
ceanlc communications across the lsthmus
company was organized, under the authority
OF the State Of Nicaragua, but composed for
the most part, Of citizens ofthc United States.
for the purpose Of opening such a trahsit way
bP the River San Juan and Lake Nicsragus
which soon became an eligible and much
used route IN the transportation of our citi.
zens and their property between the Atlantic
aud Pacific. Meanwhile, and in anticipation
OF the completion aud Importance Of this
transit way, a number OF adventurcrs had To-
ken possession Of the old Spanish port at the
mouth Of the river San Juan, in open def.
ancc of the State or States of Central Amer.
lea, which, upon their becoming independent,
had rightfully succeeded to the local sover.
eignto and jurisdiction Of Spain. These a1.
venturers undertook to change the name Of
the place from San Juan del Nor,e TO Grsy-
town, and though at first pretending to act
rs the subjects Of the fictitious sovereignty Of
the Musqulto Indians, they subsequently, 70
pudated the control Of any power whatever,
assumed to adopt a distinct political organi-
zatlon, and declared themselves an indepen-
dent soyere gn State.
II, at some time, a faint hope was entertain.
ell that they might become a stable aud res.
pectablc community, that hope soon vanish.
ed. The proceeded to assert unfouaded
claims to civil jurisdiction over Punta ARENA
a position on the opposite side of the river
San Juan, which was in Possession, under .
title wholly Independent of them, of citizen,
~ lisc Uni'u'i OIavo,, n'rctrn'uu .,IU...
aqua Transit Company, and which was in-
dlspensably necessary in the prosperous ops-
ration Of that route across the lsthmus. The
company resisted their groundless claims;
whereupon they proceeded to destroy some Of
Its buildings, and attempted violently to dis.
possess it.
At a later period they organized a strong
force for the purpose Of demolishing the e.
tabiishment at Punta Arenas, but this mis-.
chevous design was defeated BY the nterpo-
sltion OF our ships Of war, at that time in the
harbor Of San Juan Subsequently to this
in May last, body Of men from Greytown
crossed over to Punta Arenas, arrogatDg au-
4, thorlty to arrest, on the charge of murder,
:, captain of one Of the steamboats, Of tho
IS Transit Company. Being well aware that
;. the claim to exercise jurisdiction therewould
:, be resisted then, as it had been on previous
n occasions. they went prepared to assert it by
,s force Of arms. Our Minister to Central
{. America happened to be present on that oc-
;. casicn. Believing that the Captain Of the
Il steamboat was innocent, for he witnessed tho
transaction on which the charge was founded,
"a and believing, also, that the intruding party
,f having no juri,dctio over the place Whers
:, they proposed to make the arrest, would en-
,r counter desperate resistance if they persisted
a in their purpose, he interposed, etfectualy to
~ prevent violence and bloodshed The Anne.
n. rican Minister afterwards visited Greytown.
n. and whilst he was there, mob, including
n some Of the socalled public functionaries q
= the place, surrounded the house in which he
is was, avowng that they had come to arrest
to him, by order OF some person exercising the
/, chief authority.
in ; While parleyiug with them he wa. wouu.
c. drd by a missile from the crowd A boat
,e despatched from the American steamer
" ,Northern Light to release him from the
ID perilous situation in which he was understood
lie to be, was fired upon by the town guard and
of compelled to return. These in .ilents, To-
gether with the known character of the POD
ulatin nf ,,l tIa,, 4
IS induced just spprehensions that the lives and
IS, property of our citizens at Punta Arenas
". would be in imminent danger after the de-
d. parture Of the steamer, with her passengers,
" for New York, unless \ guard was left 70.
%. their protection. For this purpose, and 10
al order to ensure the safety of the passenger
e- and property passing over the route, tenn.
10 porary force was organized, at a considerable
,rt expense to the United States, for which pro.
nd vision was made at the last session Of Con-
les gress.
ho This pretended community, heterogs.
X nous assemblage, gathered from various coun.
ed tries, and composed, for tho most part Of
nd blacks, and persons of mixed blood, had pro.
it viousy given other indications Of mischiev.
ct. GUS and dangerous propenstics. Early in
gi- the same month, property was clandestinely
co, distracted from the depot Of the Transit
er- Company, and taken to Greytown. The
by plundercrs obtained shelter there, aud theil
ent pursuers were driven back by its people, who
not only protected the wrong does and
be- shared the plunder, but treated with rude.
to ness aud violence those who sought to 70
ecs cover their property.
Il. Il Al, r., u - 4
to my consideration, and proved by trust
IL o.,..lo.,. I ,n,ll -. IL. ~