Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-12-06
THE NARTINSBURG GAZETTE---EXTRA

the Republics Of Uruguay and Paraguay seeu - ~ 90
~ navigation of the river La Plata aud some . ~ "a Ks
lut tha same success has NOT attended gu
sndeavors 10 open the Amazon. Inc reasons III 'o'D
the free use Of that river had occasion 70 Piese y
in n farmer MESA and, considering me cVoi
which have long existed between tins government a ~
il may be expected thai pehdibs hes''''
ally reach favorable result. arat -.
Convenient means Of transit between me severn p"ie
If country are not only desitable for me OBJECTS
commercial and personal communication hu sseu''ai
800. nder one qoyerptnent Separated Is are the
Atisptic and Pacific of the United ota.rs W u'
whole breadth of the continent sun the innao'a.s
each are closely bound together by community o. og'i
ana institutions and by strong attachment 10 the Ihioh
u ne constant and increasing intercourse, and vast
interchange of commercial productions, bet"eeh tese r.
mote divisions Of the Republic AZ the present 'iuie ~
most practicable and only comnodous routes ior conu
beveen them are by the OF the isthh"s oi Gen
raj America II il the duty of the government 70 secure
tbaaa avenues against all danger OF interruption
In relation TO Central America, perpexlng questions
visited beyee the United States aud Great Dh at 'he
time Of the ceysion Of California These as Wen as CUES
-; bi.b subsequently arose concerning iner-oceanic
across the Isttnus WERE as II was sup
posed adjusted by the treaty of April w. io2U put u
rnately they have been re0pened by serious nsuhaef-
standing IA 10 the import Of OF its PROVISIONS re-
d;ntnssnt of which is now under consideration Onr
minister Mt London has made strenuous efforts 10 accom-
psh this desirable object but has not yet iound possible
to bring the negotiations TO termination
A. incidental 20 these questions deem proper 10 mo-
t; on occurrence which happened in Central America,
the close of the last session of Congress so soon as
the necessity was perceived OF establishing nteoceahc
communications across the isthms company was organ
lied under authority of the State of Nicaragua but com
d far tbe most mart of citizens Of the United States,
far the uurpose of opening such transit way by the river
San a and Lake Nicaragua which soon became an eglbe
and much used i'll the transportation OF our cehs
and their property between the Atlantic and Pacific Mean
while and in anticipation of the completion ana importance
of this transit way number of adyenrers had taken pos
session of the old Spanish port at the mouth oil the river
San Juan open defiance OF the state or States OF central
America which upon their becoming independent, had
phtfy succeeded the local sovereignty and jurlSdlc
n of Spain These adventures undertook to change the
name of the place from San Juan del Norte to GrejtoWn
and though first pretending to act az the SUBJECTS oil the
fictitious sovereign of the Mosquito Indians, they snbe
ouenty repudiaed the control Of any power whatever
sumed to adopt distinct political organization and de-
elared themselves independent sovereign state H. az
some time faint hope was entertained that they might
become a stable and respectable community thae nope
soon vanished They proceeded uniounded claims
tn civil Jurisdiction over Punta Arenas, position the
opposte side of the river San JUAN which in posses
sion under title wholly independent OF Them oi ctlzens
of the United States interested 10 the Nicaragua transit
COMPANY and which ndspensably necessary 10 the
prosperous operation of that route across the sthmus
The company resisted their goupdless CLAIMS "hereupon
they proceeded to destroy some OF It's buildings ana at
tempted violently TO dispossess it.
AZ later period they organized strong force for the
purpose of demoshng the establishment of Punta Arenas
but this mschevous design defeated by the mtepos
ton of OF our shps OF war at that time IN the haroof
of San Juan Subsequently this in May last, body Of
men from GreytOwn crossed to Puna Arenas arro-
eating authority arrest the charge OF murder cap
tain of one of the steamboats, of the Transit Company
Being well aware that the claim TO exercise jurisdiction
there would be resisted them had been on precious
occasions they went prepared to assert 1t by force OF arms
Our minister tn Central America happened to be present
on that occasion Believing that the captain OF the steam
boat innocent for he Witnessed the transaction on which
the charge founded and believing also that the ntru
ding party having jurisdiction over the place where they
proposed make the arrest would encounter desperate
resistance If they persisted in their purpose he nerposed
eecuay 10 prevent violence aud bloodshed The Amer
lean minister afterwards visited Greyt0wn and whilst he
was there mob, including certain of the so-caed pubic
ctonares of the place, surrounded the house IN which
be was avowing that they had him. by
der of person exercising the chief authority While
parleying with them he wounded by missile from the
crowd boat despatched from the American steamer
Northern Light 20 release him from the perlous sltua-
ton in which he understood to be- fired into by the
town guard aud compelled to These Incidents
geher with the known character of the population of Grey
town. and their excited state induced just apprehenons
that the lives and property OF citizens at Pnta Arenas
would be in imminent danger after the departure of the
with her passengers for New York unless guard
left for their protection For this purpose aud in
der the safety OF passengers and property passing
the route, temporary force organized consd-
cradle expense the United States for which provision
was made at the last session of Congress.
This pretended community Heterogeneous assenblage
gathered from various countries, and composed for the
part of blacks and persons Of mixed blood had pre-
yousy given other indications OF miscevous and danger
propensites Early in the month property was
candestiuely distracted from the depot of the Transit
Company aud taken to Greytown. The punderers OBJ
tanned shelter there and their pursuers were driven back
by its people who not only protected the vrongd0es and
shared the plumber bur treated with deness and violence
those who sought TO recover their property.
Such in substance the facts submitted to my CON
sdeation, and proved by trustworthy evidence could
doubt that the demanded the terposon of this
government Justice required that eparation should be
made for many and such wrongs and that
of nsoence and plumber tending directly the insecurity
of the lives of numerous travellers and of the rich treasure
belonging TO citizens passing this transit way,
should be peremptorily arrested Whatever it might be-
IN other respects the community 10 question in power
do mischief not desplcabe. Ii well provided with
ordnance, small arms, and ammunition and might easily
seize the unarmed boats reghed with millions of prop
erty which passed almost daily within its reach 1t did
not profess to belong 20 any regular government and had
in fact, recognised dependence on or connexon with,
any 10 which the United States their injured citizens
might apply for redress which could be held response.
BILE any way for the 0Gtr0gcs committed Not standing
before the world in t attitude of an organized political
society being neither competent exercise the rights nor
to discharge the Obligations OF government il was, fact,
mauraudng establishment dangerous be disre-
garded and too guilty pass unpublished and vet ncapa-
pabe OF being treated ia any other way chan as pratcal
resort OF outlaws, camp of sagages depredating on
emgrant trains or caravans and the frontier settlements
civilized states.
SeaSonabe notice given 10 the people of CreytoN1
that this government required them repair the injuries
they had done to our citizens and make suitable apology
for their insult of our minister and that sbipowar would
be despatched hther enforce compliance with these de-
mands. But the notice passed unheeded Tbereupon a
commander of the navy in charge Of the oopofwar Coy
ane ordered 10 repeat the demands and To insist
upon compliance herewith Finding that neither the
popuace nor those assuming to have authority them