Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-09

United States and MEXICO Setllcu eun0 -
our most embarrassing difficulties with that
country, but numerous claims upon it for
| wrongs and injuries to our citizens re-
| main unadusted, and many new cases nave
been recently added to the former list OF
/ agreviances. Our legation has been earn
! est in its endeavors to obtain, from the
Mexican Government, favorable consider
alton Of these claims, but hitherto without
success. This failure is probably, in some
measure, to be ascribed to the disturbed
condition OF that country Ithas been my
anxious desire to maintain friendly relations
with the Mexican r epublic, and to cause
its rights and territories to be respected,
not only by our citizens, but by foreigners,
who have resorted to the United States for
the purpose Of organizing hostile expedi-
! tons against some OF the States OF that
Republic.
The defenceless condition in which its
frontiers have been left, has stimulated law
less adventures to embark in these EN-
terprises, and greatly increased the difficult
ty Of enforcing our obligations OF neutrali-
ty. Regarding il as my solemn duty to full
i fl, efficiently, these obligations, not only
towards Mexico, but other foreign nations,
l have exerted all the powers with which
am invested to defeat such criminal proceed
ings, and to bring to punishment those who
by taking part therein, violated our laws
The energy and activity of our civil and
| military authorities have frustrated the de-
signs Of those who meditated expeditions of
| this character, except in two instances
One Of these composed of foreigners, was
at first countenanced and aided by the Mex
lean Government itself, it having been de-
! ceved as to their real object. The other.
small in number, eluded the vigilance of
the magistrate in San Francisco, and suc-
ceeded in reaching the Mexican territories;
| but the effective measures taken by this
Of the undertaking:
The commission to establish the new line
between the United States and Mexico, ac-
cording to the provisions Of the treaty
of the 30th Of December last, has been
organized, and the work 10 already com
menced.
Our treaties with tie Argentine Conieder-
acy and with the Republics of Uruguay and
| Paraguay, secure to us the free navigation of
the river La Plata, and some of its larger
tributaries; But the success has not atten-
ded our endeavors to open the Amazon
The reasons in favor of the free use Of tha,
river, had occasion to present fully, IN
former message, and, considering the cor
dial relations which have long existed be-
tween this government and Brazil, it may
be expected that pending negotiations will,
eventually. reach favorable result
Convenient means Of transit, between
the several parts of country, are not only
desirable for the objects Of commercial and
personal comm unication but essential to its
existence der one government. Sepcr-
ated as are the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of the United States by their whole
breadth of the continent, still the in
habtants of each are closely bound to-
gether by community of origin and lnstitu-
tons, and by strong attachment to the Uh-
ion Hence the constant and increasing
intercourse, and vast interchange Of COM
mercal productions. between these remote
divisions of the Republic, At the present
time, the most practicable and only COM
modious 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, perplex
ing questions existed between the United
States and Great Britain at the time of the
cession OF California. These, as we'll as
questions which subsequently arose con-
corning interoceanic communication ac-
cross the Isthmus, where, as it was suppos
ed, adjusted by the treaty Of April 10, 1850;
but unfortunately, they have been reopen
ed by serious MISUNDERSTANDING as to the
import of some Gifts provisions, re-adjnst-
e l. IL H. ia
Our minister at London has made strenuous
efforts to accomplish this desirable OBJ
ject. But has not yet found it possible
to bring the negotiation to termina-
ton.
As incidental to these questions, | deep
it proper to notice an occurrance which
happened in Central America, near the
close Of the last session al Congress. So
soon as the necessity was perceived OF es-
tablishing interoceanic communication
across the lsthmus, company was organi-
zed, under the authority OF the State of Nj /
caragua, but composed, for the most part,
of citizens of the United States, for tie pur /
pose of opening such transit way, by the /
river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua, which
soon became an eligible and much used
route in the transportation of our citizens
and thor property between the Atlantic an
Pacific. Meanwhile, and in anticipation
of the completion and Importance of this |
transit way, number Of Adventures had
taken possession of tn e old Spanish port at
the mouth Of the river San Juan, in open I
defiance of the State or States of Central
America, which upon their becoming indie
pendent, had rightiully succeeded to the To-
calsovereignty and jurisdiction of Spain
These adventurers undertook to change the /
name Of the place from San Juan del No!te-
to GreYtown, and. though at first pretending