Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-12-20
IA incidential 10 these Questions.

5 As incidental to these questions,
deem it proper to notice an occurrent
which happened in Central America, mel
the close of the last session of Congress
So socn as the necessity was perceived |
I establishing inter-oceanic communication
across the Isthmus, company was o.
ganized, under authority Of the State NJ
caraugua but composed, for the most par
of citizens of the United States, for tn
purpose of opening such o transit way
By the river San Juan and Lake Nicara
qua. which soon became an eligible an
much used route in the transportation Q
our citizens and their property betwee
the Atlantic and Pacific. Meanwhile
and in anticipation of the completion anl
Importance of this transit way, a numbel
of adventurers had taken possession of thl
old Spanish port at the mouth of the ri
yer San. uan, in open defiance Of the Stat,
or States of Central America, which, up,
on their becoming independent, haC
rightfullysucceedcd to the local sovereign.
tg and jurisdiction of Spain. These ad-
ycnturers undertook 10 change the name
of the place from San Juan del NOrte tC
Greytown, and, though at frst preten-
ding to act as the subjects Of the fictitious
sovereign of the Musquito Indians, they
subsequently repudiated the control OF
any lower whatever, assumed to adopt
a distinct political organization, and
declared themselves an independent
sovereign State. If, at some time,
faint hope was entertained that
they might become stable and re
spectacle community, that hope soon van
ished,- They proceeded to assert unfoun-
ded claims to civil jurisdiction over Pun
ia Arenas, position on the oppositeside
of the river San Juan, which was in pos
session, under title wholly independent
Of them, of citizens of the United States,
interested in the Nicaragua Transit Com
pauy, and which was indispensably me-
cessary to the prosperous operation of
that route across The Isthmus. The COM
pauy resisted their groundles claims
whereupon they proceeded to destroy
some of its buildings, and attempted VIC.
lently to dispossess it.
AT later period they organized
strong force for the purpose of'demolish-
inc the establishment of Punta
Arenas, but this mtschievous 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, body Of fmen from
Greytown crossed over to Punta Arenas,
arrogating authority TO arrest, On the
charge of murder, a captain Of one OF the
steamboats, of the Transit Company
Being well aware that the claim to cxer-
else jurisdiction there would be resisted
then, as it had been on nprevious occasions,
they went prepared to assert it by forco
of arms. Our minister to Central Amer.
lea happened TO &c present on that
occasion. Believing that the captain OF
the STEAMBOAT was innocent, for he Wit
messed the transaction on which the
charge was founded, and believing, alsoc
thatthe intrudng party, having no juris-
dictiOn over the place where they pro-
posed to make the arrest, would encoun-
ter desperate resistance if they persisted
in their purpose, he interposed, etfectual
iy, to prevent violence and bloodshed.
The American minister afterwards visited
Greytown, and whilst he was there, a
mob, including certain of the so-called
public functionaries of the place, sur.
rounded the house in which he was,
avowing that they had come to, arrest
him, by order Of some person exercising
the chief authority. While parleying
with them, he was wounded by missile
from the crowd. A boat, despatched
Light" 10 release him from the perilous
situation in which he was understood to
be, was fired into by the town guard, aud
compelled TO return. These incidents,
together with the known character Of the
population Of Greytown, and their excl
ted state, induced just apprehensions
that the lives and property OF our citizens
at Punta Arenas would be in Imminent
danger, after the departure of the steamer
with her passengers, for New York, un
less guard was left for their protection.
For this purpose, and in order to ensure
the safety of property passing over the
route, atemPorary force was organized, at
considerable expense to the United States,
for which provision was made at the
last session of Congress.
This pretended community, "a heterogeni.
Gus assemblage, gathered from various
countries and composed for the most part
OF blacks and persons Of mixed blood, had
previously given other indications Of dan
gerous and mischicvous propensities.
Early in the same month, property was
clandesIinely extracted from the depot OF
the Transit Company, and taken to Grey.
town. The Plunderers obtained shelter
there. and their pursurers were driven
back by its people, who not only protec.
ted the wrong doers and shared the plum
der, but treated with violence, those who
ought TO recover their property.
Such, in substance, are tue facts sub.
mitted 10 my consideration. and prov
ed by trustworthy evidence. could
not doubt that the case demanded the in
terposition OF this government. Jussic,
required that reparation should be madt
for SO many and such gross wrongs. anC