Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-12-18

Acuo anu eHcli property DteWcei liio Az
lantic and the Pacific. Meanwhile, and
in anticipation Of the completion and i'm
portance of this transit way, number OF
adventures had taken possession of the old
Spanish port at the mouth of the river San
Juan, in open defiance of the State OF
States of Central. America, which, upon
their becoming independent, had rightfully
succeeded to the local sovereignty and ju-
Irisdiction Of Spain. These adventures I'M
Idertook to change the name of the place
from San Juan del Norte to Greytown
and, though at first pretending to act as
the subjects of the fictitious sovereign d
the Mosquito Indians, they subsequently
the control of any power what
lever, assumed to adopt distinct political
Organization and declared themselves an
independent sovereign state. If, at some
time, a faint hope was entertained that
they might become stable and respecta-
bic community, that hope soon vanished
They proceeded to assert unfounded claims
to civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas, a
position on the opposite side of the river
San Juan, which was in possession, under a
title wholly independent of them, of citi-
zens of the United States, interested in the
Nicaragua Transit Company, and which
was indespensably necessary to the pros
Iperous operation of that route across the
Isthmus. The Company resisted their
groundlesss claims; whereupon they pro-
ceeded to destroy some of its buildings,
and attempted violently to dispossess it
At later period they organized strong
force for the purpose Of demolishing the
establishment of Punta Arenas, but this
mischievous design was defeated by thein-
terposition of one 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 Pun
ia Arenas, arrogating authority to arrest
on the charge of murder, captain of
one of the steamboats, of the Transit Com
pany.
Being we'll aware that the claim to exer-
else jurisdiction there would be resisted
then, as it had been on previous occasions,
they went prepared to assert it by force OF
farms. Our minister to Central America
happened to be present on that occasion.
Belle ewing that the captain Of the steamboat
was innocent, for he witnessed the transac-
ton on which the charge was founded, and
believi no, also, that the intruding party, hav-
ing no Jurisdiction over the place where
they proposed to make the arrest, would
encounter resistance if they persisted in
their purpose, he interposed etfectually to
prevent violence and bloodshed. The A
merican minister afterwards visited Grey
town, and whilst he was there, a mob, in
t1onaries or thu lleao. surrounded the
house in which he was, avowing that
they had come to arrest him by order of
some person exercising the chief author
ity.
While parleying with them he was
wounded by a missile from the crowd. A
boat, dispatched from the American stea-
mer ''North Light" to release him from
the perlious situation in which he was I'M
derstood to be, was fired into by the town
guard, and compelled to return. These IN
|cidents, together with the known character
of their excited state, induced just appre-
tensions that the lives and property of our
citizens at Punta Arenas would be in i'm
minent danger after the departure of the
steamer with her passengers for New York,
unless a guard was left for their protection.
For this purpose, and in order to ensure
the safety Of the passengers and proper
ty passing over the route, temporary
force was organized, at considerable ex-
pense to the United States, for which pro-
vision was made at the last session of Con
gress.
This pretended community, heteroge-
neous assemblage gathered from various
countries, and composed for the most part
of blacks and persons of mixed blood, had
previously given other indications OF mis-
chievous and dangerous propensitles. Ear
lly in the same month, property was clan
destinely distracted from the depot of the
Transit Company and taken to Greytown
The plunderers obtained shelter there, ant
their pursuers were driven back by its PEG
pie, who not only protected the wrong-do
ers and shared the plumber, but treated witt
rudeness and violence, those who sough
to recover their property.
Such, in substance, are the facts submit
ted to my consideration, and proved b
Trustworthy evidence. could hot doub
that the case demanded the interpositio
of this government. Justice required tina
PREPARATION should be made torso many an
such gross wrongs, and that course of in
} science and plumber, tending directly
the insecurity of the lives Of travellers, an
Iof the rich treasure belonging to the citi
: zens passing over this transit way, shoul
be peremptorily arrested. Whatever
. might be in other respects, the communit
5 in question, in power to mischief was nc
: despieable. 1t was well provided with OF
S dinance, small arms and ammunition, an
: might easily seize upon the unarmed boat
!; freighted with millions Of property whicl
: passed almost daily within its reach. !
> did not profess to belong to any regula
: government, and had, in fact, no recognli
: ed independence on, or connexion with, an
E one to which the United States or her IL
Iiured citizens might apply for redress,
: which could be held responsible in any wa
: for the outrages committed. Not stant
ling before the world in the attitude OF
t organized political society, being neithe
: competent to exercise the rights nor to Oh