Demoine courier., 1854-12-21

mercial and personal communcs tion,
but essential TO it's existence under one
government Separated as are the At.
lantc and Pacific coasts of the United
States by the whole breadth of the con-
tinent. still she inhabitants of each are
closely bound together by community of
origin and Institutions, and By strong at
tachment to the Union. Hence the con-
slant and increasing intercourse, and vast
interchange Of commercial productions,
between these remote divisions of the
Republic. AT the present time, the most
practicable and only commodious routes
foi communication between them are by
the way of the Isthmus of Central A.
merica. II is the duty of the govern
ment to secure these avenues against all
danger Of interruption.
In relation to Central America, per-
picking questions existed between the
United States and Great Britain at the
time of the cession of California
These, as well as questions which sub.
sequenily arose concerning inter oceanic
communication across the lsthmus. were,
as it was supposed, adjusted by the trea-
ty of April I9.h, 1850; but, unfortuna,s-
ly, they have been re-opened by serious
misunderstanding as to the import Of
some OF It's provisions, a re adjustment
Of which is now under consideration
Our Minister at London has made s,ren-
uous efforts TO accomplish this object,
but has not yet found i, possible 10 bring
the negotiations to termination.
As incidental to these questions deem
it proper TO notice an occurrence which
happened in Central America, near the
close of the last session of Congress-.
So soon as the necessity was perceived
of establishing inter-oceanic communica-
tions across the Is.hmus, a company was
organized under authority Of the State O:
Nicaragua, but composed, for the mos.
part, of citizens Of the United States, for
the purpose of opening such transit
way, by the river San Juan and Lake
Nicaragua, which soon became an eligi.
bic and much used route in the transpor-
lalion Of our citizens and their property
between the Atlantic and the Pacific
Meanwhile, and in anticipation of the
completion and importance of ,his tran.
sit way, number OF Sdventurers had
laken possession OF the old Spanish port
at the mouth of the river San Juan IN
open defiance of the State or States of
Central America, which, upon their be-
coming independent, had rightfully sue
ceeded to the local sovereignty and ju-
risdic,ion Of Spain.
These advenlurers undertook to change
the name of the place from San Juan
del Norte 10 Greytown, and. though at
nrst pretending to &C. as the subjects of
the fictitious sovereign of the Mosquito
Indians, they subsequently, repudiated
the control of any power whatever, as
sumed to adopt distinct political organi-
cation, and declared themselves an inde-
pendent sovereign State. If a. some
lime, faint hope was entertained that
they might become stable and respect
Bile 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 pos
session, under title, wholly independent
OF them, o. citizens of the United States,
interested in the Nicaragua Transit Co.,
and which was indispensably necessary
TO the prosperous operation of that route
across the lsthmus. The company re-
sisted their groundless claims; whereup-
on they proceeded to destroy some OF
its buildings. and attempted violently to
| dispossess il. ~
Az later period they organized a
strong force for the purpose of demol-
ishing the establishment a. Punta Are
mas. bu. this mischievous design was de-
feated 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, q body OF men from Punta
Arenas, arroga,ing authority to arrest, on
the charge of murder, captain Of one
of the steamb boats of the Transit Com
pany. Being well aware that the claim
TO exercise jurisdiction there would be
resisted then, as it had been on previous
occasions. they went prepared to assert
il by force OF arms. Our Minister 10
Central America happened to be pres
ens on that occasion. Believing that the
captain of the steamboat, was innocent,
for he Witnessed the transaction on which
the charge was founded, and believing,
also, tina, the in,ruding party, having no
jurisdiction over she place where they
proposed 10 make the arrest would en-
counter desperate resistance if they per-
sisted in, their purpose, he interposed.
efecsually. 10 prevent violence and blood
shed.
The American Minister afterwards
visited Greytown. and willis, he was
there, mob, including certain of the SO
called public functionaries of the place.
surrounded the house in which he was,
avowing that they had come to arres,
him, by order of some person exercising
the chief authority. While parleying
with them he was wounded by some mis-
sile from the crowd. A boat. dispatched
from the American steamer "North
Light" to release him from The perilous
situation in which he was understood TO