Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-06


ulous country, has been negotiated; and in order
to give full effect thereto, it only remains TO ex
change ratfoatons, and adopt requisite CONNER
cal regulations.
The treaty lately concluded between the Unit
ed States and Mexico, settled some of our most
embarrassing difficulties with that country, but
numerous claims upon it for wrongs and injuries
to our citizens remained unadjusted and many
new cases have been recently added to the former
list of grievances Our legation has been earnest
in its endeayors to obtain, from the Mexican gov
eminent "a favorable consideration of those claims,
but hitherto without success This failure is,
probably, in some measure, 20 be ascrlbed to the
disturbed condition of that country. 1t has been
my earnest desire to maintain friendly relations
with the Mexican republic, ana to cause its rights
and territories to he respected, not only by our
citizens, but by foreigners who have reSorted to
the United States for the purpose OF organizing
hostile expeditions against some Of the states of
that republic
The defenceless condition in which its frontiers
have been left, has stimulated lawless adventur-
ers TO embark in these enterprises, and greatly
increased the difficulty of enforcing our obliga-
tions of neutrality. Regarding it as my solemn
duty to fulfil efficiently these obligations, not on
ly towards Mexico, but other foreign nations, l
have exerted all the powers with which L am in
vested to defeat such criminal proceedings, and
bring to punishment those who, by taking a part
therein violated our laws. The energy and
tivity of our civil ard military authorities have
frustrated the designs of those who meditated
expeditions of this character, except in two in
stances. One of these, composed of foreigners,
was at first countenanced and aided by the Next
can government ITSELF it having been deceived as
to their real object. The other, small in number,
eluded the vigilance of the magistrates at San
Francisco, and succeeded in reaching The Next
can territories but the effective measures taken
by this government compelled the abandonment
of the undertaking.
The commission to establish the new line be-
tween the United States and Mexico, according
to the provisions of the treaty of the Both of De-
cember last has been organized, and the work is
already commenced.
Our treaties with the Argentine Confederation,
and with the Republics of Uruguay and Para
guay secure to us the navigation of the La Pla'
Ia, and some of its larger tributaries; but the
same success has not attended our endeavors to
open the Amazon. The reasons in favor OF the
free use of that river, had occasion to represent
fully, in former message; and, considering the
cordial relations which have long existed between
this government and Brazil, it may be expected
that pending negotiations will, eventually, reach
a favorable result.
Convenient means of transit, between the sew
eral parts of country are not only desirable for
the objects of commercial and personal commun-
ication. but essential to its existence under one
government. Separated are the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts of the United States by the whole
breadth of the continent, still the inhabitants Of
each are closely bound togather by community of
origin and institutions, and by strong attachment
to the Union. Hence the constant and increaS-
ing intercourse, and vast interchange of CONNER
cial productions, between these remote divisions
of the Republic. At the present time, the most
practicable and only commit dous routes for COM
munication between them are by the way oil 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, perpleXirg
questions existed between the United States and
Great britain at the time of the cession of Cali
70 MIA These, as well as questions which suisse
auently arose, concerning interoceanlc commun-
cation across the Isthmus, were, as it was sup
posed, adjusted by the treaty of April 10, 1880;
but, unfortunately, they have been re-opened by
serious misunderstanding as to the import of some
of its provisions, a adjustments OF which Is now
under consideration. Our Ministerial London has
made strenuous efforts to accomplish this desira-
BILE object, hut has not yet found 1t possible to
bring the negotiations to a termination.
As incidental to these questions, deem pro-
per to nolice oceurance, which happened in
Central America, the close OF the last ses-
sion of Congress- So soon as the necessity was
perceived of establishing lnteroceanic communl-
cations across the Isthmus, company was or
eanized under authority of the State of Nicara-
qua, but composed of the most part of citizens of
the United States, Tor the purpose of opening
transit way, by the river San Juan and Lake Nj
caragua, which soon became an eligible and much
used route in the transportation of our citizens
and their property between the Atlantic and Pa
cfc. Meanwhile, and in anticipation OF the com
pletion and importance 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 or States
of Central America, which, upon their becoming
Independent, had rightiully succeeded to the To-
cal sovereignty and jurisdiction of Spain.
+o he
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 of the
Mosquito Indians, they subsequently repudiated
the control of any power whatever, assumed to
adopt a distinct political organization, and de-
clared themselves an independent sovereign state
If, at some time, faint hope was entertained
that they might become stable and respectable
community, that hope soon vanished. They pro-
ceeded to assert unlounded claims to civil juris-
Giction over Punta Arenas, osition on the OPP
posite side of the river San Juan. which was in
possession, under a title wholly independent of
them, of citizens of the Uniued States, interested
in the Nicaragua Transit Company, and which
was indispensbly nece ssary to the prosperous
operation of that route across the lSthmuG. The
company resisted its groundless claims, whereup
on they proceeded to destroy some of Its build
ings, and attempted violently to disposses it.
At later period they organized strong force
for the purpose of demolishing the establishment
at Punta Arenas, but this mischieyous 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 time in May last, body of
men from Greytown crossed over to Punta Arenas
arrogatng authority to arrest, on the charge of
murder, captain of one of the steamboats, of the
Transit Company. Being well aware that the
claim to exercise jurisdiction there would be re-
sisted then, as it had been previous occasions,
they went prepared to assert it by force of arms.
| Our minister to Central America happened to be
present on that occasion. Believing that the
captain of the steamboat innocent, for he
witnessed the transactions on which the charge
was founded and believing, also, that the intrud-
| ing party having no jurisdiction over the place
| where they proposed to make the arrest, would
encounter desperate resistance if they persisted
in their purpose he interposed, effectuay to pie
vent violence and bloodshed.
The American minister afterwards visited
Greytown, and whilst he was there, mob, IN
Guiding certain of the SO called public function
aries of the place, surrounded 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
wounded by missile from the crowd. A boat.
despatched from the American steamer Northern
Light to release him from the perilous situation
in which he was understood to be- was fred into
by the town guard, and compelled to return.
These Incidents together with the known charac-
ter of the population Of Greytown, and their ex-
cited state, induced just apprehensions that the
lives and property OF ouF citizens at Punta Aren-
as would be in imminent danger after the de-
parture of the steamer, with her pas sengers for
New York, unless guard was left for their pro-
lection. For this purpose and in order to ensure
the safety of passengers and property passing
over the route temporary force was organized,
at considerable expense to the United States, for
which provision was made at the last session of
Conoraes