The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-12-14

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The reasons in of the rec use Of that river
have OCCASION to present fully in a former message
and considering the cordial relations which have ion
existed between this government aud Brazil, it ma
be expected that pending negotiations will, eYcutu
ally, reach o favorable result
Convenient means Of transit between the severn
parts OF country are not only desirable for the OBJ
jects OF commercial and personal communication, bu
essential 10 its existence under Que government -
Separated as are the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of tn
United States by the whole breadth Of the continent
still the inhabitants OF each are closely bound to
geher by community Of origin aud institutions, AM
by strong attachment to the Union. Hence the con
slant and increasing intercourse and vast interchange
OF commercial productions between these remote d.
visions Of the Republic. AT the present time, tht
most practicable and only cummodlous routes lOi
communication between them arc by the way Of the
lShmus OF Central America. 1t is the duty Of The
government to secure these avenues against all dan
ger Of interruption.
In relation 10 Central America, perplcxing ques-
tlOns existed between the United States and Great
Britain u: the time Of the ccssion of California
These as well as questions which subsequently arose
concerning iuter-OceauiC communication across the
sthmus.were, as was supposed, adjusted blythe tca-
ty OF april ~, 1850 but unfortunately they have re-
opened by serious misunderstanding to tho import
OF some Of its provisions; re- adjustment Of which
is under consideration. Our minister at London has
made strenuous efforts to accomplish this desablc
object but has not yet found it possible to bring the
negotiations to termination
As incidental to these questions deem it proper
to notice all occurrence which happeued in Central
America near the clo,c of the last session OF Con
greSs SO soon as the necessity was perceived Of cs-
tabliShing inter-oceanic communications across the
lsthmus, company was organized, under authority
oil the State OF Nicaragua but composed for the most
part OF citizens Of the United States for tt purpose
OF opening such transit way by the river San Jua
and Lake Nicaragua, which soon became an eligible
and much used route in the transportation of ourcit-
lzens and their property between the Atlantic and
Pacific. Meanwhile, and in anticipation Of the com
petiOn and Importance Of this trns.t way, number
Of adventures had taken possession Of the old Span
sh port at the mouth OF the river San Juan iu open
defiance OF the State or States of Central Ameiica,
Which, upon their becoming Independent, had right
fully succeeded to the local sovereignty and urisdic
tion Of Spain. These adventures undertook to
change the name Of the place from San Juan del
NOrte to Grcytown, and, though at frspretendng to
act us the subjects Of the fictitious sovereign OF the
Mosquito Indians, they subsequently rupudiated the
q
distinct political organization aud declared thenseve,
an independent sovereign state. IT, at some time,
faint hope was entertained that they might become d
stable and respectable community that hope soon van
shcd. They proceeded to assert uufounded claims to
civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas position on the
opposite side 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 Nj
cavNgua Transit Company aud which was indispen-
SADLY necessary to the prosperous operation OF that
route across the lsthmus. The company resisted
their grOundlcss claims whcrcupOn they proceeded
to destroy some Of its buildings and attempted vio-
lently TO dispossess it.
At later period they organized strong force foI
the purpose OF dcnolishng the establishment at Pun.
ia Arenas but this mschicvous design was defeated
by the nterpositou OF oneOt our ships Of war at that
time in the harbOr Of GreyOwn crossed over to Pun
ia Arenas arrogatmg authority toanest on thecharge
of murder, captain OF one Of the steamboats, Of the
Transit Company. Being well aware that the claim
to exercise jurisdiction there would be resisted then
as it had been on previous occasOnsthey went pcpa
red " assert it by foicG OF arms. Our minister to
Central America happened to be present. on that oc-
cNson. Believing that the captain Of the steamboat
was innocent for he having witnessed the transaction
on which the charge was founded, aud believing al.
So that the iutruding party, having no jurisdiction
over the place where they proposed to make the ar.
rest would encounter desperate resistance if the,
persisted in their purpose, he intepoed effcrtuallv
to prevent violence aud boodshcd The American
minister afterwards visited GIeytown, and whilst h,
was there mob including several of the so-callcd
public functionaes 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 chiei
authority While parleyng with them he wa.
wounded by a missile from the crowd. A boat des
patched from the American steamer Northern
Light to release him from the perilous situation in
which he was understood to be in was fired into by
the town guard, and compelled to return. These il
cdenls, together with the known character of thC
population Of Greytown, and their excited state in
duced just apprehensons that the lives and property
Of orr citizens at Punta Arenas would be in immi
nent danger after the departure Of the steamer witt
her passengers, for New York, unless guard wa
left for their protection. For this purpose aud il
order to secure the safety of passengers and property
passing over the route temporary force was organi
zed, ut considerable expense to the United States fo
which provision was made at the last session of Con
gress.
This pretended community, a hetroge
nious assembage gathered from various
countries, and composed, for the most
part, of blacks and persons Of mixed
blood, had previously given other indica.
rions of mschievous and dangerous pro.
pensilies. Early in the same month, prop.
erty was clbndestinely distracted from
the depot of the Transit Company, and
taken TO Greytown. The plunderers OBJ.
tanned shelter there, and their pursuers
were driven back by its people, who not
only projected the wrongdoers and shar-
ed the plunder, but treated with rudeness
and violence those who sought 10 recover
their property.
Such in substance, are the facts sub
mitted TO my consideration. and proved
by trustworthy evidence. could not
think the case demanded the iuterPos.
ton Of this government. Justice requ-
red that reparation should be made for so
many and such gross wrongs; and that a
course of insoence and under, tending
directly to the insecurity of the lives oil
numerous travellers, and Of the rich treas.
ure belonging to our citizens passing over
this transit way, should be peremptorIy
arrested. Whatever it might be in other
respects. the community in question. in
power 10 do mischief was moi despicable.
1t was well provided with ordinance small
arms, and ammunition, and might easily
SEIZE on the unarmed boats, frelghted
with millions of property which passed
almost daily within its reach. 1t did moi
profess to belong TO any regular govern
ment; and had, in fact, no recognized de
pendence on. or connection with, any one
10 which tho JTnited States or their iniured