Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-12-13

our obligations of neutrality. Regarding II
as nv solemn duty to fulfil, efficiently,
these obligations, not only towards Mexico
but other foreign nations, have exeried
all the powers with which | am invested TO
defeat such criminal proceedings, and bring
to punishment those who, by taking part
therein, violated our laws.
The energy and activity of orr civil and
military authorities have frustrated the de-
SIGNS of those who meditated expeditions
of tins character, except in two instances.
One of these, composed Of foreigners. was
at first countenanced and aided by the Mex
lcan government itself, it having been de-
ceive,l as to their real object. The other,
small in number, euded the vigilance OF
the magistrates at San Francisco, and sue
ceeded in reaching the Mexican territories;
but the effective measure taken by the
government compelled the abandonment OF
the undertaking.
The commission to establish the new
line between the United States and Mexi-
co, according to the provisions OF the irea-
ty of the 30h of December last, has been
organized, and the work is already CON-
menccd.
Our treaties with the Argentine Confedera-
ton, and with the Republics of Uruguay and
Paraguay, secure to US the free navigation
Of the river La Plata, and some OF It's lar
ger tributaries but the same success has
not attended our endeavors 10 open the
Amazon. The reasons in favor OF the free
use of that river, had occasion to present
fully. in former message and, consider
Ing the cordial relations which have long
existed between this government and Bra
zl, it may be expected that pending nego-
liatons will, eventually, reach favorable
result.
Convenient means Of transit, between
the several parts Of the country, are moi
only desirable for the objects of CONNER
clal and personal communication, but es-
sen,ial to It's existence under one govern.
ment. Separated as are the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts of the United States by the
whole breadth of The continent, still the IN
babilants of each are closely bound togeth-
er bv community of origin and institutions,
and by strong attachment TO the Unlon.-
Hence the constant and increasing In.er-
course, and vast interchange of CONNER
cial productions, between these remote d.
visions of The Republic. AT the present
time, the most practicable and only COM
modious routes for communication between
them are by the way of .he I>thmus OF Cen
trail America. 1t is the duty of this govern
ment TO secure these avenues from all dan
gner of Interruption.
In relation to Central America, pcrplex-
inr questions existed between the United
States and Great Britain at the cession OF
California. These, as we'll as the question,
which subsequently arose concerning utter
oceanic communications across The lsthmuS
were as 1t was supposed. adjusted by the
treaty of April l9, 1856: but unfortunate
| ". thev have been re-opened by serious
misunderstanding as to the import Of some
of its provisions, re-adjustment OF which
| is now under consideration. Our minister
at London has made strenuous efforts to
accomplish this desirable object. but has
not vet found il possible TO bring The neG9-
talions to termination
As Incidental 10 these questions, deem
it proper 10 notice an occurrence which
| happened in Central America, near the
close Of The last session Of Congress. 30
soon as the necessity was perceived OF es-
tabI.shing inter-oceanic communications a.
cross the Isti.mus, a company was organ
lied. under authority of the State OF Mica
qua, but composed, for the most part, oil
citizens OF the United States, for the pur-
1ose of opening such transit way. by The
river San Juan aud Lake Nicaragua, which
soon became an eligible and much used
route in The transportation OF our citizens
and their property between the Atlantic
and Pacific.
Meanwhile, and in anticipation of the
completion 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 def
ance of the State or States of Central a
merica, which, upon their becoming inde-
pendent, had rightfully succeeded to the To-
cal sovereignty and jurisdiction OF Spaln.-
These adventurers undertook to change the
name of the place from San Juan del Norte
to Greytown, and though al first pretending
TO act as the subjects OF the fictitious SOW
ereign Of The Mosquito Indians, they sub
seolently repudiated The control OF any
power whatever, assumed to adopt dis
iinct political organization, and declared
themselves an independent sovereign state.
II, at some time, faint hope was en-
tertained that they might become stable
and respectable community, that hope soon
vanished. They proceeded to assert un-
founded claims to civil jurisdiction over
Punta Arenas, position on the opplsle
side of the river San Juan. which was in
possession, under title wholly iudepen-
dent of them, of citizens of the United
States, interested in the Nicaragua Tran
sit Company. and which was indispensatly
necessary TO The prosperous operation OF
that route across the Isthmus. The com.
pany resisted their groundless claims ;
whereupon they proceeded 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 at Punta Arenas but this
mi,chievous design was defeated by the
Iinterposition of one of our ships of war at
that time in the harbor of San Juan. Sub
sequenty to this, in May last, body OF
men from Greytown crossed over to Pun
ia Arenas, arrogatng authority to arrest
on the charge Of murder, captain of one
the steamboats, Of the Transit Company
Being well aware that the claim to exercise
jurisdiction here would be resisted them as
it had been on previous occasions, they
went prepared 10 assert it by force OF
aims.
Our Minister to Central America hap