The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-13
ure taken by this government compelled

| VIZ 'ohSu ny tuS government compete
the abandonment of the undertaking.
The commission to establish the nc,
line between the United States and Mex
co,accordlng to the provisions of the treat
OF the 3Oth Of December last, has been Of
ganlzed,and the work is already commen
ced.
Our treaties with the Orgentine Con
federation, and with the Republics Q
Uruguay and Paraguay, secure to us tn
free navigation of the river La Plata, an,
some of its larger tributaries; but the sam
success has not attended our endeavor
to open the Amazon. The reasons in fs
vor OF the free use Of that river, had oc
casion to present fully in former message
and, considering the cordial relations whicl
have long existed between this govern
ment and Brazil, it may be expected tina
pending negotiations will eventually ,reacl
favorable result.
Convenient means Of transit, between
the several parts of country, are no,
only desirable for the objects of CONNER.
cal and personal communication, but es.
sential to its 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 inhabitants of zach are closely bound
together 10y community Of origin and in
stItutlons, and by strong attachment to
the Union. Hence the constant and in.
creasing 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 for communico-
ton between the.n are 10y the way of the
lsthmus of Central America. 1t is the
duty of the government to secure these
avenues against all danger of Interrupt
ton.
In relation TO Central America, per-
picking questions existed between the
Unltel States and Great Britain at the
time of the cession Of California. These.
as sso well as questions which subsequently
Gallon nhs sa.eaa lnter oceanic communi-
Supposed sasts1l' tss 1l'|5yPR IS it
10, 1880; but, unfortunately, they have
been re opened by serious misunderstand-
ing AS to the import of some of its pro-
visions, re adjustment of which is now
under consideration. Our minister at
London has made strenuous efforts to ac-
complish this desirable object, bu. has not
yet found it possible to bring the nego-
tIations To u 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 es-
tablIshlng inter-oceanic communications
across the lsthmus, IA company was or
ganized, under authority OF the State of
Nicaragua, but composed. for the most
part, of citizens Of the United States, for
the purpose Of opening such transit way,
by the river San Juan and Lake Nicara.
qua, which soon became an eligible ard
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 i'm.
portance Of this transit way, a 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
rightfnlly succeeded to the local sovereign.
ty and jurisdiction of Spain. These ad-
venturers undertook to change the name
ef the place from San Juan del Norte to
Greytown, and though at first pretending
to act as the subjects Of the fictitious SOW
ereign of the Mosquito Indians, they sub
ssquently repudiated the control of any
power whatever, assumed to adopt dis
tinct political organization, and declared
themselves an independent sovereign Sta te.
II, at some time, faint hope was enter
taiued that they might become stable
and respectables community. that hope
soon vanished. They proceeded to as.
sert unfounded claims to civil jurisdiction
over Punta Arenas, a position on the op-
posite side of the river San Juan, which
was in possession, under title wholly in
dependent Of them, Of citizens of the
United States, interested in the Nicara.
qua Transit Company, and which was in
dispensably necessary to the prosperous
operation OF that route across the 18th.
mus. Thecompany resisted their ground.
less claims whereupon they proceeded
to destroy some Of its buildings, and at.
tempted violently to dispossess it.
AT a later period they organized a
strong force for the purpose Of demolish
ing the establishment at Punta Arenas
but this mischievous design was defeated
by the interposition Of ono Of our ship.
OF war, at that time in the harbor Of San
Juan. Subsequently, 10 this, in May last
body Of men frsm Greytown GRO SEE
over to Punta Arenas, arrogaiing author
" to arrest, on the charge Of murder, {,
captain Of one OF tile steamboats, OF In.
Transit Company. Being well awar,
that the claim to exercise jurisdiction
there would be resisted then, ss Il la.
been on previous occasions, they wen
prepared 10 assert Il bF force of arms. !
! Oar sninister 20 OentenI America l,ap,,en
ed'to te present on shat occasion. BE
lieving that the captain Of the slaaml,oa
was inrocenL suF lie witnessed lie tsan.
action on which the charge was kuu le.
and believing. also. ihai the intrudin