Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-12-14

by the whole breadth of the continent, still the
inhabitants of each are closely bound together
by community of origssi and institutions, and BY
strong attachment 10 fhe Union. Hence the
constant and increasing intercourse, and vast
interchange of CONNIE scial productions, between
these remote division Of the Republic AT The
present time, the most practicable aud only
cOnmodous routes for eammnnicatiOn between
them are BY the way Of the lSthmns or Cen
tral America. 1t is the duty of the govern
ment to secure these avenues against all dan
ger of interruptions. 4tw 7E
In relation To Central America. pefplexihs
questions existed between The u. S. and Great
Britain at the time of the cession of California.
These as well as que, Ans which subsequently
arose concerning intsStoceanic communication
across the lsthmus, were, as it was supposed,
adjusted by the treaty of A pril 10, 1850; but,
unfortunately, they have been re-opened by Sc
rious misunderstanding as to the import Of
some oft provisions. re- adjustment of which
is now under consideration. Our minister al
London has made strenuous efforts TO accom-
plish this desirable object, but has not yet
found it pussible 10 bring the negotiations to
termination.
As incidental to the questions, | deem it
proper 10 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 nter-oceanic
communications across the Isthmus, a company
was organized, under authority of the State of
Nicaragua. but composed for the mo.t part, of
citizens Of the United States, for the purpose Of
opening transit way, by The river San Juan
and Lake Nicaragua, which soon became an
eligible and much used route in the transport
iation Of our citizens and their property be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific. Meanwhile.
and in anticipation of the completion and i'm
poriance of this transit wav, a number of ad-
ventnrers had taken possession of the the Span
ish port at the mouth Of the river San Juan, in
open defiance of the State or States Of Central
America, which, upon their becoming indie
pendent, had rightfully succeeded to the local
sovereignty and jurisdiction of Spain
These adventurers undertook to change the
name of The place from San Juan del Norte, 10
Greytown. and though at first pretending to act
as the subjects Of the fictitious sovereign of the
Mosquito Indians, they subsequently repudaled
the control of any power whatever, assumed to
adopt distinct political organization, and de-
clared themselves an independent sovereign
State. If, at the same time a faint hope was
entertained that they might become stable
and respectable community, that hope soon
vanished. They proceeded to assert unfoun-
ded claims TO civil jurisdiction over Punta Are
mas, position on the opposite side of The river
San Juan, which was in possesson under
title wholly independent Of them Of citizens Of
the United States, Interested in the Nicaragu
Transit Company, and which was adispen-
sably necessary 10 The prosperous operation of
that route across the lsihmus The company
resisted their gronndless claims: whereuprn they
proceeded To destroy some of lis buildings, and
attempted violently TO dspussess IL
AZ a later period they organized strong
force for the purpose of demollshing the estab-
lishment at Punta Arenas, but this mschievous
design was defeated by the nterpusition of one
Of our ships of war, at that time in the harhor
Of San Juan. Subsequently 10 this in May last
a body of men from Greytown crossed over 10
Punta Arenas, arrogating 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 iurisdic-
tion there would be resisted then, as il had
been on previous occasions, they went prepared
10 assert il by force of arms Our minister to
Central America happened TO be present on
that occasion. Believing that the captain Of
the steamboat was innocent, for he witnessed
the transactions on which the charge was fuun-
ded, aud believing. also, that the nirudng par
ty. having no jurisdiction over The place where
they proposed to make the arrest, would en-
counter desperate resistance fthey persisted in
their purpose. he iuterpOsed, cfItctualy, 10
prevent violence aud bloodshed.
The American minister afterwards visited
GreytOwn, and whilst lie was there, a mob
including certain of the so called public func-
tIonarles OF the place surrounded the house in
which he was, av0wing that they had come 10
arrest him, by order Of some person exercising
the chief authority While parlying with
them he was wounded bv missile from the
crowd. boat despatched from the American
steamer Northern Light" TO release him from
the perllous situation to which he was under
stood to he, was fred into by the town guard
and compelled TO return. These incidents, to-
getfier with the known character of the popula-
tion of GreytOwn, and their excited state, in
duced just apprehensons that the lives and
property of our citizens al Punla renas would
be in imminent danger after the departure of
the steamer, with her passengers for New
York, unless guard was left for their protec-
tlan. For this purpose, and in order 10 insure
the safety Of passengers and property passing
ganized, at considerable expense TO the United
States, for which provision was made at the
last session Of Congress
This pretended community, Heterogeneous
assembage gathered from various countries,
and composed for the most part, of blacks and
persons Of mixed blood had previously given 9TH
er indications Of mschievous and dangerous pro-
pensites. Early in The same month, property
was clandestinely abstracted from the depot of
the Transit COMPANY and taken to Greytown.
The plnnderers obtained shelter there, and
their pursuers were driven back hy lis people,
who not only protected the wrongdners and
shared the plnnher, hut treated with rndeness
and violence those " hn sought to recover their
properly.
Such, in substance, are the facts submitted
to my consideration, proved by trustworthy ev-
idence could not doubt that the cause de-
manded the interposition of this government
Justice required that reparatlnn should be made
for so many and such gross wrongs, aud that a
course of insolence and plunder tending direct
TO the insecurity of the lives of numerous trav-
ellers. and of the rich treasure belonging to
our citizens passing over this transit way should
be temporarily arrested. Whatever it might
be in other respects. the community in ques-
tion, in power to do mischief, was not despi-
cable. 1t is well provided with ordinance,
small arms, and ammunition, and might easily
seize on the unarrned boats, freighted with
millions of property, which passed almost daily
within its reach.
It did not profess 10 belong to any regular