Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-29
REPLY OF SECRETARY MARCY TO
mn. MOLINA,s PROTEST..

A few days since we published the protest
of Senior Don Molina, Minister from the Re-
public Of Costa RIGA, to this Government, in
relation to an expedition, now on foot, to colo
nize lands in Central America, under grant
from the Mosquito King. We present to-day
the reply of Secretary Marcy, to Mr.. Molina,
which we regard as altogether satisfactory and
proper. 1t is as follows:
COMPARTMENT or STATE,
"WAsHMGToN, Dec. 10, 1854.
"The undersigned, Secretary of State, has the
honor to acknowledge the. receipt Of the note
of Mr.. Molina, Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Costa
Rica, of the 18th instant, in relation to the ex-
the newspapers of the day, has been organized
in the United States, for the purpose Of colo
nizing certain lands in Central America under
an alleged title granted by a Mosquito King
And in the name of his government, Mr.. Mo-
lima protests against the validity of 1any title
or grant made by the king or chiefs of the
Mosquito Indians and avows that the gov
eminent of Costa Rica will not allow any
colonist or party of colonist, from whatever
country they may proceed, to occupy, locate, or
take possession Of, lands belonging to Costa
Rica for the purpose Of agriculture, mining, or
any other, unless he or they shall have preyi-
ously applied to the government of Costa Rica,
and duly obtained a permission and legal title
to that effect" el H
In the absence of any information that the
alleged company contemplate occupying any
lands which are claimed, or have ever been
claimed, by Costa Rica, the warning contained
in Mr.. Molina's note would seem to be prema-
ture. From the tenor of that note, however,
the undersigned does not infer that the govern
ment of Costa Rica apprehends any hostile in
tention on the part of the organization in ques-
ton, but that it simply declines to recognise
the validity of any title which this company
may have obtained from other sources than
from the government itself.
In this view of the case, Mr. Molina will per-
NIT the undersigned to observe that he does
not perceive upon what grounds the government
of the United States can interfere with the pro-
posed expedition, which appears to be peace
full enterprise, involving, possibly agricultural,
mining, and commercial speculations, but con-
templating no measure which will render them
amenable TO the neutrality laws of the United
States.
When the parties to this expedition shall
have withdrawn from their allegiance to their
own country, and voluntarily placed themselves
within the Jurisdiction of another power, their
conduct must be in conformity to the new re-
lations they have assumed, and they are respon-
sible to the laws of the land in which they have
sought domicil. The question of validity of
title to lands is, then, between them and other
claimants, to be adjudged not by the govern
ment of the United States, but by the tribunals
of the State within which sthe dispute shall
arise.
Mr.. Molina will understand, from the fore
going remarks, that, while the government
does not feel called upon to interfere with the
projected peaceful expeditions Gifts citizens to
| other countries, it promptly disavows any in
tention of justifying those citizens who may
contemplate q wilful violation of the rights
and laws OF a friendly nation.
As, however, the government of the United
States has no official information in respect to
the movements of the company alluded to, the
undersigned would suggest to Mr.. Molina the
propriety of communicating the views of his
government upon this subject to the author-
lied agents of the company.
The undersigned ayails himself, &c, DC.
w. l.. MARCY.
| To SENIOR Dow FELIPE molina, &c, &c.