The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-12-14

lager tributaries; but the same success lla
not attended. .our endeavors 10 open the Am
azon. The reasons, ia favor of The free u.s.
of that river, I had occasion lospressnt fully
Fin fofmefmessage; and, considering tht
cordial relations which have long exis
ted between this government and Brazil, i
may be expected hatpending negotiations
will, eventually, reach favorable result. y
Convenien. means 10 transit between the
several parts of country, are not only de-
sirable forthe objects of commercial and
pefsohal communication, but essential 10
i,s existence under one government. Sepa-
rated as arsihe Atlantic and Pacific coasts
of The UniIed States by the whole breadth
ofihe con,iEent, stililhe Inhabitants of each
are CLOSELY found tosesher by colmdni,y
Of origin and institutions, and by strong at
tachment 10 the Union. Hence the constant
and increasing intercourse, and vast inter-
change of commercial productions, between
these remote divisions of the Republic, AT
The present time the most practicable and
only commodous routes for communication
between them, are.by The way Of The 18th.
mus of Central America. liis the duty of
the government 10 secure these avenues a.
ganst all danger Of interruption.
In relation 10 Central America, perplexius
questions existed between the United States
and Great Britain al the time of the cession
Of California. These. as well as questions
which subsequently arose conceming inter-
oceanic commpnieation across the Is,hmus
were, as twas suppossd, Adjusted by the
treaty of April 10, 1850; bui, unfortunately,
they have been re-opened by serious mrs
understanding as 10 the import of some Of
its provisions, a readlustment of which IS
now under consideration Our minister at
London has made strenuous efforts TO ac
compish this desirable object, but has not
yet found it possible TO bring the negotiations
TO termination.
AS incidental to lhese questions, deem
il proper 10 notice an occurrence which hap
pened in Central America near the close of
the last session Of Congress. So soon as Tie
necessity was perceived of establishing iu-
ler-oceanic communications across the 18TH
mus. company was organized, under au-
thority of the state of Nicaragua, but COM
posed, forthe most pait, of citizens of the
United States, for The purpose of opening
such transit way, by the river San Juan
and Lake Nicaragua, which soon became ar
eli gibte and much used route in the trans
portation of our citizens and their property
between the Atlantic and Pacific.
Meanwhile, ane in anticipation of the
completion and importance of this transit
way, a number of adventures had AIKEN pos
session of the old Spanish port at the mouth
of the river San Juan, in open defiance of
The states Of Central America, which, upon.
their becoming Independent, had righfully
succeeded 10 the local sovereignty and juris-
diciion of Spain.
These Adventures Undertook 10 change
the name the place from San Juan del
Norte to Greytown, ani, though at first pre-
tending 10 act as the subjects of the Mosquito
Indians, they subsequently, repudiated the
control of any power whatever, assumed to
adopt distinct political organization, and
declared themselves an independent sover-
eign state. If, at some time, faint hops
was entertained that they nigh, become a
stable and respectable co immunity, that hope
soon vanished.
They proceeded TO assert unfounded claims
TO civil jurisdiction over Punta Arenas, q pos
ition on the opposite side of The river San
Juan, which was in possession, Under a title
wholly independent of them, Of citizens of
the United States, interested in the Nicara-
qua TraEsit Company, and which was indis-
pensible necessary 10 the prosperous opera
tion of this route across the Isihmus. The
company resisted their groundless claims
.Vhereupon they proceeded 10 destroy some
Of Its buildings, and attempted violdutly TO
dispossess it.
AT later period they organised sir ong
force for the purpose of demolishing the e.
establishment at Pun,a Arenas, but this mis-
cbieyous design was defeated by the inter.
position Of one of our ships of war, at that
time in the harbor Of San Suan. Snbse-
quenlly TO this, IN May last, body of men
from Greyiown crossed over to Punia Are
mas, aHoga,ing authority TO arrest on the
charge of murder captain Of one of the
steamboats, of the Transit Company. Being
well aware that the claim 10 exercise juris-
diclion there would be resisted then, as it
had been on previous occasions, they went
prepared 10 assert 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,
he witnessed the transactions on which the
charge was founded, and believing, also,
that the inlruding party, having no jurisdic-
tion over the place where they proposed 10
make the arrest, would encounter desperate
resistance if they persisted in their purpose
he interposed, efiectually, 10 prevent VIC.
lence and bloodshed
The American minister afterwards visited
Greytown, and whilst he was there, mob,
including certain Of the SO called public
Of tho place, and surrounded
the house in which he was, avowing that
they had come 10 arrest him, by order of
some person exercising chief authority.