The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-02-17
The Central American Scheme,

IN w I aiANii Y. liz iNAi lll.i.,
gives publicity to a correspondence between
Secretary Marcy and Col. II. L. Kinney, in
regard TO the proposed Central American
Colony. Mr.. Marcy states with distinctness
the determination of the Government to
guard the neutrality laws against iutraction,
while he is equally explicit in conceding the
right of emigration and cXpat.iation:
The design Of Col. Kinney, as intimated
in his letter to the Secretary was as follows:
"To occupy some suitable place, AMI to
establish municipal regulations for the i'm
mediate government Of the cooniSts, so that
it may bc in my power to enforce order aud
keep up the iorms Of civilized society from
the beginning
lie further says:
AS soon as my arrangements arc COM
pletc, which | hope they will be shortly, it
is my purpose to follow those who have
gone already, and to devote all nay energies
TO build mp q prosperous settlement which
may furnish an example of what industry
can accomplish in that beautiful country,
hitherto an unoccupied desert
He aludcs to the Association aud its aims
as follows;
"fhs Company was organized little
more than year since, when officers and
managers were elected to. direct and control
its affairs
The articles Of association declare its oh.
Jec's to be the occupancy and improvement
of the lands within the limits Of its grant !;
and my instructions are Of the same pur.
port, although naoSseN.;iy rme.s aXt~..lsl.
These direct me to take Immediate steps for
the p"aceablg occupation and colonization Of
the lands of the Company 10y such indus.
triuus and entcrprisjng men as may be
willing to remove thithcr, either sipgly or
with families, and TO offer them, as IN in
duccmcnt for going, certain quantity Of
land, to be laid oil and conveyed to them
on consideration Of actual occupation
They also instruct me to take out n
certain number of mechanics and laborcrs
Of various kinds as | may find can be al
yan,ageous'y employed in mining, cutting
mahogany, and other valuable cabinet
woods which may bear transportation 30
the lnitel States, or to Europe. Aud my
instructions are to all lcacCably, without
invading the rights Of either communities
or States
TO this tho Secretary replies that the
assumption is unounlcl, that the country,
where, as Is notorious, the Association de-
signs locating is not within the tcrritori.
al limits and part Of the sovereignty OF
some Government, and that there is no
portion Of Central America over which
some one Of the Central American States
has not jurisdiction, the States of Costa
l.ica and Nicaragua, claiming jurisdiction
over the entire Mosquito coast. The posi-
ton taken by our Government in the
question of the political condition of the
Mosquito Kingdom for several years past
in discussion between this country and
Great britain, is still maintained by M
Marcy, who denies to the barc-lcgged mo.
march all right or title, to give, sell, alien.
ate or convey away any part or portion
OF the country, the right Of eminent do.
main yesting in the Central American
States, the Ministers ofwhich both protest il
the ,trorgcst terms against the expedition,
We stated somc time since.
Mr. Marcy 'slctteri is explicit in cautiouiu.
the colonista against the formation Of slcl
military organizations as are forbidden by ON
laws. This ,poudeucs VIII enabcall t,
derstand the real purposes and objects o.
the expedition, and the views Of the Govern
mcntinre-afl to the prosecution OF the en-
/ terprisc.
The movements and designs Of Col Kinney
are elsewhere stated ina kind Of circular, t,
the adventurous and entcrp,isiug, dated foui
days anteccdcnl to thcaboYg correspondence
Qlth Jan, ) and received By Il correspondent
OF the Montgomery ilaJ journal, in which j
is stated that every cmigrant to Central Anne
RIGA, who engages to serve the Government I.
be established there, in a military capacity
should be required, for Nelyc months, (as tn,
militia otany country,) will receive a grant o
land oltlo acres, and officers in proportion t,
their rank.