The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-13


Valparaiso Journal paporting be protest. addressed TO
the Of the republic Of Ecuador signed by the
ministers Of France Spain and Peru and by the British
consul IT Quito against the transfer Of any interest In the
,apagos islands to the United States We had not al
the time leisure to on this extraordinary paper
but IL is Of far much consequence in the precedent
establishes and the principle II involves to be passed over
In silence
II appears that the government Of the United States
tuaied solely by desire benefit the most important in
eres Of the country of agriculture and not with any
view the acquisition Of territory entered into negoa-
ton with the government of Ecuador for obtaining the
privilege Of collecting gusno in the Galapagos islands for
satisfactory consideration There was understand
slightest intention to acquire the sovereignty of
these islands any portion of them OF interfering in
any way with that of Ecuador.
This group was, far recoect first discovered
by spanish navigator its imports but never
taken possession or temporarily occupied by that
power 1t was occasionally though rarely visited and
some cw years since Captain Cobrie British naval OH
GER sed round some of the islands pepetraed chart
which Commodore Porter found full of errors and christ
ened them anew after the Of the Gypse who steal
other peoples children and disguise the theft by giving
them new names This is custom Of British
robbed the Sganiards Portuguese, French, Dutch and
Russian navigaors the honors Of discovery but the
same time laid claim to their possession We confidently
appeal to Dalrympcs Collection Of Voyages and Dsoov
cries to establish beyond contradiction the truth of this
assertion and to prove that Great Britain notwithsand
ing her pretensions to superiority this respect is the
every great maritime nation Of Europe and cannot
justly lay claim single discovery Of any consequence
. n. sc Il a..
iards Portuguese Dutch French and Russian navgato
and all that England has done is having surveyed
them afterwards
Neither Peru France believe has laid claim
to these islands, either the ground of discovery or occu
patton; and that of the republic Of Ecuador presume
mainly if not entirely, their geographical posi-
ton Like that State they lie directly under the equator
and her than that of any other State
They have never been occupied by any Christian power
except partially and temporarily by Commodore Porter
during the last with Great Britain and the right Of
discovery whomsoever it belongs had been waived, if
forfeited by centuries Of neglect in taking posses
sion According the construction Of international law
and scted upon by Great Britain possession is
indispensable make valid the title Of any government
unoccuped territory The United States therefore, had
they followed the example the great interpreters and
epars OF the law of nations might have taken possession
of all these islands without ceremony and without
regard the claim of Ecuador just Great Britain did
Of Australia New Zealand the Falkland islands and other
places tedious mention; France has done
Tahiti and New Caledonia neither of which had either
these powers the slightest claim the ground Of dis
covery, occupation, cesson
The United States, however, respecting the claim Of
Ecuador preferred purchasing obtaining by cession
the privilege Of gathering guano he Galapagos islands
to this summary process Her claim, whatever may be its
foundation is certainly good that of any of the pro-
testing would to be the case Great
Britain and France aspire to the exclusive right TO all
occupied territory in every part Of the world known and
unknown certain loyal and orthodox British writer
maintains that there IL always individual in exist
who has inaenabe right the direct neal heir
Of ADAM the possession Of the whole earths and it
would probably be somewhat difficult to ascertain the
person entitled to this magnificent heritage the Emperor
Of France and the Queen of England have amcaby agreed
to divide between them lneal descendants of the
FIRST whom it originally bestowed
But setting aside this difficult question Of prnogeniture
the United States having legitimate claim being di
rcctly and lneally descended from ADAM and SUCH
entitled to share Of his patrimony preferred more vul-
gar commonplace mode of accomplishing their object
that by which they acquired possession of Louisiana Flor
ida New Mexico and the wilderness roamed by the savagea
on their honestly paying them Great Britain
and France might just well interfere with the acquis
ton Of territory by conquest by purchase from the
Sioux Obways, with that of Galapagos; nay the
former would have much plausible reason since
they border on her colonial possessions. s
But it would that distance signifies nothing to
these two great powers They have assumed the task
(which is doubtless almost easy the abors of Her.
cules) of establishing "a general equilibrium of power
which is to be entirely beyond the sphere of usurping
Providence and exclusively controedby omnipotent
morals This equilibrium is to extend only to CONT
nents but islands, and has it seems special reference
the Galapagos. 1t is to cripple the Russas, and humble
overawe, intimidae the United States; the
progress Of human and control destiny raise up
dead nations from the and bury living make
new shoes out of old and velvet purses Of
and, in short stop the wheel of time and change
the world into shuecock to be banded about by the
battedores Of the Anglo-French alliance.
II must he obvious that in order regulate the world
il is absolutely necessary be of the world and ii
ia this ground, presume, that Great Britain and
France while disinteresiediy aborng to arrest the
power of other nations necessarily work extending
their in all parts Of the world by diplomacy intm-
daton, and protectionhe greatest Of all modern POI
liticsl inventions and tho Of all devices