The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-12-01
226


round of the press stating among other things,
that Nicaragua contains white population
Of only twenty thousand persons. A cen-
sus of the republic was taken in the year
1S46. which is the latest source of informa-I
tion on the subject. According to it the pop
ulation was then 264000, Of whom $4,000
were set down as whites, $4,000 negroes, 90
600 Indians and 100000 of a mixed race,
composed of the negro, Indian and Spanish,
with the Indian greatly predominating
The principal towns were Leon, containing
sc ,000 inhabitants Massaya, l5,000 Man
aqua. 10000 Chinandega, 1000 Granada.
10000: Ssgevia, 5000, and Rivas, 5000
About one-half the country is claimed by
the British under the Mosquito title, the
claim having been gradually extended until
it now embraces about halt of Costa Rlca
and one-third Of Honduras. In this claim Is
included the river San Juan, which is part OF
the Transit Companys route to the Pacific
The town at the mouth of the stream, San
luan del Norte, was under this Mosquito IT,
tie, formerly seized by the British, its name
changed TO Greytown, and British Cover
nor established in it, After the negotiation
O. the Clayton .Bulwer treaty, this claim was
no. actively pressed, and San Juan fell into
the hands of sort of independent govern
This was continued until the destruction Of
the place by Capt. Hollns Since then Col.
Kinney and his fliibusters seem to BE- in
the actual possession of San Juan, as well as
OF a., the Mosquito region adjacent, and have
IN fact. claimed to have bought the MoSqui-
to title, Som, of the Washington cores
p0nlants. with the recklessness which is
characteristic Of them, have stated that the
increased British feet in the West Indies
comes out with orders 10 SEIZE San Juan
and San Carlos. The latter is the town ly-
ing al the junction of the river San Juan and
Lake Nicaragua. If the British We're to do
this they would have the travelling route en-
tirely in their possession. Of course, all this
is mere speculation. The British have their
hands too busy with Russia to do such d7s
perate things in America. Still there is but
little doubt that they view with great ieal-
Ousy and distrust the progress of our fill
busters in Nicaragua, as it manaces with
destruction the scheme based on their Mos
quito p:etensions. Nicaragua is at the pre-
sent moment, to all intents and purposes, an
American dependency. Its government is
exploded, and the whole country lies at the
mercy of few American adventurers. head
ed By Gen. Walker. We do not approve of
the d0ings Of these persons. but the effect of
them Is OF the highest lmportance. Walk
er. 1t seems. represents more substantial
organization than mere band of fillibusters
In fact, it is generally asserted and believed
that his expedition was projected. supported
ana maintained by the Transit Company.
That corporation has capital Of three mil
lions OF dollars. Colonel Kinney's scheme
was one calculated to excite fears for the
C0mpany's interests and the corporation have
vain tried first In nravant his la tho
Nicaragua. then to cut off his reinforce
,nants, AMI lastly to threaten him with an
armed force, endeavored to spur on the Mic
aragla governm ent 10 oust him. All failed
KINNEY was not m olested, as the governm ent
was too busy with the civil war, or too inef
fcent to attempt any practical movement
The Company had too much at stake to sit
M a. =: !. ..!n ~, ,r ch Of III Lilns