The Placer herald., 1855-11-24
From the Alta California,
Central America.

Discovery and Early Settlement of Nicara-
gua-Spanish Rule-Dcclarotion of Inde-
pendence-Federol RcpubNc-Norozan-.
Downfall of the Confederation - .Subse-
que7u Revolutions - Walker Mvasion -
The Probable Future.
According to the Guatemaan historian
Juaros who published his work on Central
America in 1909, Nicaragua was discovered
in 1914, by Don Pedrarias DaviIa, Governor
Of Panama, who formed during that year a
numerous expedition in the South Sea-" or
Pacific and returned by land, the same year
to Panama. In 1919, Don Gil Gonzales de
Ayila, by virtue of an agreement entered in
to with the Spanish monarch, fitted out an
expedition at Panama. and sailed to the
westward and northward. He disembarked
in the Gulf of Nicoya, and travelling to the
westward, discovered the great lake, Q.ake
Nicaragua and converted many of the ca
cques (Indian chiefs to the Catholic faith
Among these was the cacque Nicarao, from
which comes the name of Nicaragua. He
penetrated as far as Niquichizi now the city
Of Grenada and returned to Panama In
1923. Pedraras (fhe dscoverer.) dispatched
Don Francisco Hernandez de Cordova for the
conquest of Ncarao.
This cavalier, accompanied by large num-
Der of soldiers, reached the northern part of
the present State, and founded the cities of
Grenada and Leon. This was thirty one
years after the discovery of the continent by
Columbus, and these two cities consequently
rank among the earliest in the New World,
being now nearly three centuries and half
old. The country was gradually settled by
Spanish colonsts, and subsequently became
incorporated into the great Captain General
cv, and afterwards Vice Royalty of Guatemala,
which comprised the provinces of Guatemala,
Honduras, San Salvador Nicaragua and Cos
ia Rica. The commonly received state
ment that the first revolutionary movement
in Central America was in 1921, is incorrect.
As early as 1918, the Spanish Cortes conce-
ded to the city Of Carriage, in Costa Rica,
the title of muy noble, and the villages of
Heredia and San Jose that of cuidades, as a
reward for their fidelity shown during the
nsurrection which took place in San Saliva
dor and Grenada, "proclaiming their indc-
pendence from the mother country"
In 1921, Guatemala, renewed the effort,
and invited the other provinces to join in
the movement. This was done and the indie
pendence was proclaimed on the 18th of
September Of that year. The plan of lGuala
to incorporate the States into tho Mexican
Empire under Iturbide, was advocated and
though great opposition was shown to this
arrangement, especially in San Salvador and
Granada, it was effected in 1922, but with
the fall of Iturbide. a national constituent
assembly was convoked at Guatemala, and
on the lst of July, 1928, the States finally
formed themselves into Federal Republic,
called the limited Provinces of Central
America" conforming somewhat 30 the po-
litica system of the United States of North
America, and adopting our constitution as a
model In 1924 all slaves were liberated
throughout the Republic, and the owners of
them Unidentified for their losses. The whole
number, however, thus emancipated, did not
exceed one thousand The constitution was
ratified in November of the same year, and
on the lst of September, 1925, the Federal
Congress held its first session.
1t would be tedious here to follow in de-
tail the frantic revolution which, at last, dis
meubered the States, and brought them to
their present impotent and semi-barbarous
condition. The struggle between the Impe-
rialist Tor Servles,) and the Liberals, or adj
vocates of the Federal system Of Govern
ment at length resulted in the dissolution of
the Union. On the goth Of July, 1888, the
Federal Congress hcM its last session, and