Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-05-23

tnelr own SOIL against individual dggreSSOrS IOIeSH
or domestic, the burden of the inconvenience and
losses of which, therefore, devolves in no inconsider
able degree upon the foreign States associated with
them in close relations OF geographical vicinity of
commercial intercourse
| Such is, more emphacally, the situation of the
United States with respect to the republics of Mexico
! and of Central America Notwithstanding, howev-
er the relative remoeness of European States from
America, facts of the order have not failed to
appear conspicuousy in their intercourse with Span
| sh, American republics Great Britain has repeated
ly been constrained 10 TO measures of force for
the protection of British interests in those countries.
France found it necessary attack the castle of San
Juan de ulua, and 10 debark troops at Vera
Cruz, in order 10 obtain redress of wrongs done to
Frenchmen in Mexico.
What is memorable in this respect in the conduct
and policy of the United States that while 1t would
be easy for us to and absorb territories
IN America it is for European States to do this in
Asia or Africa, and while if done by u.s. it might be
justified well, on the alleged ground of the ad-
vantage which would accrue thererom to the terri
tories annexed and absorbed yet we have absained
from doing it, in obedience considerations Of right
not less tran of policy; and that, while the coura-
| geous and self-reant spirit of our people prompts
them TO hardy enterprises, and they occasionally
yield to the temptation of taking part in the troubles
OF countries at hand where they know how po-
tentel their influence, moral and material must be,
the American government has unitorm and steadily
resisted all attempts of individuals in the United
States 10 undertake armed aggresSons against friend
| ly Spanish American republics
While the present incumbent Of the executive office
has been in discharge of its duties, he has never
failed to exert all the authority in him ed to
press such enterprises because they in violation
Of the law of the land, which the constitution re-
qures him to execute faithfully; because they are
contrary to the policy of the government; and be-
cause to permit them would be departure from good
| faith towards those American republics in amity
with Us, which are entitled to- and will never cease
TO enjoy, in the: calamtes, the cordial sympathy,
and IN their prosperity, the efficient good will Of the
government and of the people Of the United States.
10 say that laws in this respect are sometimes
violated successfully evaded is only TO say what
is true of all laws in all countries, but not so
In the United States than in any whatever of the
! countries of Europe. Suffice it to repeat that the
laws of the Uni,ed States, prohibiting all foreign
military enlistments expeditions within our terri
tory, have been executed with impartial good faith,
and so far the nature of things permits: as well in
repression OF private persons as OF the ocla agents
OF other governments, both OF Europe and America.
! Among the Central American republics, to which
modern events have impaired most prominence, is
that of Nicaragua by of its particular posi-
ton on the isthmus. Citizens of the United States
have established in its territory regular interocean-
lc transit route second only in utility and value to
the previously established in the territory of New
Granada. The condition Of Nicaragua would, it is
believed, have been much more prosperous than it
has been, but for the patton of its only Atlantic
port by q foreign power, and of the disturbing au-
tbority ser up and sustained by power in
portion of It's territory by of which its domcs
tic sovereignty was impaired, It's public lands were
withheld from settlement, and it deprived of all
the maritime revenue which it would otherwise col
ect on imported merchandise at San Juan del NOrte.
In these circumstances of the political debility Of
the republic of Nicaragua and when its inhabitants
were exhausted by long continued civi war between
parties, neither of them strong enough 10 overcome
the other, or permanently maintain internal tranquil.
ty of The contending factions of the repulic in
vited the assistance and cooperation of small body
OF citizens OF the United States from tt State OF Cal
torna, whose presence it appears, put an end at
once to civil war; and restored apparent order through
out the territory of Nicaragua, with a admins
raton, having at It's head distinguished Individual,
by birth citizen of the republic, D. PatrciO RiVas,
as its Provisional President.
1t is the established policy of the United States to
recognise all governments without question of their
source, or their organization, of the name by
which the governing persons attain their power, pro-
Vded there be government de fucto accepted by the
people of the country, and with only OF time
TO the reception of revolutionary governments ars
ing ont OF the subdivi sion of parent States with which
we are in relations of amity. We do not go behind
the fact of foreign government exercising actual
i power TO investi gate question of legitimacy do
not inquire into the which may have led to a
change OF government. To it is Indifferent wheth-
er successful revolution has been aided by foreign
intervention or not; whether insurrecliOn has over
| thrown eXSllng government, and another has been
established IN It's place according to eXISng forms
or in manner adopted for TIE occasion by those
whom may ind in the actual possession Of power.
All these matters leave to the people and public
authorities of the particular country determine
and their discrimination, whether ii be by positive
action OF by ascertaned acgncsceucr is to a suf-
icient warranty Of the Legitimacy of the gov
| eminent.
During the sixty seven years which have elapsed
since the establishment Of the existing government
of The United States, in all which time this Union
has maintained undsturbed domestic tranquility, we
Lave had occasion TO recognize governments de fao
founded either by domestic revolution bI military
invasion from abroad in many Of thu governments
of Europe
1t is the more impcratively necessary TO apply this
rule to the Spanish American republics, in consldera
ton of The frequent and not seldom anomalous chan
ges of organization Or administration which they un-
dergO, and the revolutionary nature Of most of these
changes. Of which the recent series of revolutions in
the Mexi' republic is example, where five sue
cessive revolutionary governments have made their
appearance in the course of few months, anA been
recognised successfully each, the political power
of that country, by the United States
; When therefore, some time since, minister
from the republic of Nicaragua pre- .entcd himself
$ bearing the commission Of President Rivas, he mus
and would have heen received such, unless he was
found on inquiry subject to personal exception but
for the absence of satisfactory information upon the
n question whether President Rvas in facthe heaG
f of an established government of the republic OF Nj
caragua, doubt IS TO which not only from the
circumstances of his avowed association with armed
emigrants recently from the United States but thai
the proposed minister himself was Of that class O
r persons, and not otherwise previously citizen o
Nicaragua.
Another minister from the republic of Nicaragu;
4 pk.Ah la bo.,