Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-24

this act of the British government and by It's occu
patton about the time of insular and OF conti"
neal portions of the territory OF the State OF HON
duras we remembered the many and powerful ties
and mutual interests by which Great Britain and the
United States are associated, and we proceeded in
earnest good faith, and with sincere desire to do
whatever might strengthen the bonds OF peace be-
tween us, to negotiate with Great Britain conven-
ton to the perfect neutrality OF all
anic communications across the isthmus, ana, as
the indispensable condition of such neutrality, the
absolute independence of the States of Central Anne
RIGA and their complete sovereignty within the Inn
its of their own territory we'll against Great Bril-
tain as the United States. VI e supposed we had ac
complished that object by the convention OF April
10, 1850, which would have never been signed nor
ratified by the nted States but for the conviction
that in virtue of it's provisions neither Great Bril-
tain nor the United States was thereafter to exer-
else any territorial sovereignty, in fact or IN name
in any part Of Central America, howsoever or when
soevcr acquired, either before or afterwards. The
essential object of the convention-the neutraza-
ton of the sthmus-would, of course become
nuty if either Great Britain or the United States
were to continue to hold exclusively islands or MAIN
land of the s:hmus, and more especially If, under
any claim of protectorshp of Indians, either gov.
eminent to remain forever sovereign in fact OF
the Atlantic shores of the three States OF Costa Ill
ca, Nicaragua and Honduras.
have already communicated to the two Houses
of Congress full information of the protracted and
hitherto fruitless efforts which the United States
have made to arrange this international question
with Great Britain. 1t is referred to on the present
occasion only because of its intimate connexiOn with
the special object to be brought to the atten'
ton of Congress.
The unsettled political condition of some of the
Spanish American Republics has never ceased to be
regarded by this Government with solictude and re-
greet on their own account, while it has been the
source Of continual embarrassment in our public
and private relations with them. In the midst OF the
violent revolutions and the wars by which they are
continually agitated their public authorities una
be to afford due protection to foreigners and to for
eign interests within their territory, even to de-
fend their own soil against individual aggressors,
foreign or domestic, the burden of the incon-
veniences and losses of which, therefore, devolves,
in nconsidcrable degree, upon the foreign States
associated with them close relations ofSeoSaphl-
cal vicinity or commercial intercourse.
Such is, more emphatically, the situation of the
United States with respect to the Republics OF Mex
leo and of Central mcrica. Notwithstanding, how
ever the relative remotcness Of the European States
from America, facts Of the same order have not
failed to appear conspicuousy in their intercourse
with Spanish American Republics Great Britain
has repeatedly been constrained to recur to mea-
of force for the protection Of British interests
in those countries France found it necessary to at
tack the castle of San Juan de UIoa, and to de.
bark troops at Vera Cruz in order 10 obtain redress
of wrongs done TO Frcnchmen in Mexico
and policy of the United States is, that while it
would be easy for to annex and absorb new
territories from 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 advantage which would accrue thereirom to
the territories annexed and absorbed, yet we have
abstancd from doing it, in obedience to consdera-
tons of right not less than Of policy; and that while
the courageous and self-relant spirit Of people
prompts them to hardy enterprises, and they oc-
caSionay yield to the temptation OF taking part in
the troubles of countries at hand, where they
know how potential their influence, moral and ma
terial, must be, the American Government has uni
for,ny and steadily resisted all attempts of ndivi.
duals in the United States to undertake armed ag-
gressions against friendly Spanish American Re-
publics.
While the present incumbent Of the Executive Of
flee has been in discharge of its duties he has never
failed to exert all the authority in him vested to re-
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 fro.n
good faith towards those American Republics in
amity with u.s. which entitled to, and will never
cease to enjoy, in their calamtics the cordial SYM
pahy and in their prosperity the efficient good will
of the Government and Of the people of the United
States.
TO say that our laws in this respect are sometimes
is Of all laws in all ries, but not more
in the United States than in any one whatever Of
the countries of Europe. Suffice it to repeat that
the laws Of the United States prohibiting all foreign
military enlistment or expeditions within our terri
tory have been executed with impartial good faith,
and, far the nature of things permits, well
in repression of private persons Of the official
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 reason of its particular posi-.
ton on the s.hmus. Citizens of the United States
have established in its territory regular nteroceanic
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 occupation Of its only Atlantic
port by foreign Power, and of the disturbing au-
thorty set up and sustained by the same Power in
portion of its territory, by means of which its do
mcstc sovereignty was impaired, its public, lands
were withheld from settlement and it was deprived
of all the maritime revenue which it would other
wise collect on imported merchandise at San Juan
del Norte.
In these circumstances of the political debility
the Republic of Nicaragua and when its inhabitants
were exhausted by ong-continued civil war between
parties neither of them strong enough to overcome
| the other permanently maintain internal tram
guilty. one of the contendng factions of the Repub-
tic uVIteu Tue assistance anu co operation OF small
body of citizens of the United States from the State
of California whose presence, it appears put an
end at to civil and restored apparent order
throughout the territory of Nicaragua, with new
administration, having at its head distinguished
individual by birth citizen of the Republic, D.
Patricio Rivas, as its provisional President.
1t is the established policy of the United States
to recognize all Governments without question of
their source or their organization, or of the means
by which the governing persons attain their power,
provided there be a government de facto accepted
by the people of the country and with reserve on