The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-12-10

force. yet the right 10 enforce il still az.
serted and may. at any time, he acted
on ny the government of that Republic.
The Congress of New Grenada has also
enacled law. during the last year, which
!evies a tax of more than three dollars on
every pound of mail matter transported
across the lsthnius. The sum thus re-
quired to he paid on the mails of the
Unftsd STATES would he neariv rwomiliions
OF dollars ahnnalIy, in add ion to the
arge sum i'ayahr 10y contract to the Pam
anna Railroad COMPANY If he only OBJ
JecIon to this exnction were the exorbi..
fancy of its amount. 1t could not be SUBJ
mited to by the United States. 80.
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously c"ntravene our treaty with New
Grenada, and infringe the contract of that
Republic with the Panama Railroad Com.
.'any. Tie law providing for this tax
was, hy its terms. to take effect on the
tirst of September last, but the local author
tiles on the Isthmus have been induced to
suspend its execution, and to await further z
instructions on the subject from the goy- =
ernment of the Republic am not vet
advised of the determinario, of that gov q
ernment. If measure so extraordinary
III It's character, and SO clearly contrary
to treaty stipnlations aud the contract 8
rights OF the Panama Railroad Compauy.
composed mostly of American citizens.
should he persisted in, it will be the duty
OF the United States to resist it's execu.
Ition.
regret exceedingly that occasion exists
to invite your attention to a subject of still
graver IMPORT IN our relations which the
Republic of New Granada On the fif.
'eenth day of April last, riotous ASSEM-
blage OF the inhabitants of Panama com
mltted violent and outrageous attack on
the premises of the Railroad Company,
hnd the passengers and other persons in
or near the same, involving the death Of
several citizens Of the Uuiied States the
lilage OF many others anil the destruc.
ton OF Il large amount of property belong
ing t" the Railroad Company / caused
fall Investigation of hat event to be made.
anu the Result shows satisfactorily that COM
ple.e responsibility for what occurred at
/ '"N hSH w ''V Oi NtWJrdn8O3. -
| have, therefore demanded of that ga<-
ernment that the perpetrators of he wroaes4
+ III question should be punished; that nroe.
visions should he made for the faml 81, Of;
citizens of Tie United States whe.wsre
>illed. with full Indemnity for the pxsperty
, i'laged or DESTROYED.
The lrcSent condition Of the xsikmus
ri P'lna'na, III so fu. as regards sRa. secu.
r'ty "f PERSONS aud proeer:y Issssi,,g. over
II, requires serious cons,ierss5sa,. Re.
= cent accidents tend 30 show .s=ss rlie ocsl
authorities cannot he relied oar re, main.
tain The public peacc Gf Panaraa, and there
! Is JUST .gronnd for arprebehsion that .
i portion ot the inhabitants are meeaea,ine
i further outrage', wiihou, adequate, meas.
: nres tor 'he security and protection Of
u persons or prnptr!y having been taken,
either by the SAFE Of PaEalaa, or hy the
= general GOV, rnmept Of New Granada.
j. UHier the GUARANTEES of treaty. citizens
: OF he Unifed SAFES. have, by the outlay
). of several millions of dollars. constructed
), a railroad across the tSthmus and it has
= become ihe main route between the Attain.
= 'c amt Pacih, possessions, ever which
# mnltitudes of eur citizens and a vast ~,
j., mount of property are constantly passing,
r TO the s,rariiy and protection of all
$ which, and the e~ntiHuanee Of the public
d advantages involved, il is i'm, ossib!e for
tn. governaien ef tn. United States to be
c indifferent.
j have deemed the danger of. the recur-
e
:; qu .rter SO inmineht as to make il my du.
l. ~ to station portion Of our naval force
j. in tie h'rbers of Panama and Aspinwal in
Il order TO protect the persons and proper
f ty Of citiz"ns of the United States in these
: port, ard 20 insure them safe passage
aef.ss the Is hmus. And it would. in my
IL Judgement he unwise 10 Withdraw the ma.
t. val 'orce in these ports, until by the spon.
i taneous action of the Republic Of New
: Granada, or otherwise, some adequate
! arrangement shall have been made for the
! pr 'tection and security of line Of inter.
oceanic communication SD important at
), at this time. not to the United States on.
lv, but to all other maratime States both
!. of Europe aud America. ~
81
!, Stitu,ed by mtans Of IA special commission,
!. to obtain from New Granada full indem.
!, u,y for injuries sustained by our citizens
, on the I>ihmus, and satisfactory security
!, for the general Interests of the United
), S aies.
{. In addressing to you my last annual
: message, the occasion seems to me an ap-
. prniriate one 10 express my congratula.
), ii ms in view of the oeace. greatness, end
r fe wi,y vi ich rle Uuled States now pos
se ,scs and enjoys. To point you TO tie
st te oi th, various del artments of the
J.. government, aud To all The great branches
:, of he public service, civil aud military, in
j. or i,r ,os.e k of he intelligence and In.
I, te-rIy which rrevattes The whole, wopld
be- To Indicate oui inisrteclly the admin.
>. is ra'ive cOndltiom oi he couhtry, aud the