Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-12-18


last year, which levies a tax o
more than three dollars on eve
pound OK mail matter that crosses
the Isthlnus. The sum thus requi
red to be paid on the mails OF th,
United States would be nearly tw,
millions Of dollars annually, in ad
dition TO the large sum payabl,
TO The Panama Rail Road COMPANY
If the only objection to this exac
tioaswere the exorbitancy Of it
amount, il could not be submitte,
20 by the United States.
The imposition Of it, however
would obviously contravene oul
treaty with New Grenada, ant
infringe the contract of that repub
lie with the Panama Rail Road
Complny. The law providing for
this tax was, by its terms. to take
effect on the first OF September
last, but the local authorities on the
lsthmus have been induced to sus.
pend IFS execution, aud to await
further in struction on the subject
from the government OF the Re-
public. Ii measure so extra
ordinary in lis character and so
clearly contrary to treaty stipn-
lati0ns, and the contract rights
of the Panama Rail Road Com
pany, composed mostly of Amer.
lean citizens, should be persisted in,
ii y i'll be the duty OF the United
States to resist its execution.
regret exceedingly that occa,
sion exists to invite your attention
to subject of still graver import
IN our relations with the Republic
of New Grenade. On the fifteenth
day Of April last, riotous asse IN
blage Of the inhabitants OF Panama
committed a violent outrageous
attack on The premises of the rail
road company, and the passengers
and other persons in OF near the
same, involving the death of seve-
raj citizens Of the United States,
The pillase Of many Others, and Tie
destruction OF large amount OF
property belonging 10 the rail road
company. | caused iull investi-
cation OF that event TO be made,
and the result shows satisfactorily
that complete responsibility Tor
what occurred attaches to govern
snent of New Grenada. | have
therefore, demanded of that govern
ment that The perpetrators of the
wrongs in question should be pun
ished, that provision should be made
for lie families Of citizens OF the
United States who were killed, with
full indemnity for the property pill
iaged or destroyed.
The present condition of the 18TH
nus Of Panama, in so far as regards
the security of persons aud property
passing over it, requires serious con-
sideration. Recent incidents tend
to show that the local authorities
cannot be relied on to maintain the
public peace Of Panama, and there
is just ground for apprehension that
q portion Of the inhabitants are med
itating further oatrages, without adj
equate measures for the security and
protection of persons and property
having been taken, either by the
State oe Panama, or the general gov
eminent Of New Granada.
Under the guarantees of treaty,
citizens of the United States have,
by the outlay of several millions Of
dollars, constructed railroad across
the ISthmus, aud it has become the
main route between our Atlantic and
Pacific possessions, over which null
titudes Of our citizens and vast a
mount of property are constantly
passing to the security and protec-
ton of all which, and the continu-
ance of the public advantages invol-
we'd, it is impos sible for the govern
ment to be Indifferent
] have deemed the danger Of the
recurrence Of scenes Of lawless yIo-
lence in this quarter so imminent as
10 make it my duty to station a por-
ton of oul naval force ia the har-
bors of Panama and AspinwaH, 10
order to protect the persons and
property of the citizens Of the United
States in those ports, and to Insure
to them ssfe passage across the 18th
mus. And it would, 10 my Judgment,
be unwise to withdraw the naval force
now in those ports, until, by the
spontaneous action of the Republic
of New Grenada, or otherwise, some
adannate Arrangement shall have