The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-11

ing between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
of the United States. The protection OF
both required that the existing power in that
State should be regarded as responsible
government; and its minister was accord
ingy received. But he remained here on
" a short time. Soon thereafter the pOliii.
cal affairs OF Nicaragua underwent unIavor.
able change, and becsme Involved in much
uncertainty and confusion. Diplomatic Re-
presentatiYes from two contending parties
have been recently sent tO this government
but with the imperfect information possessed,
il was net possible to decide which was the
government de JGcto; and, awaiting further
developments, have refused 10 receive
either.
Questions the most serious nature are
pending between the United States and the
Republic of New Granada. The govern.
ment of that republic undertook, a year
since, to impose tonnage duties on foreign
vessels in her ports, hut the purpose was
resisted by the government, as being con-
trary to existing treaty stipulation with the
United States, and to rights conferred by
charter upon the Panama Railroud CcmPa |
nv, and was accordingly relinquished Ot
that time, it being admitted that onr vessels
were TO be exempt from tonnage duty in
the free ports of Panama and Aspinwull.-I
But the, purpose has been recently revived,
on the part of New Granada, by the enact
ment OF a law TO subject vessels visiting her
ports to the tonnage duty of forty cents per
ton; and, although the law has not been put
in force, yet the right to enforce it is still
asserted, and may. at any time, he acted on
by the government Of that republic.
| The Congress OF New Granada has also
enacted law, during the last year, which
/ levies q tax gilmore than three dollars on ev-
cry pound Of mail matter transported across
the Isthmus. The sum thus required to be
paid on the mails of the United States would
be nearly two millions of dollars annually,
in addition to the large sum payable by
contract to the Panama Railroad Company.
If the only objection to the exaction
we're the eXorbitoncy Of its amount, it could
not be submitted to y,the United States.
The imposition of it, however, would OBJ
viously contravene our treaty with New
Granada, and infringe the contract of that
republic with the Panama Railroad Company
The law providing for this tax was, by its
terms, to take effect on the lst Of Septe ber
last but the local authorities en- the lsthmus
have been induced TO suspend its execution,
, end to await further instructions Of the sub
| jcCt from the government OF the republic.
! | am not yet advised Of the determination OF
f that government. If measure SO extra.
2 ordinary in its character, and SO contrary TO
S treaty stipulations, and the contract rights
! OF the Panama Railroad Company, composed
! mostly Of American citizens, should be per.
: sisted in, it will be the duty Of the United
States to resist its execution.
t Irrgret exceedingly that occasion exists
t to invite your attention to Il subject of still
e graver import in our relations with the Re.
D public Of New Grenada. On the fifteenth
, day of April last, n riotous assemblage' oi
d the inhabitants or Panama committed vio
e lent and outrageous attack on the premises
s Of the railroad company, and the passenger
e and other persons in or near the same, in
J. volving the death Of several citizens OF The
s United States, the pillage of many others
j. and the destruction Of large amount q
IF property belonging to the railroad company
Il caused full investigation OF that event t
q be made, and the result shows satisfactory
8, that complete responsibility for whot occur
a rcd attaches to the government of New Gre
n NADIA. have, therefore, demanded Of tha
o government thht The perpetrators of tn
/, wrongs in question should be punished; tha
}. provision should be made for the families {
= citizens OF the United States who were kill
e ed, Nth full indemnity for the property dos
troyCd.
IT The present condition of the Isthmus 0
l. Panama, in so far as regards the security u
e persons and property passing over it, re
O quires serious consideration. Recent Incl
G dents tend to show that the local authorize
!, connot be relied on to mninlain the publi
!. peace Of Panama, and there is just groun
II for apprehension that portion Of the inhab
8 itants are medtating further outrages, with
: cut adequate measures for the security an
=. protection Of persons and property havin
}. been taken, either by the State of Panam
It or the general government of New Grenada
j. Under the guarantees oftreaty, citizens G
n the United States have, by the outlay {
is several millions Of dollars, constructed
o railroad rcross the lsthmus, and it has be
o come the main route between cur AtIanti
o and Pacific possessions, over which multi
is tudes OF our citizens and vast amount O
y property are constantly pasaing-to the Sc
Y cufty and prote ection Of all which, and tn
continuance Of the public advantages involv
9 ed, it is impossible for the government 9
d tho United States to be Indifferent.
n | have deemed the danger OF the recur
h renee Of scenes Of lawless violence in thi
- quarter so imminent as to make il nv out
r, to station part Of our naval force in tn
d liarbors of Panama and Aspinwali, in orde
d to protect the persons and property Of tn
e citizens Of the United States in those ports
e and to insure to them safe passage acros
in the Isthmus. And itwould, in my JUDI
Of ment, be unwise to withdraw the naval fore
now in those ports, until, BY the spontaneou
J. action OF the republic OF New Grenada, c
otherwise, some adequate arrangement sho
1t have been made for the protection and secu
e ritd OF line of inter oceanic communicate
J. 80 importlat ut this time, not to the Unite
ID States only, but to all other maritime State
} both OF Europe und America.
IS Meanwhile, negotiations have been inst
Al tuted by means Of special commission, t
obtain from New Grenada full indemnify fc
ct injuries received by our citizens on the Is.f
of mus, and satisfactory security for the gene
s. IA interests Of tho United States.
} In addressing to you my last annual met
10 sage, the occasion seems to me an appropr
ate one to express my congratulations
IS view Of the peace, greatness, and felicii
4 which the United States now possess and cl
Y, Joy. To point you TO the state OF the variot
ID departments Of the government, and Of a
IL the great branches OF the public service, ci
IN il ard military, in order to speak of the il
e. te1Iiyence and the iuteuriy which pervadt