The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-27
TEE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

lows:
When. therefore, sometime since, new
Minister from the Republic OF Nicaragua
presented himself, bearing the COMMISSION
of President Rivas, he must and would nave
boan received as such, unless he was found
on inquiry subject to personal exception
Int for the absence of satisfactory lntor-
nation upon the question whether President
Riyas was in fact the head of an established
Government of the Republic of Nicaragua
doubt as to which arose not only from the
circumstance of his avowed association with
armed emigrants recently from the United
States, but the proposed Minister himself
was of that class of persons, and not other
wise or previously citizen of Nicaragua.
Another Minister from the Republic of
Nicaragua has now presented himself, and
has been received as such, satisfactory evil
dence appearing that he represents the Coy
eminent de factO, and so far as such exists,
the government de jure of that Republic.
That reception, while in accordance with
the established policy of the United States,
was likewise called for by the most impera-
tive special exigencies, which require that
this Government shall enter at once into
diplomatic relations with that of Nicaragua.
In the first place, difference has occurred
between the Government of President Rivas
and the Nicaragua Transit Company, which
involves the necessity of inquiry into rights
of citizens of the United States, who allege
that they have been aggrieved by the acts
of the former, and claim protection and re-
dress at the hands of their Government. In
the second place, the interoceanic commun-
ication by the way of Nicaragua is etfectu-
ally interrupted, and the persons and pro-
perty of unoffending private citizens of the
United States in that country require the
attention of their Government. Neither of
these objects can receive due consideration
without resumption of diplomatic inter-
course with the Government of Nicaragua.
Further than this, the documents COM
municated show that, while the interoceanic
transit by the way of Nicaragua is cut off,
disturbances at Panama have occurred to
obstruct, temporarily at least, that by the
way of New Grenada, involving the sacrifice
of the lives and property of citizens of the
United States. Aspecial commissioner has
been despatched to Panama to investigate
the facts of this occurrence, with view
particularly to the redress of parties ag-
grieved. But measures of another class
will be demanded for the future security of
interoceanic communication by this as by
the other routes of the Isthmus.
1t would be difficult to suggest single
object of interest, external or internal, more
important to the United States than the
maintenance of the communication, by land
and sea, between the Atlantic and Pacific
States and Territories of the Union. It is
a material element of the national integri-
ty and sovereignty.
L have adopted such Precautionary meas
ures and have taken such action for the
purpose of affording security to the several
transit routes of Central America, and to
the persons and property of citizens of the
United States connected with or using the
same, as are within my constitutional pow
er and existing circumstances have seemed
to demand. Should these measures prove
inadequate to the object, that fact will be
communicated to Congress, with such re-
concentrations as the exigency of the case
may indicate. FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, May Is, 1856.
In the above, President Pierce gives the
reasons-and very clear and strong ones
too-why he recognised the new Nicara-
guam minister. There are important ques-
tions, in which the interests of the United
States are involved, to be settled with the
Nicaraguan government. and Rivas and
Walker have possession of the Government,
and form the only power or authority with
which our government can treat. Some
Know Nothings are endeavoring to make
it appear that the President is giving laid
and comfort to "fillibusterism," by recog-
nising Rivas' and Walkers government
The recognition of Vigil, the new minister,
does no such thing. From President Wash
ington's day down to the present, it has
been principle always acknowledged by
the United States, to recognise the de facto
government holding power and authority in
any nation. This cardinal point in our pol
icy has been illustrated by recognising the
many forms of power successfully adopted
by France in the series of revolutions with
which that country has been visited. The
only question to be determined is, has the
nation, so far as other powers are concern
ed, made a substantial change in its rulers
or institutions Such is, according to in
ternational law, the only question to be set
tied by the United States in the case of
Nicaragua. When the first minister of the
new government, Col. French, presented
himself at Washington, it was not clear
that the government he represented was
anything more than military irruption of
a temporary nature. Subsequent events
have shown that the existing government of