The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-13

: to maintain good understanding, that sucl
complaint; are most numerous, and although
earnestly urged upon it's attention, they have
not as yet received the consideration which
this government has right to expect. While
reparation for past injuries have been with
held, others have been added. The political
condition of that country, however, has been
such as to demand forbcarancc on the part
of the United States. l shall continue nv
efforts to secure for the wrongs of our citi-
lens that redress which is indispensable to
the continued friendly association of the two
Republics.
The peculiar condition of affairs i'm Nicar-
aqua, in the early part OF the present year
rendered it important that this Government
should have diplomatic relations with that
State. Through its territory had been open
ed one of the principal thoroughfares across
the Isthmus, connecting North with South
America, on which a vast amount of prop
erty was transported, and TO which our citi-
zens rrsorted in great numbers in passing be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tie
United States. TIE protection of both re-
qulred that the existing power in that State
should be regarded as respons BILE Govern
mcnt, and its Minister was accordingly re-
ceivcd, but he remained only a short time
Soon thereafter the political affairs of Mic
aragua underwent unfavorablc change, and
tecame involved in much uncertainty and
confusion. Diplomatic representatives from
two contending parties, have been recently
sent to this Government but with the i'm
perfect information possessed, it was not pos
sible to decide which was the Government
de facto, and awaiting further developments,
! have refused to receive either.
Questions of serious nature are pending
between the United States aud the Republic Of
New Grenada. The Government of that Re-
public undertook. a year since. to impose ton
mage duties on foreign vessels in her ports, but
the purpose was resisted by this Government,
as being contrary to existing treaty stipulatiOns
with the United States and to rights conferred
by charter upon the Panama Railroad Compa-
ny. and was accordingly relnQuished at that
time, 1t being admitted that our vessels were
entitled to be exempt from tonnage duty in the
free ports OF Panama and AspinWall but the
purpose has been recently revived on the part
Of New Grenada by the enactment of law to
subject vessels visiting her ports to a tonnage
duty OF 10 cents per ton, and although the law
has not been pat in force. yet the right to en-
force it is still asserted. and may at any time
he acted on by the Government of that Repub-
lic The Congress of New Grenada has also
enacted, during the past year. law which
levies a tax OF more than three doll2r; on every
pound OF mail matter transported across the
[sthmus. The sum thus required to be paid on
the mails of the T. S. would be nearly 50 000-
600 annually. in addition to the large sum pay
able by contract to the Panama R. R. Co.
If the only objection to this exaction was the
cyhorbitancy Of the amount. it cOnld not be
submitted to by the United States The impO-
SitiOn of it, however. would obviously contra
vene our treaty with new Granada. and Infringe
the contract of that Republic with the Panama
Railroad Company.
The law pro,iling for this tax was by its
terms to take effect on the lst Of Sept. last the
local authorities on the Isthmus have been in
duced to suspend its execution to await further
instructions on the subject from the government
of the Republic; | am not yet advised Of the
determination of that Government. If that
measure, so extraordinary in its character. and
SO clearly contrary to treaty stipulatOns and
the contract ii ,hts of the Panama Railroad
Composed mostly Of American citizens should
be persisted in. it will be the duty of the Uni
ted States to resist its execution. ! regret eX-
cetdingly that occasion exists to invite your
attention TO a subject of still graver import in
our relations with the Republic of New Gren-
ada. On the lith day Of April last, a riotOus
asselnblage of the inhabitants of Panama. com
mittcd violent and outrageous attack on the
premises of the Railroad Company. and the
passengers and other persons in or near the
same involving the death Of several citizens of
the United States.
The pillaSe of many others and the de-
structon of large amount of property be-
| longing to the Railroad Company, / caused
! full investigation of that event to be made,
and tie result shows tisiactorily that COM
plete responsibility for what occurred at
taches to the Government of New Grenada
therefore demanded of that Government
that the perpetrators of the wrongs in ques-
ton should be punished, that provisions
should be uade for the families of citizens of
the United States who were killed, with full
indemnity for the property pilaged or
destroyed. The present condition of the
| Isthmus of Panama, So far as regards the Sc
curity of persons and property passing over
| it, requires serious consideration. Recent
incieu,s tend to show that the local author
tiles cannot be relied upon to ma ntain the
public peace of Panama, and there is just
ground for apprehension that portion OF
the inhabitants are mcditating further out
RACES without adequate measures for the Sc
curity and protection Of persons or property
having been taken either by the State Of
Panama or by the General Government Of
| New Grenada.
Under the guarantees of treaty. citizens of
the United States have, 10y the outlay of sever
| I'll millions of dollars, constructed a railroad
| across the Isthmus, and 1t has become the main
| route between our Atlantic Ind Pacific Pos
sessions over which muljitudes of our citizens
and vast amount of property arc constantly
passing. to the security and protection of all
which and the continuance ofthe public ad-
vantages involved it is impossible for the
United States to be Indifferent
! have deemed the danger Of the recurrence
of lawless violence in this quarter so imminent
as to make ii my duty to station a part of our
naval force in the harbors of Aspinwal and
Panama in order to protect the persons and
property of the citizens of the United States in
those ports. and to insure them safe passafft
across the Isthmus, and it would in my Judge
ment be unwse to withdraw the naval force
now in those ports until oy the spontaneous
action of the Republic of New Grenada, or
Otherwise. some adequate arrangement should
have been made for the protection and security
of line of inter:oceanc communication Sc
important at this time not to the United
, States only, but all other maratime States
both # Europe and America, meanwhile ne
: gotiations have been instituted by means of q
: special commissioner, to Obtsin from New
Grenada full indemnity for injuries received
. by our citizens on the Istemus. and satiseotor(
! security for abe general interests of the United
States.
Addressing to you my last Annual Message
, the occasion seems to be an apprOpi one
express my congratulations in view of TIL
: peace, greatness, and felicity which the Cnitet
S States now possess and enjoy, to ptint you t.