The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-05-10
Tge felitiana 1enpotrat.

THE VIRGIN BAY Observation-Disclosures Letter from N,
American Mnister.-An employee of the Transit Rail-
road Company, named MAuoNEY has made nm alIida.
VII before Minister WHEELER in which he swears that
the troops OF Costa Rica, headed by Gen MoR, Prcsi
dent OF Costa RIGA. were engaged in the murder Of
American citizens ut Virgin Bay and gives the names
OF nine persons who were killed.
In addition G. M,uoSEY testified that they set fire
to the wharf built by the Transit Company, and com.
plctcly destroyed 1t. II cost sl2O0OO.
The forces of Costa Rica have now possession OF
the Transit route on the sthmus and the officers have
declared that they are determined to cxcrminatc
every American now In The country, and in this in.
tcntion they were sustained by the merchants OF
England and France, from whence they could pro
cure and had procured material aid as to guns and
ammunition.
Referring TO the above statement, the American
Minister addressed the following forcibc letter to
President Mora:
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES. J
Republic of Nicaragua.
GRENADA, April IS, 1856 !
Sr: The enclosed shows me state of facts
which you are already aware of; that on the
18th inst, unarmcd and inoilcnsivc citizens of
the United States were cruelty butchcred at
Virgin Bay by the troops under your immcdi.
ate command. | have also seen your proc.
lamation that all persons taken with arms in
their hands shall be shot; and another. that
all Americans shall be Immediately driven ont
OF Costa Rica. To prove the sincerity of
your first proclamation, You append list Of
persons who were taken prisoners at Santa
Rosa. and shot on the 25th Of March. Among
them find the names of Isaac A. Rose and
John j. Giddun, natives of The United States
have no right, and certainly no DISPOSE
ton, to Interfere in any way with the unhappy
war now raging between two entire republics ;
but it is my right, ms well as my duty, to in
form yon, as the Chief Magistrate of Costa
Rlca, that the acts of numbering in cold blood
nnarmed American citizens who are in no
wise connected with any bclligcrcnt act OF
party, it an ofense agoinst the law of God.
of humanity, and of nations. This oilcnsc is
no less aggravated by the fact that those who
committed SO wanton nm outrage were under
yonr immediate command; that you were on
the ground, and did not prevent it, as it was
in your power TO do.
l would remind you of the letter of Mr..
Molena, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minis.
ter Plenipotentiary Of our Government. dated
Washington, 18th December, 1854. to the
Secretary of State Of the United States
wherein he states that "thc laws of Costa
Rica are exceedingly liberal ION the subject
of granting lands and offered great facilities
TO cmgrants who would come to Costa Rca
and fix their residence there" The treaty be-
tween the United States and Costa Rica,
made in 1851, in the twelfth article, guaran-
tees to citizens of the United States residing
in Costa Rca, in their persons and property,
the protection of your Government.
Under these inducements and guarantees,
citizens of the United States have come and
settled. What excuse can be offered, or how
will you appear in the eyes of the world, when
you publish u proclamation cXpclling these
same persons without being guilty Of any
crime, and numbering them without mercy?
In the name of the United States and of the
Government thereof, ] protest against such
Infamous conduct and be assured, sir. that
the Government of the United States, aided
as You may be by invidious andpowcrful allies,
will inquire into such acts Of lawless violence,
and if unexplained and unatoncd for will take
decided measures to protect the lives of our
citizens and yindicatc the honor of the ma.
ton.
Rumors have also reached me that some
fourteen or eighteen citizens, four ladies' Conc
with an infant were recently murdered by
some troops at Virgin Bay. am slow to be-
lieve so diabolical an outrage. John b. Saw
len, Esq. the bearer of this is instructed to
inquire, in the name Of the United States fol
this legation, into the facts touching this III,
NOR. / send him with my flag with this dis
patch, and pray that you give him a conduct
through your lines, and prompt reply to youl
obedient servant. j. II. WHEELER,
Minister of U. S. A.