New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-12
Ii. cass. What is the date of that letter.


MI. Cass. What is the date of that letter! ~
4 Mr.Weer. April 10th, the day before the battle
So you will perceive the British Government has
givenorders to furnish the Costa Rcans with arms to
erpel North americans from Nicaragua And the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty is still in force!
Mr.. President, the Government Of Nicaragua ought
to have been recognized long since. The weight of
our government ought not to have been thrown
against the party now in power They have for six
months past given satisfactory evidence Of their abi
ity to maintain government. If our countrymen
desire to unite their destinies with Nicaragua, let
them go without being logged around your wharyes
by police officers These are my opinions and I
frankly avoW them. s2.5g r. sssSfe & "a
F Let me say, before dismiss this subject. that the
interference of the British Government in this contest
may induce Guatemala and San Salvador to form an
alliance with Costa Rica, and assist in the effort which
is now being made to drive North Americans from.
Nicaragua but if General Walker can obtain suf-
icent supplies for his army in the way Of food and
clothing, tho whole Spanish race in Central America
cannot eXpel him. Notwithstanding they are poorly
provided and worse paid no troops ever had more
confidence in their leader, and in their cause. Al
though the odds are against him. still think he will
be successful If he falls it will be because of the
aid and comfort given his enemies by British agents
and emissaries.
Thirty Americans have been slaughtered at Panama.
AS the very best feeling has always existed between
the Government of New Granada and the United
States, have doubt the full power of that Gov
eminent will be Immediately used for the purpose OF
redressing these injuries. And have right to be-
leve that those in power here wlsee that that Coy
eminent makes ample reparation for the soutrages
which have been committed. 1t was one OF those
violent outbreaks which occasionally happen when
strangers and people Of different nations and tongues
are thrown together. The local authorities were too
weak to control the movements of the excited popu-
lace Steps will be taken, as | am assured, on the
part of this Government, to prevent recurrence OF
such outrages. PREPARATION for property destroyed
must be made and the ampest security given for the
future. The line OF communication which has thus
been interrupted through Panama will soon recover
from the shock it has sustained AS this is the route
over which our mails transported, expect to sec
prompt action on the part of our Government Be-
sides, we carry over this Isthmusasome 300 900 Of
gold dust every month, the non-arriral of which in
New York at the proper time wonld intict great loss
| upon our banks and merchants. l hope Senators
will in present position the necessity for con
structng at once safe and convenient road through
our own territories But / will not trespass further
| upon the courtesy of the Senate.
| Mr.. Seward 1suppose it is the desire of the hon
orable Senator to have the resolution considered now
[Senator Seward here explained that similar res
olution introduced by him three four weeks before
and adopted by the Senate had not been honored will
| notice from the President. Senator Weller inter
rupted him, as follows
Mr.. Weller. The Senator will allow me to Interrupt
him. I supposed that resolution had been answered
| Mr.. Seward. No, sir.
| Mr.. Weller. knew that the resolution was adopte
several weeks since, and therefore have inserted il
this resolution the words mot heretofore collmu
nicated."
Mr. Seward. 1t has not been answered, and til
reason is, undoubtedly, as Ihave stated. There is
improperly however, in passing this resolution
and rose chiefly for the purpose of giving the nfol
nation which | have already communicated to til
Senate, and thus to bring the former requistion t
their remembrance, to the end that it might be VI
derstood that the President will now receive this a
an earnest call for an answer to the previous resolution
[Senator Seward continued his remarks at length
and eynced disposition to act fairly in the premises
This was unexpected from such source. But, as W
believe in giving the devil his due, we say thus nue.
freely Senator Douglas then entered upon the dis
cussion j
Mr. Douglas. Mr.. President, have RETAINED, dul
| ing the whole session. from uttering word on tb
Nicaraguan or Central American question. / take
for granted that no member of the Senate will pre-
sumo that this silence has arisen from any want o
interest in the events which were TRANSPORTING in thos
countries. My opinions on the Clayton and Bulwe
treaty were stated when it ratified by the Senate
and subsequently, when, its provisions became tn
subject of discussion in open Senate do not deen
necessary on this OCCASION to repeat the objection
which then urged to the provisions and terms of tn
treaty. 1t is sufficient to say that subsequent event
hare in nowise diminished those objections. It ha
now become obvious to every one, that with the con
struction which the british Government has placed
the treaty, and the line of policy which she is pursu
ing under tor rather peryerson of its provisions
understood by majority of the Senate at the time
its mtifcation-all American interests in Contra
America are to be sacrificed and destroyed.
think the time has come when the Governmen
must consider seriously how much longer we cal
allow that treaty to remain compact between tn
two countries, and permit the English government t.
deny to us all its benefits while refusing to compl
with its stpulations. That it has been violated in re
70 f1,n p,ntr, T.I..
now being violated every day by a substantial block
AIDE of the San Juan river and the whole coast, ar
facts too well known to the country and to the world
to require proof
It has, therefore, become great question, hoy
| much longer we shall submit to these inVasions Q
our rights in violation of solemn treaty 'stipulaons
Our government has been actlated by a spirit 0
forbearance and moderation which has not been an
preclated, much less reciprocated, by the Britisl
Ministry. Our administration has observed a scrlpu
lous regard for the obligations of treaties and of tn
laws OF nations and for the rights of all countre
arising under either If the administration has erre
at all in connection with the Central American qucs
ton the error will be found to consist nallowing it
scrupulous regard for good faith and internationa
comfy to carry it beyond the point required by tn
laws OF nations, and our own neutrality laws, in re
stranlng our citizens from emgratng to Contra
America, under the inducements from the existn.
| government of Nicaragua. The error, if any ha
been committed, has been on the side of peace, mod
Grafton, and international comfy.
I have not chosen to 60 into the discussion of TIN
question, because knew that foreign policy coult
not be originated directed in the Senate ncr il
| Congress. Our foreign relations must be manage.
by the executive branch of the Government. w
cannot know all the facts that known to the Stat
Department bearing upon the question; we canno
uy appreciate the embarrassments that surround il
| have had faith that Our administration would man
age this subject prudently and wisely and that tn
results would show that American interests an,
American rights had not been yielded or sacrificed
have that faith yet but while this is the case can
| not acquesce in the condemnations which / hay
heard IN the Senate upon the existing Government il
Nicaragua. hold that that Government is as leg ii
mate as any which ever existed in Central America
think it is the tirmest, the most stable Government
that has ever existed there since the Spanish yok
was thrown off, and the Colonies became Independent
States: believe that justice is more impartial,
administered that the rights of men and the rights
property are more carefully protected and guardet
under the existing Government than under any whicl
has ever prevailed in Central America.
Nor is it any objection with me that an American
by birth, whose name indicates his origin is in com
mand OF the Nicanguan army. suppose that thu
right of repatriation is sacred and conclusive il
the United States as it is in Europe. suppose tina
| Nicaragua has as much right to become an ASYLUM
for emgrants from the United States as our countr
has to become the asylum for emgrants from Europe
| suppose that Nicaragua had as much right to ma
turalize General Walker as we had to naturaze Gen
| eral Shields. Them suppose that she had as mucl
right to intrust him with the command of an army
we had to intrlst General Shields with command il
the Mexican war, or to ntrst the care of our arme
to Lafayette, Steuben, De Kalb, and that host O
liberty.loving heroes who fought so CALAMITY for Il