Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-12-12

J.
were entitled to be exempt from tonnage
duty in the free ports of Panama aud
Aspinwall. But the purpose kas been re-
Gently revived, on the part Of New Gran
ada, BY the enactment of 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
atany time, be acted on by the government
Of that republic.
The Congress of New Granada has also
enacted a law, during the last year, which
leyies a tax of more than three dollars on
every pound of mail matter transported a
cross the Isthmas. 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 pay
able by contract to the PaEama Railroad
Company. If the only objection to this
exaction were the exorbitaney of its amount,
it could not be submitted to BY the United
States.
The imposition of it, howeyer, would
obviously 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, b. T. its
terms, to take effect on the FIRST of Sepem4
Der last, but the local authorities on the
isthmus have been induced to suspend its
execution, and to await further instructions
on the subject from the government of the
republic. am not yet advised of the de-
termination of that government. If meas
ure SO extraordinary in its character, and
so clearly contrary 20 treaty stipulations,
and the contract rights Of the Panama Rail-
road Company, composed mostly Of Amer-
can citizens, should be persisted in, it will
be the duty Of the United States to resist lis
execution.
regret exceedingly that occasion exists
to invite your attention to a subject of still
graver import in our relations with the Re.
public of New Granada. On the fifteenth
| day of April last riotous assemblage of
the inhabitants of Panama committed a
| violent and outrageous attack on the premi-
ses Of the railroad company, and :he passen-
gers and other persons in or near the same,
involving the death OF several citizens ofthe
United States, the pillage CT many others,
and the destruction Of large amount. of
property belonging to the railroad COM
pany.
/ caused full investigation of that event
to be made, and the result shows satisfac-
torily that complete responsibility for what
occurred attaches to the government of New
Granada. l have, therefore, demanded of
that government that the perpetrators of the
wrongs in question should be punished; that
provision should be made for the families of
citizens Of the U. States who were killed,
with full indemnity for the property pillaged
or destroyed.
The present condition CT the lsthmus of
Panama, in so far as regards the security of
persons and property passing over it,requires
serious consideration. Recent incidents
tend to show that the local authorities can
not be relied on to maintain the public peace
of Panama, and there is just ground for
apprehension that a portion of the inhabi-
tants are meditating further outrages, with
out adequate measures for the security and
protection of persons or property having
been taken. either by the State Of Panama,
or by the general government of New
Granada.
Under the guarantees of treaty, citizens
of the United States have, by the outlay OF
several millions of dollars, constructed a
railroad across the Isthmus, and it has be-
come the main route between our Atlantic
aud Pacific possessions, over which mu;-
titudes Of our citizens and vast amount OF
property are constantly passing-to the
security aud protection of all which, and the
continuance of the public advantages in.
volved, it is impossible for the government
of the United States to be Indifferent.
! have deemed the danger Of the recur
! renee of scenes of lawless violence in thi!
quarter so imminent as to make it my dutl
/ to station part of our naval force in thu
/ harbors of Panama and Aspinwall, in orde
0 to protect the persons and property Of th,
citizens of the United States in those ports
4 and to insure to them safe passage acros
Q the Isthmus. And it would, in my iudg
: ment, be unwise to withdraw the naval fore
4 now in those ports, until, by the spontaneou
: action of the republic Of New Granada, o
: otherwise, some adequate arrangement shal
have been made for the protection and Sc
! curity of line of inter oceanic communica
a tion so important, at this time, not to th
d United States only, but to all other mar
n itime States both of Europe and America
Y Meanwhile, negotiations have been in
: stituted by means of a special commission