The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-05-30
MESSAGE ON CENTRAL
AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
To the Senate and
House of Representatives
transmit, herewith, reports of the Secre
tary of State, the Secretary OF the Navy and
the Attorney General, in reply to a resolution
of the Senate of the Oath of March last, and
also to a resolution of the House of Repre-.
sentatives of the 9th OF May inst. both
having reference TO the routes of transit be.
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through
the republics of New Granada and Nicaragua
and to the condition Of Affairs in Central
America.
These documents relate to questions of the
highest Importance and interest to the people
of the United States.
The narrow isthmus which connects the
continents of North and South America, has,
by the facilities it affords for easy transit be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific OCEANS, render
ed the countries of Central America an object
Of special consideration to all maritime na-
tions. which has been greatly augmented in
modern times bv the operation OF changes in
commercial relation, especially those produced
by the general use of steam as motive pow.
er by land and sea. 70 us. on account of its
geographical position and of our political
| tUttEtSl uS uu huitTlCuu DIitc VI pIIuiuIl
magnitude, that isthmus is of peculiar impor.
tance, Just rs the isthmus of Suez is, for cor.
responding reasons, TO the maritime powers
of Europe. But, above all, the importance to
the United States of securing free transit
across the American sthmus has rendered it
of paramount interest to US since the settle.
ment OF the Territories Of Oregon and WASH
ngton, and the accession of California To- the
Union.
Impeled by these considerations, the
United States took steps at IN early day to
assure suitable means of commercial transit,
BY canal, railway, or otherwise, across this
lsthmus.
We concluded, in the first place, n treaty
of peace, amity, navigation, and commerce
with the republic of New Granada, among
the conditions of which was'a stipulation, on
the part of New Granada, guarantying tc the
| United States the right of way or transit
across that part of the Isthmus which lies in
the territory of New Granada, in consideration
of which the United States guaranteed in re.
spect of the same territory the right OF sover-
eighty and property Of New Granada.
The effect OF this treaty was to afford to
the people of the United States facilities for
at onre opening common road from Cha.
gres to Panama, and for at length construct.
ing railway in the same direction, to connect
regularly with steamships, for the transporta.
ton of mails, specie and passengers 30 and
frpm, between the Atlantic and Pacific States
and Territories of the United States.
The United States also endeavored, but
unsuccessfully to obtain from the Mexican
republic the cession, of the right of way at
the northern extremity of the isthmus BY
Tehauntepec, and that line Of communication
continues to be an object OF solcitude to the
people of this republic.
In the meantime, intervening between the
republic of New Granada and the Mexican
republic, lie the States of Guatemala SALIVA.
dor, Honduras Nicaragua, and Costa Rica,
the severed members of the former republic
of Central America. Here, in the territory
of the Central American States, is the mar.
rowest part Of the isthmus, and hther, of
course, pnhlir attention has been directed M
the most inviting field for enterprises OF inter-
oceanic communication between the opposite
shores Of America, and more especially to the
territory of the States OF Nicaragua nnd
Honduras. 80. ..i
Paramount to that of any European State
as was the interest of the United Safes in the
security and freedom Of projected lines of
travel across the isthmus by the way of
Nicaragua and Honduras, still we did not
yield in this respect u any suggestions cf
territorial aggrand:zement, or even of exclu.
sive advantage, either of communication or of
commerce. Opportunities had not hem want.
ing o the United States to procure such advan.
tages by peaceful means, and with full and
free assent of those who alone had any rgiti.
mate authority in the matter. We disregarded
those opportunities, from considerations alike
Of domestic and foreign policy; just as, even
to the present day, We have persevered in
system, of justice and respect for the rights
and interest of others us well MS our own, in
regard to each and all of the States of Central
America. f ...
1t was with surprise and regret, therefore,
that the United States learned, a few days
after the conclusion Of the treaty of Guada.
lupe Iiidalgo, by which the United States
became, with the consent of the Mexican re-
puolic, the rightiul owners of California, and
thus invested with augmented special interest
in the political condition of Central America,
that military expedition under the authority
of the British government had landed at San
Juan del Norte in the State of Nicaragua,
and taken iorciblc possession OF that port, the
necessary terminus of any canal or railway
across the is;hmus within the territories of
Nicaragua.
IL did not diminish the unwelcomeness to
us of this act on the part of Great Britain to
find, that she assumed to justify IL on the
ground of an alleged protectorship of small
and obscure band of uncivilized Indians,
whose proper name even had become lost to
history, who did not constitute Slate capa
BILE OF territorial sovereignty, either in fact or
Of right, and all political interest in whom,
and in the territory they occupied, Great
Britain had previously rrnounced by success.
sive treaties with Spain, when Spain was
sovereign OF the country, and subsequently |
with independent Spanish America.
Nevertheless, and injurious!y affected as
the United States conceived themselves to
have been by this act of the British govern.
ment, and by its occupation about the same
TING of tsular and OF continental portions of
the territory o. the States Of Honduras, we |
remembered the many and powerful ties and
mutual interests by which Great Britain and |
the United States are associated, and we |
proceeded in earnest goJd faith, and with n
sincere desire to do whatever might strength
en- the bonds fpcace between us, 10 negotiate
with Great Britain convention to assure the |
perfect neutrality of all interoceanic commu
nications across the isthmus, and, rs the indis-
pensable condition of such neutrality, the
independence Of the States OF Gem
trail America, and their complete sovereignty
within the limits of their own territory, as