Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-05-19
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE on CENTRAL AMERICAN
AFFAIRS

On Thursday the President Transmitted to the Senate
reports from the Secretary Of Sate Secretary Of the Navy
AMI the Attorney General in reply 4 resolution Of the
>"tate o March last; also resolution from the Hou,., OF
the sh oi may last both having reference the routes
OF transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
through tie republics Of New Grenada and Nicaragua and
to the condition OF affair in Central America
The President his message: The narrow 18th
mus which connects the continents OF North and South
America by the facilities that affords for easy transit
between the Atlantic and the Pacific have render
eel the countries ol Central America object, Of special
consideration all commercial nations aud this has ee
greatly augmented in modern times 10y reason Of changes
IN our conn ercal relations produced by the general use OF
steam a the motive power
To u, account of it, geographical position and our
political interests American STAT E<mtry magni.
ude that l-tinus Is Of peculiar importance Just A. the
thmU- Oi sues - tor corresponding reasons Ia the com
nrrcial powers ui Europe But abnvr all the
tie United States Of securing free transit across the
-tlnu- las become of paramount interest since the set
Element OF tire territor, OF Oregon aud Washington and
the accession OF California lmpelcd by these cosdrra.
tons the United States took steps at an early ay 10 assure
suitable means OF Commercial transit by canal railway or
otherwise across the Istlmus
After speaking OF the treaty with New Granada secu
ring the night OF transit aud the unsuccessful endeavor to
obtain from Mexico c,son Of the right of way at th.
northern extremity Of the lsthmus by Tehuaneper the
President speaks Of the importance OF the narrowes point
OF the thmu- for transit and the paramount interests Of
the United States in the security and protection Of the pro-
Jected lines OF travel lie then adve-s the fact that A.
though this government has been asked TO extend it, oro
tecung power aud avail tse Of such advantages A. that
protection would secure still it has persevered in system
O justice and respect for the rights aud interests Of others
well a. our own in regard TO all the Central American
States
H. refers briefly the possession taken by Great Br
tain Of the harbOr VI san Juan del NOre almost imei-
ately after the treaty Of Guadaloupe Hago aud of the
effect produced upon Ncaragus 6y tha1 act and sdyets
10 the unsettled condition VI the Spanish American Re
pubcs and OF the soctuJe aud regret inspired the
part of this country
Their violent revolutions and the wars by which they
have been continually agated have made them Compare
lively pOwe less Unable TO afford due protection to for
eign interests within their territories defend their
soil against aggressors foreign domestic the bur.
den OF this state OF things has consequently been upon
the foreign states associated i close relations Of CONNER
cia intercourse.
The President in speaking Of Mexico shows the tact
that Great Britain aud France have both had occasion
resort to their military power TO enforce the rights Of he
citizens glinst the States Of independent Spanish Anefc
lie likewise allue- the fact that although it would
easy for the United States absorb tcritor,
from Central America 1t is for European States
this IN Asia or Africa, yet have abstaned from il IL
obedience to considerations Of right not less than Of
policy.
lie airs that he las never failed discharge the do
ties which he To himseli. TO his county. aud
foreign power; aud that he has failed sernly
exert all the authority IN him vested to rcpress una S
enterprises because they ia violation Of the law
the land, winch the Consultation requires him %
faithfully, brcau.e they contrary " the policy Of this
Government and because, to permit them would be >
departure from good idth 10 the American republics IN
| auity with ~. Among the American republics "a
which modern events have impaired most prOnincnc,
Is that Of Nicaragua Oh account ofis route and other
wise.
The President advert 10 the fact that in their Struggle
aud troubles neither being strong enough 10 III,
other one Of the parties (Castllia'sj invited th'
| assistance of small body Oi Of the citizens Uni
ted States whose presence apparently put end q
the Struggles and restored quiet by placing AZ the head
the government a distinguished individuality birth a citi
Of the Republic d. Patricia Rivas, IL provisions
I PRESIDENT
Tue message cu speaks Of the established policy Of III,
United states IN relation 70 the recognition Of foreign Min
/ ster-. The following arc tie principles set forth.
I'VE recognise ~ Governments without Of the
source organization u tie by which the gov
ernIng power obtain their power provided there be
Government n fqeo accepted by the people u the cOuu
Try We DO not ~ behind the fact Ola foreign Govern
men exercising the actual power invest gate question:
Of Legitimacy we do not Inquire into the which maj
have led "a change Oi Government To us il is indhsr
Great whether successful revolution has boon aided bj
foreign Intervention not whether nsurrecton has
thrown existing Governments and another has been esb
-hed 10 ~ place. according ~ pre-eSstng forms IL
manner adopted for TIE occasion by those whom maj
| ind in the actusl possession ofpowern
All thea matters left a. Che people and public m
tOrites ~ tic countries respectively. During the sixty
sovcn years NJ existence under the pre.ont Constp
ton have had occasion 20 recognize Governments
Gcto founded eithor by domestic revolution ~ miti
invasion rom abroad, 30 many Of the Governments Of ~
rope. The principle b vastly more important appca
Die a. the Central American States, where revolutions
! constantly Occurring H. therefore, when the Mniste
from Nicaragua presented himself months since bear
ing tie cornnson Of President Rivas the facts which
nov presented had existed he must have been received
| Various objections to him stated
Another Minister has presented himself and been re
ceved satisfactory evidence appearing that he represent
the government e Baco and far sncb exists, III
government ID jare Of that republic Numerous cOnsde
ous Of interest to this country added 10 enforce Oh
| propriety Of this reception.
The message states that special commissioner has bee
despatched Psnama investigate the facts Of the lat
occurrence b that quarter aud suggests that other met
snrts Tor security Of transit must be resorted TO- and tbs