Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-31
STAJJNTON VIRGINIA. SATURDAY, MAY 81, 1856.

Great Britain convention 10 assure the
perfect neutrality Of all inter- oceanic
communicate across the isthmIs, and
as the indispensable condition of such
neutrality, the absolute independence OF
the States of Central America, and their
com plete sovereignty within the limits OF
their own Territory. as we'll against Great
Britain as against the United States -
We supposed we had accomplished that
object by the convention of April 10TH
1850, winch would never have been sign
ed nor ratified on the par: Of the United
States but for the conviction that in virtue
OF its provisions, helther Great Bri-
tain For The United States was iherealte,
to exercise any territorial sovereignty, in
fact or in Maine, in any part OF Central
America, however or whatsoever acquir-
ed, either before or afterwards. The esq
sential object of the conyention-the neu
tralization Of the sthmus-would, Of
course, become nulty if either Great
Britain or the United States were to con-
tinue to hold exclusively islands or main
land of the isthmus, and more especially
| If, under any claim of protectorsh,p Of In
dams of either government were 10 re-
main forever sovereign in fact of the At
Iantic shores of the three States of Costa
Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras.
/ have already communicated to the
two houses of Congress full information OF
the protracted and hitherto fruitless efforts.
which the United States have made to ar
raign this international question with
Great Britain. Ii Is referred to on the
present occasion only because Of its in.
innate connection with the special OBJ
ect now to be brought 10 the attention oil
Congress.
The unsettled political condition o.
some Of the Spanish American republic.
has never ceased to be regarded by this
government VITA solicitude and regret on
their own account, " hi.e it is been the
source o! continual embarrassment i'll our
public and private relations with them
In the midst Of the violent revolutions and
the wars by which they are continually
agitated, their public authorities are una
bic to afford due protection to foreigners
and to foreign interests within their lerli-
tory, or even 10 defend their oyYa soil
against individual aggressors. foreign Of
domestic, :he burden of the inconyenien-
ees and losses OF which, therefore, deyoi.
YES in no inconsidefabe degree, upon the
foreign States associated with them in close
relations OF geographical vicinity OF OF com.
merc!al intercourse.
Such is. more phatcally, the sitHa-
ton oil the United States with respect to
the republics OF Mexico and o: Genital
America. Notwithstanding. however, the
relative remoteDess of the European States
from America, fact Of the same order have
n9t failed to appear conspicuousiy III their
inter- ouse with Spanish American repub-
lies. Great Britain has repeatedly been
constrained TO recur 10 measures OF force
for the protection OF British INTEREST," in
those countries. France found 1t necessa-
Fy to attack the castle OF San Juan dc Ulua,
and even TO debark troops at Vera Cruz, II
order to obtain redress of wrong done to
Frenrhmen in Mexico.
What is memorable in this respect in the
conduct and policy at the United States is,
that while it would be as easy for US tc
annex and absorb new territories from
America as it is toI European States to dc
this in Asia or Africa, and while, If done
by us. ii might be justified as well on III,
alleged ground OF the advantage whcl
would accrue theIelrom to the lerritorle,
annexed and absorbed, Yet we have alb
stained from doing it. in OBJ .dience to con
sideralion OF night not less than OF policy
and that, while the courageous and self.
reliant spirit OF our people prompts then
10 hardy enterprises, and they occasionally
yield 10 the temptation OF taking part II
the troubles OF countries near at hant
where they know how potential their ill.,
tiuence. moral a3d material mus. be- the
American eInmeht has uniformly ant
steadily resisted all attempts OF individuals
IN the United States TO undertake armc(
aggression against friendly Spanish Amer.
lean republics.
While the present incumbent Of the ex
eculiye Office has been in discharge of ii
duties, he has never failed to exert all the
: authority i'll him vested to repress such en-
terprises. because they are in violation o
the law Of the land, which the con,tilu.
: ton requires him to execute faithful,
because they are CONTRARY 10 the policy q
the government; and because to PERM
them would be ii departure from good fail
towards those American repablics in amiil
with us, which are entitled to, aud will
never cease to enjoy, in ,helr calamilie'
the cordial sympathy, and III their pos
perity the efficient good will of the gov
ernmen, and Of the people OF the Unite
States.
To say that our laws in this respect ar
sometimes violated, or successfully eyaded
is only to say what is true OF all laws il
all countries, aut not more SO IN the Unitct
States than III any one whatever of ihi
countries OF Europe. Suffice it 10 repeat
that the laws OF the United States piohib
ting all foreign military enistments or ex-
petitions within or territory, have been
executed with impartial good faith, and, sc
Tar as the nature o! things permits, as wei
in repression Of private persons as OF the
agents OF other governments, beth OF Eu-
rope and America.
Among the Central American tepublies
to which modern events have impaired
most prominence, is that of Nicaragua, b,
reason of lis particular position ON the 18TH
mus. Citizens in the United States have
established in It's territory IA regular inter.
oceanic transit route, second only in utll.
~ and value to the one previously estab-
lsshed III the territory OF New Grenada
| The condition of NiearAntla Would il !.