Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-12-12


but to all other maritime states. Thus far
it has not been rejected by.any and is favor
ably entertained by all which have made
any communication In reply.
Several of the governments, regarding
with favor the proposition Of the United
States. have delayed deinitve action upon
1t, only for the purpose Of consulting with
others, parties to the conference Of Paris
| have the satisfaction of stating however,
that the Emperor Of Russia has entirely and
explicitly approved of the modification, and
will cooperate in endeavoring 10 obtain the
assent Of other powers; and that assurances
of similar purport have been received m
relation to the disposition Of the Emperor of
the French.
The present aspect Of this important snh
jet allows us TO cherish the hope that
principle 50 humane IN its character so Just
and equal in its operation, so essential to the
prosperity Of commercial nations, and so
consonant to the sentiments of this enhght-
enod period of the world, will command the
appreciation Of all maratime powers, aud
thus be Incorporated into the code of inter-
national law.
My views on the subject are more fully
set forth in the reply Of the Secretary Of
I State, copy Of which is herewith trans
/ United, TO the communications on the subject
made to this government, especially to the
communication Of France.
The government, of the United States has
at all times regarded with friendly interest
tho other States OF America, formerly, like
this coultry, European colonies, aud now
independent members Of the great family of
nations. But the unsettled condition of some
of them, distracted by frequent revolutions,
and thus incapable of regular and firm IN.
ternal administration, has tended TO embar-
russ occasionally our public intercourse. by
reason of wrongs which our citizens suffer
at their hands, aud which they are slow to
redress
Unfortunately it is against the Republic
of Mexico, with which 1t Is our special de-
sire TO maintain good understanding, that
such complaints are most numerous and al
though earnestly urged upon rs attention
they have not as yet received the considera.
ton which this government had right r.
expect. While reparation Tor past injuries
has been withheld, others have been added
The political condition of that country, how
ever, has been such as to demand iofbear-
ance on the part of the United States,
shall continue my efforts to procure for the
wrongs Of orr citizens that redress which Is
indispensable to the continued friendly asso.
ciation Of the two republics.
The peculiar condition Of affairs in Mica
ragua IN the early part Of the present year.
rendered It Important that this government
should have diplomatic relations with lha
state. Through It's territory had been open
ed one OF the principal thoroughfdres across
the sthnus connecting North aud South A
morica, on which a vast amount of property
was transported, and 10 which our citizen
resoued IN great numbers, Va passing be
tween the Atlantic and Pacific coasts OF Oh,
United states The pfotectlon Of both rc
quired that Ike existing power ln that stau
should he regarded as a responsible govern
ment aud IT'S minister was accordingly re-
ceiyed Bot he remained here only shor
time. Soon thereafter the political affairs o
Nicaragua underwent uniayorable change
and became involved in much unceuoinl,
, and confusion. Diplomatic representative
from two contendiug parties have been re
, Gently sent TO this government; but, wit
the imperfect information possessed, it wa
not possible to decide which was the GOV
ernment ne Gicio and, awaiting further de-
velopmeuts, have refused to receive either
Questions of the mnst serious nature ar
, pending between the United States and lh
! Republic OF New Granada. The govern
y ment of that republic undertook, yea
since to impose tonnage duties on ioreig
I vessels IN her ports, but the purpose was r.
b sisted by this government, as b ing conirar
to existing treaty stipulation With the Unite
g States. aud 10 rights conferred upon IN
d Panama Railroad Company, and was accol
,, dinghy rehuqulshed at that time, It being nd
4 united that our vessels were eutitied to b
d exempt from tonnage duty IN the free port
= of Panama aud Aspinwall But the purpos
i has been recently revived on the part
i New Granada, by the enactment OF a law
r. subject vessels ylsilng her ports To the tor
i mage duty Of forty cents per ton; and a
Y though The law hno not been put iu forci
n yet The right 10 enforce u Is sii.l ASSERTED
Il and may, at any ume be acted on by th
u government OF HAT republic.
8 The Congress Of New Granada has als
u enacted law, during the last year, who
levcs tax Of more than three dollars q
= every pound of mail matter transported
3, cross the lsthmus Tho sum thus require
q 10 be paid on the mails Of the United STATE
would be nearly two millions of dollars al
nuaIly, IN addition TO the large sum payabl
annually to the Panama Railroad Compan
!, II the only objection TO this exactlon wei
-. AAN NN'ihiNhtN1 VI lo amount, II W0llu 10
u be submitted to by the United Stntes.
The Imposition of II, however, would o.
D, vlOusly contTayene our treaty with Ne
At Granada, and infringe the contract of lh
F. republic with the Panama Railroad Comp
A. ny. The law providing for this tax was, b
ut It's terms, to take effect on the first of Sc
y tember last, but the local authorities on II
ID lsthmus have been induced 20 suspend !
l. execution, and to await further instruction
10 on the subject from the government Of Il
e republic. am not yet advised of the d
s, termination OF that government. If a mea
g, ure so extraordinary in It's character and
4 Clearly contrary to treaty stipuaIions, III
ST the contract rights Of the Panama Ralro'
Is Company, composed mostly of Americs
I'd citizens, should be persisted in, 1t will be Il
3, duty Of the United States to resist its ex
lie cuton
< | regret exceedingly that occasion exis
le to invite your attention to a subject of ST
At grayer import in our relations with the repu
y lie of New Granada. On the fifteenth d.
IN of April last a riotous assemblage of the i
t. habitants of Panama committed a viole
Or and outrageous attack on the premises Off
D. railroad company, and the passengers ar
other persons in or neer the same. invoyir
ID the death of several citizens of the Unite
10 States, the piage OF many others, and Il
ne destruction of a nfge amount of poper
Is belonging to the railroad company. ! caus,
~ full investigation of that event to be mad
ne aud the result shows satisfactorily that cou
II plete responsibility for what occurred a
&c taches to the government of New Granad
re | have, therefore, demanded Of that Cover
0 ment that the perpetrators Of the wrongs
p question should be punished that provision
" should be made for the families of citizens
to the United States who were killed, with ia
K indemnify for the property pillaged or de
IL toyed.
10 The present condition of the lslhmus
" Panama, IN so far as regards the security
- persons and property passing over it, requi
TO es serious consideration. Recent nciden