The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-03
SsA,sss VA

States The first information the subject 10 the Depart
inent OF State, at Washington, contained Ia de-
spatch OF the goth January, 1542 from William s. MUIR
ply esquire special agent OF American government
Guateu,ala 10 which he states that conversation with
Colonel Mcdonald at Belize, the latter had informed him
he bad discovered aud sent documents 70 England which
caused the British 10 revive their claim TO the
Mosquito territory.
According to Bonnycaste the squito shore es along
part OF the northern and shore OF Honduras and
BY the msp which accompanies his work extends fur
Their south than the mouth of the river Sgoyla in about
deg north latitude This respectable author certainly
could have imagined that extended south Of Dan
Juan de Nicaragua he describes this as the Prnc
pal seaport Of Nicaragua the CaribbeA says there
threc porsges between the lake and the mouth Of
the river and hese carrying places are defended and At
one of them is the fort San Jua-caIled ALSO this Castle
OF Neustra Senora-on rock and very strong " has
thirysix guns mounted with small battery whose plat
form is level with the water and the whole Ii enclosed
the land side by ditch and rampant Its garrison is
generally kept hundred infantry sixteen arlerymen,
with about sixty Of the militia and il provided With bat
teaux, which row guard every night up and down the
stream II AAF ~ s7'f
Thus tappears that the Spaniards justly sensible
of the importance of defending this outlet from the Lake OF
observes this port San Juan looked upon the key
of the Americas and with the possession OF II and Reao
the other side Of the lake. the Spanish colonies might be
parayzed by the enemy being then master OF the ports Of
both oceans He might have added that nearly sixty
years ago. the 26th Of February 1906 the port Of San
Juan dc Nicaragua established port Of entry Of
Captain Bonnycaste as well as the Spaniards would
have been greatly surprised had they been informed that
this port part Of the domnions af his Majesty the
King Of the Mosquitoes and that the cities and cultivated
territories of Nicaragua surrounding the Lakes Nicaragua
and Managua had outlet to the Caribbean sea except
by his gracious permission II was therefore, with pro
found surprise and regret the and people OF the
United States learned that British force the LIST Of
January, l848 had expelled the State OF Nicaragua from
San juan had hauled down the Nicaraguan flag and had
raised tile Mosquito flag In It's place The ancient Of
rha IN de wi
sn all former as belonging TO Nicaragua was on this
occasion changed and thereafter 1t became Greytown
These proceedings gave birth 10 serious approximations
the United Suites that Great Britain intended
mon0poze for herself the control over the
between the Atlantic and Pacific which, since the aequsi-
on Of California had become of vital Importance TO the
United States Under this impression it impossible
that the American government could any longer remain
silent and acquescDg spectators Of what was passing In
Central America. 6 I'll I.tsS @Fs
Mr. Monroe one Of our wisest and most discreet Pes
dents announced in public message Congress In De-
cemher 1929 that he American continents by the free
and independent condition which they have assumed and
maintained are hencnforh not TO be considered subjects
for future colonization BY any European powers
This declaration has since been known throughout the
world the Monroe doctrine and has received the pub
Tic and official sanction Of subsequent Presidents as well
as Of very large majority Of the American people.
Whilst this doctrine will be maintained whenever, in
the opinion Of Congress- the peace and safety of the United
States shall render this necessary yet 10 have acted upon
1t in Central America might have brought us into collision
with Great Britain event always to be deprecated and
IL possible avoided.
Ne can do each other the most good and the most harm
Of any two nations In the world and therefore, IT Is our
strong mutual interest it ought 70 be our strong mu
sua DESIRE TO remain the best Eend 70 settle tnese osn
negotiations which resulted in the convention OF April,
1850 May this prove be nrumenta in finally adjnst-
trs America and in perpetlatng their peace and friend
ship.
Surely the Mosquito Indians ought not prove OBJ
staele 70 SO happy Even II these sayages
NAG baau lv cnh duad nv kss0Iu
give them title to rank independent State with
violating the principles and the practice Of every Euro
penn nation without exception which has acquired 'erS
tory the continent of America They all mutually rec
ogsed the right OF discovery we'll the title OF the dis
eoverer large extent Of interior territory though at
the moment occupied by fierce and hostile tribes OF In
dians.
On this principle the wars the negotiations the ces-
on and the Jurisprudence OF these nations were founded
The ultimate dominion aud absolute tue belonged 70
themselves although several OF them and especially Great
Britain conceded the Indians right OF mere occupancy
which, however could only be extnguished by the author
iy Of the nation within whose domnioas these Indians
were found All sales transfers Of territory made by
them third parties declared to be absolutely void
and this mercifu rule for the Indians them
selves becanse prevented them from being deirsuded by
dishonest individuals
No nation has ever acted more steadily upon these pn
cple than Great Britain and she has oemny recognised
them in her treaties with tbs King of Spain Of 1888 and
1886 by admitting his sovereignty the Mosquitoes
Shall The Mosquito tribe Of Indians constitute an cxcep-
ton from this hitherto universal rueY is there anything
their character In their CIVILIZATION winch womb ena-
BILE them perform the duties and sustain the responsible
titles Of a sovereign State In the family OF Dations2
Bonnycasile says Of them that they were formerly
very powerful and numerous Of people but the raw
ages OF and the small pox have diminished their
bcrs very mnch lie represents them the authority Of
British settlers seeming 10 have other religion than
the alteration Of evil spirits
The author also states that the warriors OF this
tribe accounted at fifteen hundred"
This possibly may have been correct In 1918 when the
book published but at present serious doubts are
entertained whether they reach much than half that
number. The truth IA, they debassd race and
are degraded below the common Indian standard
They have acquired the worst vices Of civilization from
their with the bases class Of the whites with
been thus represented bya writer OF authority who has
recently enjoyed the best opportunities for personal obser
Walton That they totally incapable OF main tanning
independent civilized government IL beyond All ques
ton Then, in regard to their socaed King Lord Pal
merston, in speaking OF him TO Mr. Rves in September
1851, says They bad what called King who, by
thehyr he added in tore OF pleasantly was as much
a King YOU And Lord John Russell in bis des
patch to Mr. Champion OF the 10th January, 1853 denom
the Mosquito government felton, and speaks
OF the King person whose title and power are in
truth little better than nominal
The moment Great Britain shall withdraw from Blue
fields where she exercises exclusive dominion
Nicaragua and Honduras the Of Spain
win naturally be restored When this event shall occur
he hoped that these Siaes In their conduct towards
the Mosquitoes and the other Indian tribes within their
rores win follow the example of Great Britain and the
u nsd States Whilst neither Of these has scknow-
lodged permitted any other nation acknowledge any
Indian tribe within their limits independent people
they both recognised the qualified RICH, OF such tribes
10 occupy the soil and, the advance Of the white
settlements rendered this necessary, have acquired their