The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-12-10

mlillOns OIL UClIats annually. In n0ultiOn
to the large sun payable by contract to
the Panama Railroad Company. 1.-THE
only objection to this exaction were the
extraordinary of its amount. il could not
be submitted to by the United States.
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously coDtravene our treaty with New
Granada; and infringe the contract of
that Republic with the Panama Railroad
Company. The law providing for this
tax, was by its terms, TO take effect on
the first Of September last, but the local
authorities on the isthmus have been in
duccd to suspend its execution. and to a
wait further instructions on the. subject
from the government of the Republic.
| am not yet advised of the determine
tion of that government. Ifa measure
so extraordinary in its character and so
clearly contrary to treaty stipulatious,
and the contract rights CT the Panama
Railroad Company. composed mostly of
American citizens, should he persisted in,
it will be the duty of the United States
to resist its execution.
I regret exceedingly that occasion ex-
ists to invite your attention to a subject
Of still graver import in our relations
with the Republic of New Granada. On
the fifteenth day OF April last, q %riotous
asscmblaeo of the inhabitants of Panama
committed q violent and dangerous at
tack on the premises of the railroad COM
pany, and the passengers and other per-
sons in or near the same, involving the
death Of several citizens Of the United
States, the pillage of many others. and
the destruction Of large amount of prop.
erty belonging to the railroad company.
| caused full investigation of that event
to be made, and the result shows salts
factory that complete responsibility for
what occurred attaches to the government
of New Grenada. | have, therefore do
mauded of that government that The per
petrators of the wrongs in question
should be punished; that provision should
be made FIR the families o, citizens If
United States who were killed. with full
indemnity for the property p%illagcd or
destroyed.
The present condition of the Isthmus
Of Panama, in so far as regards the secu
rity of persons and property passing over
it, requires serious consideration. Re
cent incidents tend to show that the 10.
cal authorities cannot be relied on to
maintain the public peace Of Panama and
there is Just ground for apprehension
that q portion Of tho inhabitants are
meditating further outrages, without ad'
equate measures for the security and pro.
lection of persons or property having
been taken, either by the States Of Pan
mi or by the general government of
New Grenada.
Under the guarantees of treaty, citi-
zens of the United States have, by the
outlay of several millions of dollars, con-
s,ructcd a railroad across the Isthmus,
and it has become the main route be-
tween our Atlantic and Pacific posses
sions, over which m%pltitudes Of our citi-
zeDs and a vast amount Of property are
constantly passing-to the security and
! protection Of all which, and the continu-
ance of the public advantages involved,
it is impossible for tho Government of
the United States to be ind %ffsrent.
l hs go deemed the danger Of the re-
currepce If scenes of lawless violence in
this %ouarte.- 50 imminent as 70 make it
nv duty to station a part of our naval
force in the har bors Of Panama and AS.
%pinwall, in order to protect the persons
aud property of the citizens If the Uni
ted States in those ports, and to insure
to them safe passage across the lsthmus
And it would, in my judgment, be un'
wise to withdraw the naval force now 10
those ports, until, 10y the spontaneous &C
tion of Now Grenada. or otherwise, some
adequate arrangement shall hayetGeen
made for the protection and security o!
q line Of interoceapic communication so
important at this time, not to the United
States only, but to all other maritime
States both of Europe and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been in
stituted by means of a special commits.
SION, to obtain from New Grenada full
indemnity for injuries sustained by our
citizens on the Isthmus, and satisfactory
security for the general interests Of the
United States.
In addressing to you my last annual
message, the occasion seems to me an
appropriate one to express my copgratu
lations in view of the peace, greatness,
and felicity which the United States now
possess and enjoy. To point you to The
state Of the various departments of the
Government, and of all the great branch
es of the public service. civil and mill
tary, in order to speak of the intelligence
and the integrity which pervades thu
whole, would be to indicate but imper
f,ctly the administrative condition o
the country. and the beneficial effects o
that on the general welfare. Nor woul'
it suffice to say that the nation is actu
ally at peace at home and abroad lha
its industrial interests are prosperous
that the canvass of its mariners whitenI
every sea ; and the plough Of its bus
bandmeu is marching steadily onward t.
the bloodless conquest of the continent
that cities aud populous States ar
springing up, as if by enchantmeut, from
the bosom of our western withstand tina
the courageous energy of our people /
making of these United States the gren
republic of the world. These result
have not been attained wi,hou, passin
through trials and p%orils, by experieuc
of which. and thus ONLY. nations can hare