The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-05-17

tion, be says; Respect for Costa Rica, and Don
Molina himself requires that his language shall be
80 interpreted that Il shall not imply charge Of
connvance on the part Of thi. government at VIC
iation OF the neutrality laws"
On the I'd Of May, Secretary Marcy sends Don
Molina the papers detailing the shocking barbarity
and slaughter Of nsn-combatants by Costa Ricans
and says "The President 10 willing 10 believe that
Cosh Rica will promptly condemn the perpetra-
tors of the inhuman outrage and inflict on them
exemplary punishment Costa Rica had departed
from tie laws of war, and he calls attention to the
transactions at Virgin Bay for such proceedings on
its part ~ the nature of the case demandss
On May 9th, Don Molina tells Secretary Marcy
that he has informed his government Of these
transactions; and doubtless Costa Rica win reply
IN satisfactory manner. She will not authorize
acts to tarpish her good name, and professes to
nave as much horror the United States for she'd
ding the blood of innocent people If It shall be
proved that such persons suffered, she WILL with
out the least doubt bring the guilty parties
to trial IN order to be punished as they deserve
DON Molins says that this war is not between
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, but between the united
people OF the States. rather of Central America
against band Of unauthorized adventurers who
are impovershing and pressing the inhabitants of
Nicaragua, and who are threatening to impose the
same yoke upon the rest of Central America
Costa Rica cannot accord the rights of war to
band of men answerable to penal laws which Ger.
tainy are not more severe In those States than in
any other State of the civilized world He express
suspend
opinion till an investigation be made into the
events at Virgin Bay, and that it will not be too
severe with regard to Costa Rica. She is defend
ing her most sacred rights against those who have
outraged and attacked her merely because she is
weak
Don Augustin Will writes Secretary Marcy un-
der date May 18th, saying
The unhappy state of the country in which he
was born, and desire of exerting his best efforts
to relieve it. has led him to leave his native shores
70 represent its interests in the Capital of this
blessed Republic and proceed to place the affairs
of Nicaragua in such a light as to induce Mr.
Msrcy to view its circumstances In their true As
pect, concluding with expressing a hope that the
Government of the United States will be a friend
to Nicaragua"
Next follows q letter from President Rivas
dated April 17th addressed to the President of the
United States, as Great and Good Friend ~ in
which he says: "Desirous of cultivating friendly
relations have thought fit to accredit Don An.
liable person on account of his knowledge of pub.
lie affairs and his patriotic feeling, to the end that
he may enter into treaties of alliance and he asks
this government to treat him kindly"
Mr.. Mason moved to refer the message to the
committee foreign relations and that it be print
Mr.. Crittenden said he regarded the subject a.
very important one which ought not to pass from
the consideration of the Senate into the hands Of
the committee without remark. He had seldom If
ever listened to message from the Executive
which was fraught with more absorbing interest
or which might lead to more serious consequences
In one weeks time the country would be agitated
from one end to the other on this subject, and it
might result in our being involved in war. If we
were to have war, however, he wanted it to be &C.
cepted or denounced by Senators in an open man
ly manner, and not have course of policy pursued
by which we should go on step by step blindy un-
til we fall into the pit. The Government of Nicar.
aqua which the President has officially recognized
was thing of yesterday as it were
At any rate the shoes were not yet worn out
upon the feet of those who had wrought this new
resolution and already the Executive had become
satisfied of its permanency and its capacity to dis
charge its duties as nation in the great family of
nations. This seemed to him very hasty conclu.
sion to arrive at in a matter of so much conse.
quence, the resolution having been effected too rs
the President admits, by the cooperation of our
own countrymen who went there contrary to the
laws of this country.
Was this the national prudence which had hith.
erto guided our coHrsel What said Jackson, when
Texas long stood knocking for admittance into
the Union, even after we were assured of her abb.
lity to govern herself, and when she had by re-
peated victories, established her title to be consid.
cred one of the communities of the worldg Jack.
sons message gave . thorough, profound and patri.
otic rebuke to every principle in the present mes
sage.
We mix ourselves up In the affairs OF the ma.
tions, as dangerously sometimes by recognizing
these communities. suddenly rising into existence,
as by entering into entanglng alliances with for
eigu powers
Mr.. Mason said he could see no objection to re-.
ference The document merely informed the Sen.
of the actual condition of the country in which
we take great deal of interest. The President
had learned that a change had taken place in the
government of Nicaragua, which simply amounted
to the fact that they had set of Lawmakers in
lieu of another, and being satisfied that the new
Government was Government de factO and had
sufficient ability to conduct the affairs of the coun.
try, the President felt himself called on to receive
its Minister-that was all. The argument of the
Senator from Kentucky, in the case of Texas.
would not apply here. That was a new nation in
the family of nations. But Nicaragua has been
recognized as a political community ever since
le24-at one time in confederation with other
States and afterwards a separate State.
When they changed their Government all we
have right to inquire is Is it a real Government
and have they shown sufficient stability to entitle
US to regard them? We have had Minister resi-.
dent there several years. and she has had one here
We have been on terms of political intercourse
with Nicaragua for series of years-as We have
with other Governments and the President, by
virtue of his Office, must regulate our diplomatic
intercourse with foreign ministers
This existing Government of Nicaragua has
been established six or eight months, and so far as
we are informed, it is a Government of greater
stability than has existed in that unfortun ate coun.
try for many years. The Senator had spoken of
war-who are we to go to war WITH When is the
cloud 10 arlsef Does ne allude to foreign trans.
Atlantic Government, that has more than once in.
termeddled-as we have never done-but have nj.
ways refrained from doing with the domestic az
well as political affairs of Nicaragua, Are we to
be deferred by that from acknowledging that Go.
vernmentl
Mr.. Mason said if he thought the recognition OF
this government would bring to an issue the ques.
tions pending between US and any foreign power
in which we were In the right, he would not he.i
tate to do it. We had not refused to recognise the
existing governments of France as they passed
through the various stages of monarchy, anarchy,
military despotism, as republic and at last as an
autocracy.
Mr.. Pratt said that the Government of Nicars.
qua being recognised, our citizens would have a
right to 60 there and could make that stable gov
ernment, which was not so now. He though tha.
nineteentwentieths of those who had established
the government were Americans who had gone
there in violation of the neutrality laws.
Mr. Mason said that the recognition would not
affect our neutrality laws in the slightest degree
Our citizens at liberty to 60 where they please
and after they have reached foreign country they
could engage in any pursuit they pleased.
Mr.. Weller gave a history of the struggle be-
tween Chomorroo and Castan, saying that w al
ker went there by invitation of the latter after he
had succeeded in establishing himself at the head