St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-18

Through it's territory had been opened
one Of the principal thoroughfares
across the isthmus connecting North
and South America, on which a vast
amount of property was transported,
and to which our citizens resOrted In
great numbers, in passing between
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the
United States. The protection of both
required that the existing power in
that State should be regarded as a re-
sponsible government; and it's minis
ter was accordingly received, But he
remained here only short time. Soon
thereafter the political affairs of Mica
ragua underwent unfavorable change,
and became involved in much uncer-
tainty and confusion. Diplomatic rep
resentatives from two contendlng par
ties have been recently sent to this
government but with the imperfect
information possessed, it was impossi-
BILE to decide which was the govern
ment de facto and, awaiting further
developments, l have refused to re-
ceive either.
Questions of the most serious ma
ture are pending between the United
States and the Republic Of New Gran
ada. The government OF that Repub-
lie undertook, year since, to impose
tonnage duties on foreign vessels in
her ports, but the purpose was resist
ed by this government, as being con-
trary to an existing treaty stipulation
with the United States, and to rights
conferred by charter upon the Panama
Railroad Company, and was accord
ingly relinquished at that time, it be-
ing admitted that our vessls were en-
titled to be exempt from tonnage duty
in the free ports of Panama and AS
pinwall. But the purpose has been
recently revived, on the part of New
Granada, by the enactment of law
to subject vessels visiting our ports to
the tonnage duty of forty cents per
ton and although the law has not
been put in force, yet the right to en-
force it is still asserted and may, at
any time, be acted on by the govern
ment of that Republic.
The Congress of New Granada has
also enacted law, during the last
year, which levics tax of more than
three dollars on every pound of mail
matter transported across the lsthmus.
The sum thus required to be paid on
the mails of the United States would
be nearly two millions Of. dollars an.
nually. in addition to the large sum
payable by contract to the Panama
Railroad Company. Ii the only obJec'
ton to this cxaction were the eXorbl'
fancy of it's amount, it could not be
submitted to by the United States.
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously contravene our treaty with
New Granada, and infringe the con
tract of that Republic with the Pana
ma Railroad Company. The provid
ing 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 induced to suspend
it's execution, and to await further in
structions on the subject from the gov
eminent of the Republic. l am no
vet advised of the determination O
that government. If measure SO ex
traordinary in it's character, and 81
clearly contrary to treaty stipulations
and the contract rights of the Pana
ma Railroad Company, composed most
" of American citizens, should be per
sisted in, it will be the duty of tn
United States to resist it's execution.
Iregret exceedingly that occasion
exists to invite your attention to ;
subject of still gravcr import in on
relations with the Republic of New
Granada. On the 18th day of Apri
last, a riotous asscmblage Of the in
habitants of Panama committeda vic
lent and outrageous attack on tn
premises of the Railroad Company
and the passengers and other person
in or near the same, involving tn
death of several citizens of the Unite
States, the pillage Of many others, an
the destruction of large amount G
property belonging to the Railroa
Company. I caused full investiga
ton of that event to be made, and tn
result shows satisfactorily that con
plete responsibility for what occurre
attaches to the government of Ne,
Granada. have, therefore, demand
ed of that government that the perp'
traitors of the wrongs in questio
be punished that provision should b
made for the families of citizens of tn
United States who were killed, wit
full indemnity for the property pillage
and destroyed.
The present condition of the Istl
mus of Panama, in SO far as regard
the security of persons and propert
passing over it, requires serious CO..
sideration. Recent incidents sho'
that the local authorities cannot be +
lied on to maintain the public peao
of Panama, and there is just groun
for apprehension that a portion of tt
inhabitants are meditating further on
RACES, without adequate measures fl
the security and protection Of person
or property having been taken, eith'
.by the State Of Panama, or by IL
general government of New Granad
Under the guarantees of treaty, ci
liens of the United States have,
the outlay of several millions OF d.
lars, constructed railroad across Il
Isthmus, and it has become the ma
route between our Atlantic and Pac
"a ,,oc,oec;ons ovar which multitnd