The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-02

while sales were moderate. Pork was dull, and
mess closed at $40. Sugars were active; the sales
mbraced l 800 hhds., at steady prices. Coffee was
steady, with light sales. fair amount Of freights
were offering for Liverpool, while rates were Wit
out change Of importance.
The Slaughter Of Americans I'm Central
America. ~
1t was the boast of General jackson that
during his term Of Office no American citizen
he'd been wronged with impunity in any quar-
ter Of the globe. II will be said Of General
Pierce's administration, that while he was Pre-
sident Americans were insulted, outraged,
plundered and killed more openly and more
scandalously than had ever been the case be-
fore.
The reader will have anticipated formal
refer ence to Central America. Such abomina-
BILE and atrocious scenes as it has been this
week our duty to record among our news from
thence, may we'll remain uppermost in ths
mind. Every one has now read abundant evil
dence of the whole transaction--of the fore
plot, of the secret gatherings, Of the halfcon-
cealed arming, Of the trivial pretext seized
upon, of the simultaneous uprising, of the
spontaneous attack upon white men, of the
scandalous completely Of the police, of the 3D.
wage bloodthirstiness of the halfbreeds, OF the
narrow escape Of our unfortunate countymen,
leaving their dead and their wounded behind
them. The whole thing is as plain as If the
riot had occurred in any of the wards Of New
York. There is no reason to question the sim
certify of the narrators Even those whose
natural predictions are the most obvious con.
fess openly to the mischievous behaviour Of the
American nicknamed "New York Jack, and
Americans. We may rely upon it, the truth
has been told US, and that truth is that, q fort
night ago, from fifteen to twenty (the latter
may be as near the truth as the former) of our
countrymen were brutality murdered, while
others were robbed, and q vast number kept in
terror Of their lives, by band Of negroes.
half breeds, and Spanish Indians living at
Panama.
This Is the return we receive for building up
Panama and preventing its falling into utter
decay and ruin. This is our reward for hold
ing out hand to Central America when ma.
ture and itself presaged Its relapse under the
dominion of the beasts Of the forest. This is
pay for the activity, and enterprise, and labor,
and vitality we have planted in that long de-
solate region.
Nor does the Panama case stand alone
North, foolish war, forced upon the Nicara-
guans by Costa Rican prejudice of race, has
closed the nearest route to the Pacific. Here,
it seems, there has yet been no butchery OF
Ameri cans, save of those adventurous men
who disclaimed the protection of their cOnn-
try and fell in the open field. But still, these
men of Walkers are blood Of our blood ana
bone OF our bone. We know that they did no
moral wrong; that the war with Costa RIGA
was not OF their seeking; that it is waged vita
relentless and cruel fury by the Costa Ricans,
who openly avow their wish to exterminate
the Anglo-Saxon race in Central America
Now, we cannot be indifferent to all this
Mr.. Pierce may refuse to recognise Walker and
the old foey world may call him iilibuster
but this don't prevent good many of us
feeling for the brave fellows who are being
shot down or chopped to pieces with Spanish
machetes at Rivas. At any rate the stoppage
of the Nicaraguan route is great injury to
American interests. Cali tornia and Oregon are
not worth six months purchase to US if we
cannot get across The Isthmus. And if the
route by Panama is only to be traversed at the
cost of bloody street fight, while the route by
Nicaragua is blocked until the Costa Ricans
have cut the throats Of every Anglo-Saxon in
that State, the sooner we negotiate with Great
Britain or with California herself for a transfer
of our Pacific possessions the better.
1t is competent in Mr.. Pierce to relieve US 10
some part Of this necessity. An American
frigate stationed st Panarns wopld DOUBTLESS
awe the natives into quiet. On TIRE ether haad.
Il is competent &c Gen. Walker .s.sads here
and q. Ser Francisco. and in this connection
we VII take leave to say that they seefn 20 Lave
asie Tat a poor return 1cr tbs e1o-u,cas sc
si1cse Walker made fs- tte1--tc -t-tYer tie
yasssge Ct sorne early day. TIE tslk sboat
English friga.es, Costa Ricans and .iiihusteroe
is eli bosh. If Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Garrison
want to reopen the passage, they can do SO,
and If they are real friends Of Walker they
will.
But all this will not satisfy the American
people. If twenty or more Americans can be
butchered with the connivance of the authori-
ties in any foreign port, without redress being
sought and obtained, ii will not be safe for us
to travel, and we had better, when we 60
abroad, call ourselves subjects Of Queen Vic
toria, or the Emperor Alexander. Demand
should instantly be made on the President of
New Granada for satisfaction. Twenty-four
hours should be allowed him to deliberate. II
at the end OF that time satisfactory answer
had not been received, party Of marines and
sailors should be landed, and the ringleaders
Of the murdsrous mob on the 18th of April
seized and tried by court martial. If found