The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-16
THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF SHERIFF

sassinae the sheriff Of Douglas county in Kansas The
exposure Of the conduct Of eder and Robinson is over
whelming,
OUR RELATIONS WITH NICARAGUA.
In to resolutions passed in both houses of Con-
gres the President sent to Congress- yesterday special
message accompanied by the correspondence in regard
our present relations with Nicaragua The message
follows; aaEmG
TO The Senate and House Of Representatives.
transmit herewith reports of the Secretary of State,
the Secretary of the Navy and the Attorney General in
reply TO resolution of the Senate Of the oath Of March
last and also to resolution of the House Of Representa-
ves of the sth of May instant both having reference
the routes OF transit between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans through the republics OF New Granada and Ncara
qua, and to the condition of affairs ia Central America.
These documents relate to questions of the highest inn
portance and interest to the people Of the United States
The narrow isthmus which connects the continents of
North and South America has by the facilities il affords for
easy transit between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans rem
dered the countries of Central America object of special
consideration to all maritime nations which has been
greatly Augmented in modern times by the operation of
changes in commercial relation especially those produced
by the general use OF steam motive by land and
sea- To us account of its geographical position and
OF our political interest American State of primary
magnitude that ishmus is of peculiar Importance just
the ishmus OF Suez is for corresponding reasons the
maritime powers of Europe But, above all, the import
ance to the United States of securing free transit
the American isthmus has rendered of paramount inter
est 10 or the Territories
aud Washington and the accession of California the
Union. @
mpeed by these considerations the United States took
steps at an early day to suitable of CONNER
cai transit by canal railway, or otherwise across this
ishmus. z@a s.s-8
We concluded in the first place treaty Of peace anty
navigation and with the republic of New Gra
NADIA among the conditions Of which stipulation on
the part Of New Granada, guarantyng to the United
States the right OF way or transit across that cart of the
isthm1s which lies in the territory of New Granada in
of
spec of the territory the rights of sovereignty and
property Of New Granada. .a..
The effect of this treaty to afford TO the people of
the United States facilities for at opening
road from Chagres to Panama and for at length construct
ing railway in the same direction to connect regularly
with steamships for the transportation of mails specie and
passengers and fro between the Atlantic and Pacific
States and Territories of the United States.
The United States also endeavored but unsuccessuy to
obtain from the Mexican republic the cesson of the right
of way Al the northern extremity Of the shmus by Tehu
anepec and that lice Of communication continues be
object of solicitude TO the people Of this republic.
In the mean time, intervening between the republic of
New Granada and the Mexican republic lie the States OF
Guatemala, Salvador Honduras Nicaragua and Costa Ri
the severed members OF the former republic OF Central
America. Here in the territory Of The Central American
States is the narrowest Of the sthmug and hither OF
public attention has been directed the in
vting field for enterprises of interoceanc communication
between the opposite shores OF America and espe
cally the territory of the States of Nicaragua and
Honduras.
Paramount to that any European State as was The in
teest of the United States in the security and freedom OF
projected lines Of travel the shmus by the way of
Nicaragua and Honduras stl did not yield in this
spect TO any suggestions Of territorial aggraudzemen or
Of exclusive advantage either OF communication or
of commerce Opportunities had not been wanting TO the
United States procure such advantages by peaceful
and with full and free assent of those who alone had any
legitimate authority in the matter We dlseaarded those
opportunities from considerations alike Of domestic and
foreign policy just 70 the present day have
pesevered in system Of justice and respect Tor the rights
and interests Of Others well own in regard TO each
and all of the States OF Central America.
II was with surprise and regret therefore, that the Uni
ted States learned few days after the conclusion Of the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidago by which the United States
became with the consent Of the Mexican republic the right
fu OF California and thus invested with augmented
special interest in The political condition Of Central Amer
lea that military expedition under the authority Of the
British government had landed at San Juan del Sorie in
the State Of Nicaragua and taken oreble possession Of
that port the necessary terminus Of any canal railway
across the shinus within the territories Of Nicaragua
1t did not diminish the unwecomeness Of this act
the part Of Great Britain to find that she assumed
justify IL the ground OF alleged protecorship OF
small and obscure band Of uncvized Indians whose prop
had become lost to history, who did con-
sutc State capable Of territorial sovereignty either IN
fact Of right and all political interest ia whom and 10
the territory they occupied Great Britain bad previously
renounced by successive treaties with Spain when Spain
sovereign Of the country and subsequently with indie
pendent Spanish America,
Nevertheless and injurously affected as the United
States conceived Themselves to have been by this Of the
British government and by its occupation about the
time OF nsuar and Of continental portions Of the territory
OF the State Of Honduras remembered the many and
powerful ties aud mutual interests by which Great Britain
and the United States associated and we proceeded In
good faith and with sincere desire do whatever
might strengthen the bonds Of peace between rs to nego
atc with Great Britain convention to assure the perfect
neutrality Of all neroceanc communications across tue
stbmus and, the indispensable condition Of such nep-
ality the absolute independence OF the States OF Central
America, and their complete sovereignty within the limits
Of their own territory, well against Great Britain
against the United States We supposed we had
plished that object by the convention OF April 49, 1850
which would never have been signed nor ratified the
part OF the United States but for the conviction that
virtue OF its provisions neither Great Britain the
United States thereafter exercise any territorial
sovereignty in fact or Ia name in any part OF Central
America however whensoever acquired either before
afterwards The essential object OF the couyenton-thc
Capitalization OF the sthmuswoud, Of course become
nuy either Great Britain the United States were 10
continue to hold exclusively Islands mainland OF the
shmus and moro especially IT. under any claim OF protec-
orsbip Of Indians either government TO remain for
sovereign in fact at the Atlantic shores OF the three
States Of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras
have already communicated to the two houses Of Con-
gress full information of the proeced and hitherto fruit
less efforts which the United States have made to arrange
this international question with Great Britain II is re-
ered the present occasion only because Of its u
mate connexon with the special object be brought
20 the attention Of Congress.
The unsettled political condition Of some Of The Span
American republics has ceased lac regarded by this
government with soctude and regret on their own nc
count while IL has been the Of continual embaras
in our public and private relations with them In