Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-12-05
to procure for the wrongs our citizens that redress
which IS to the continued friendly association

peculiar condition of affairs Nicaragua the early mart
% s that s.e
had been opened one of the principal a
e o property was transported and to whic
and Wne n % the ATLANTIC
required that the existing Should REGARDED
RECEIVED But he remained here only short time there
change and became involved and
from two contending have
information possessed possible decide which was
have refused either
of the most serious nature pending between
the United States and the Republic of New Granada The
government OF that republic undertook year since to i'm
pose tonnage duties foreign vessels in her ports but the
TO existing treaty stipulation with the United States and
to rights conferred by charter upon the Panama Railroad
being admitted that our vessels were ene to be exemnt
from tonnage duty IN the free ports of Panama Aspn
OF New Granada, by the enactment of law to ubec
sells visiting her ports to the tonnage duty of forty cents per
Ton ana the law has not been put in force yet the
acted on by the government Of that republic.
The Congress OF New Granada has also enacted law
during the last year, which leves of than three
dollars every pound of mail matter transported the
lhmus The sum thus required to be paid the mails of
the United States would be nearly two millions of dollars
annually IN addition to the large payable by
to the Panama Railroad Company If the only objection
to this exacton the exobitancy of its amount could
not be submitted to by the United States.
The imposition of it. however, would obviously contra
vene treaty with New Granada and infringe the con-
tract of that republic with the Panama Railroad COMPANY
The law providing for this was by terms to take e
feet the first of September last but the local authorities
the shmus have been induced suspend its execution
and to await further instructions the subject from the
government of the repabc yet advised of the de-
termination of that government If extraord-
nary in its character and clearly contrary to treaty p
uatons and the contract rights of the Panama Railroad
Company, composed mostly Of American citizens should be
persisted in it will be the duty of the United States to re-
sist its execution
exceedingly that occasion invite your at
tenon to subject of still gaver import in relations
with the Republic Of New Granada. On tho fifteenth day
aSSemblape O he Of
Panama committed violent and outrageous attack on the
premises of the railroad company, the passengers and
persons the same involving the death of
several citizens of the u States the page of many Others
and tbs obstruction of large amount property belonging
event be made and the result shows satisfactorily that
government Of New Granada have therefore, demanded
of that that the perpetrators of the wrongs in
for the families citizens of the u States who Were killed
with full indemnity for the property plaged destroyed
The present condition of the sthmus of Panama. far
regards the security of and property passing over
it, requires serious consideration Recent incidents tend to
show that the local authorities cannot be relied
tain the public peace OF Panama. and there Just ground
for apprehension that portion of the inhabitants medi
Eating further outrages without adequate for the
taken either by the State of Panama or by the
government of New Granada.
Under the guarantees of treaty. citizens of the United
States have by the outlay Of several millions of dollars
ructed railroad the lsthmus, and has become
the main route between Atlantic and Pacific possessions
which mutudes of citizens and amount of
property are constantly pasngto the security and protec
sges involved, it impossible for the government of the
United States to be Indifferent.
have deemed the danger of the scenes of
awless violence in this quarter imminent to make
duty to station of naval force in the harbors
of Panama and Aspnwa in order protect the persons
and property of the citizens of the United States in those
ports and to insure to them safe passage acrdss the shmus
And would in my Judgment, be unwe to withdraw the
naval force in those ports until by the spontaneous
ton of the republic of New Granada, otherwise,
adequate shall have been the proec
ton and security of line of nter-oceanc communication so
important at this tme not to the United States only but
all other maritime States both of Europe and America
Meanwhile, negotiations have been instituted by
special commission, to obtain from New Granada full i'll
demnty for INJURIES sustained by citizens the 18th
and satisfactory security for the general interests of the
In addressing you my last message the occasion
seems to me an appropriate one to express congatua
tons in view of the peace greatness Bnd felicity which the
now H point you It'd the
all the great branches of the public service civil and mill
y which pervades the WHOLE would be to indicate but i'm
perfectly the administrative condition of the country and
the beneficial effects of that the general welfare Nor
would suffice say that the nation is actually peace
home and abroad that its industrial interests prosper
the plough its is marching steadily onward to
the boodess conquest Of the connent that cities and pop
western wds and that the courageous energy
of people making othese United States the great
without passing through trials and pers by experience
which, and thus only nations harden into manhood
ceTed and the which achieved independence by
the circumstances which surrounded them and they
capable OF the creation OF republic 1t
wolves the next generation to consolidate the revolution
deliver the country entirely from the influences of
Hicng transatlantic partialitieS anpathes which at
tached colonial and revolutionary history and to
ganze the practical operation of the constitutional and legal
Institutions of the Union To this generation remains
the not less noble task of maintaining and extend
ngthe power of the United States. We have
length, reached thai stage of the national career
in which the dangers be encountered and the exerons
be made the Incidents not of weakness but of strength
In foreign relations have to attemper power to
the less happy condition of other republics in America and
place ourselves the calmness and conscious dignity OF
right by the side of the greatest and weahest of the emp
of Europe In domestic relations, We have to guard
against the shock of the dscontents the ambitions the in
eres and the exuberant and therefore, sometimes rregu
lar impulses of opinion of action which the natural
product of the present political elevation, the ereace
and the restless spirits of enterprise of the people OF the u
States.
surrender the Executive trust
private life with sentiments CT profound graft
Providence which, during the period Of
minaon has vouchsafed to carry the country through many
difficulties and foreign and enable me to conem-
spectacle of amcabe and respectful relations between
and tranquility throughout the Union
| FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON December q 1856
Oldest Negro Yet.
We have at last got hold of particularly old ne
gro There have been countless cases of tolerably
adyanced blacks, but the below, which we copy
10 co;l ho otlr thnOt