Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-10-02
Interesting from Washington.
THEPANAmA MASSACRE.
Report Of the u. =. Commissioned
IL (,Rcxuiua ESn
PROPOSALS TO TAKE POSSESSION o
THE ISTHMES

i
THE ISTHMUS.
iSpecial Dispatch to the New York Daily Times.l
WAsHISGTos, Sept. 81.
am able to send you further particulars
| OF the Report of Mr.. Corwine, the Special
Commissioner sent out by our government
| to investigate the circumstances of the Pan
ANA massacre.
His report is very voluminons, embracing
all the testimony taken by him while on the
Isthmus. 1t is addressed to the Secretary
OF State, and is now on file in the State De-
| psrtmeDt.
Mr.. Corwine states that the riot was com
menced by colored native, who fired piS-
tol at an American passenger, VINO was in
toxicated. The subsequent attack upon the
railroad depot, and the firing upon the ras-
sergers, was in pursuance OF a plan delib-
erale!y formed in advance, in which the
authorit les of Panama were actively COLI
cerned, the police being parties to the plot
and that the dispute with the passengers
was merely seized upon as pretext lor
commencing the assault.
He states also that the military auihori-
ties o: Panama failed utterly in their duty
that they did Meth ,ng to suppress the riot
that they cOnnived at the attack of the po-
lice anc mob upon the station house,-and
were themselves ~ a very great extent,
responsible for the massacre.
At the conclusion of the whole matter.
Mr.. Cerwine reports that the Government
Of New Grenada is utterly unable to main
tain law and order, and incbmpetent to the
protection Of passengers and pspsrty cross
! ing the Isthmus. He refers to>a variety Of
incidents within the past few yeals to sus-
tain this position.
He also recommends THE IMMEDIATE
OCCUPATION OF THE 18TH MUS,
TRcM OCEAN To OCEAN. by The Unite.
States, as absolutely necessary tor The fur-
pose Of securing safety and tranquility to
the IransIi, unless New GRENADA, after the
pro ,rer represe nations cha have teen m .ce,
and the necessary demand made upon hsr
in pursuance OF tresty s,ipulations, ,un sat
isiy US as t , her ability and inclination 10
afford the proper protection and make speedy
and ample atonement for the wrongs i'll
Ricted upon our country men by the people
and officials of the State of Panama.
These recommendst ions are backedup by
strong arguments, are accompanied by elab
crate statements oi The amount OF business
done across the lsthmus, ard OF the extern
to which American lives and property re-
quirs protection.
The Report engages the attention of the
President and Cabinet. A strong DISPOSE
tiun is evinced in some quarters to act imme-
diateiy upon its recommendations. 1t is
probable, htwryer, that nothing decisive
will be done until after the Presidential
election. The effect of an immediate move
ment upon the result Of the canvass is fear
ed
You may rely upon it, however, that Mr..
Curw inc ou not have urged SO bold u
policy as this, unless certain of being backed
up by the Government. He has been ap-
pointed Consul at Panama, and unless sup
ported by The Administration, would be very
likely TO have his exequater refused by the
New Grenadian Government for such re-
CONNIE ndation.
Yours, sc.