The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-26

| regret exceedingly that occasion ex-
lists to invite your attention to sub ject
of still graver import in our relations with
the republic of. New Grenada. On the
fifteenth day Of April last riotous as
semblage OF the inhabitants of Panama
committed violent and outrageous attack
on the premises of the railroad company,
and the passengers and other persons in
or near the same, involving the death of
several citizens of the United States, the
pillage of many others, and the destruc-
ton Of large amount property belong
ing to the railroad company. l caused
full investigation of that event to be made,
and the result shows satisfactorily that
complete responsibility for what occurred
attaches to the government of New Gra-
NADIA. I have, therefore, demanded of
that government that the perpetrators Of
the wrongs in question should be punish
ed that provision should be made for the
families of citizens of the United States
who were killed, with full indemnify for
the property pillaged or destroyed.
The present condition of the isthmus
of Panama, in so far as regards the secu-
rity of persons and property passing over
it, requires serious consideration. Re-
cent incidents tend to show that the local
authorities cannot be relied on to maintain
the public peace of Panama, and there is
just ground for apprehension that o por-
ton of the inhabitants are meditating fur
ther outrages, without adequate measures
for the security and protection of persons
or property having been taken either by
the State OF Panama or by the general gov
ernment of New Granada.
Under the guarantees of treaty, citizens
of the United States have, by the outlay
of several million dollars, constructed
railroad across the isthmus, and it has
become the main route between our At
lantic and Pacific possessions, over which
multitudes Of our citizens and vast
amount of property are constantly pass
ing-to the security and protection of all
which, and the continuance of the public
advantages involved, it is impossible for
the government of the United States to
be Indifferent.
! l have deemed the danger of the recur-
renee of scenes of lawless violence in this
quarter SO imminent as to make Ii my duty
to station part of our naval force in the
harbors of Panama and Aspinwall, in or
der to protect the persons and property of
the citizens of the United States in those
ports, and to insure to them safe passage
across the isthmus And it would, in my
Judgment, be unwise to withdraw the ma
val force now in those ports until, by the
spontaneous action of the republic Of New
Granada, or otherwise, some adequate ar
rangement shall have been made for the
protection and security of line of inter-
ocean communication, so important at this
, time, not to the United States only, but
to all other maritime States both of Eu-
rope and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been in
stituted, by means of special commiss-
ion, to obtain from New Granada full in
demnity for injuries sustained by our cit
. liens on the isthmus, and satisfactory
security for the general interests of the
US
In addressing to you my last annual
, message, the occasion seems to me an ap-
propriate one to express my congratula
ttons in view of the peace. greatness, and
| felicity which the United States now pos
sess and enjoy. 70 point you to the state
of the various departments of the gov
ernment, and of all the great branches Of
. the public service, civil and military, in
3 order to speak of the intelligence and the
e integrity which pervade the whole, would
be to indicate but impertectly the admin.
, istrative condition of the country, and
: the beneficial effects of that on the gener-
5 al welfare. Nor would it suffice to say
: that the nation is actually at peace at home
s and abroad; that its industrial interest are
a prosperous; that the canvas of its mari
y ners whitens every sea, and the plough O.
: its husbandme.i is marching steadily on
: ward to the bloodless conquest of the con
8 tinent; that cities and populous States are
: springing up, as if by enchantment, from
g the bosom of our western wilds, and tha
t the courageous energy of our people is
r making Of these United States the great
s republic of the world. These results
t have not been attained without passing
Q through trials and perls, by experience o
J, which, and thus only, nations can harder
t into manhood. Our forefathers were
trained to the wisdom which conceived
0 and the courage which achieved indepen
h dence by the circumstances which sur
n rounded them, and they were thus made
4 capable Of the creation of the republic
! 1t devolved on the next generation to con
!. solidate the work of the revolution, to de
: liver the country entirely from the influ
; ences of conflicting transatlantic PARTIAL
d ties or antipathies' which attached to ou
S colonial and revolutionary history, and t.
3 organize the practical operation of TIN
y constitutional and legal institutions of tn
Union. To us, of this generation, re
d mains the not less noble task Of maintain
" ing and extending the national power
It We have at length reached thai stage q
l. our country's career in which The dan
x gers to be encountered, and the exertion
10 to be made are the incidents, no, of weak
l. ness, but of strength. In foreign rela
> tions we have to attemper our power