Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-12-10


tionS on the subject made to this government cs-
peciaily TO the communication of France
Inc government OF the United States has at all
tlnes regarded with friendly interest the other
states OF America, formerly, like this country.
i European countries and now indenendent ,ra,o
i pers OF the great family of nations
u But the unsettled condition of some Of them
distracted by frequent revolutions and thus IN
capable OF flrm internal administration has, tend
Ell 10 eInoarrass occasionally our public inter-
course oy reason OF wrongs which citizens
Isuiler at their hands, and which they are slos TO
fedress.
Unfortunately 1t is against the Republic Of
mexico, with which it is our srecid desire to
naihtain good understanding, Alat such com
pants are more numerous; apf although earn
city urged upon its attention, they have not as
St received the consideration which this govern
nenb has night to expect While rcparation
br past injuries has boen withheld, others have
tbeen added. The political condition of that
country, however. has been such to demand
forbearance on TIE part of the United States.
shall continue my efforts to procure fer the
wrongs of our citizens that redress which is nds-
pensable to che continued friendly associations of
the two Republics.
! The peculiar condition of affairs in Nicaragua
| IN the early part of the present year. rendered it
4 important that this government should have Dip
I lomatic relations with that State. Through its
| territory had been opened one of the principal
North and South America on which vast amount
of property was transported, and to which our
citizens resorted in great numbers, i'll passing be-
| tween the Atlantic and Pacific coast of the Uni
| ted States. The protection of both required that
| the existing power in that State shoulds be re-
| garGed responsible government and its min
| lister was accordingly received.
But he remained here only short time -
Soon thereafter the political affairs of Nicara-
gauc underwent unfavorable changes, and De-
came involved In much uncertainty and con-
fusion. Diplomatic representatives from two
contending parties have been recently sent to
this government; but, with the imperfect in
formation possessed, it was not possible to de-
eide which was the government de tacto and,
awaiting further development, I have refus-
ed to receive either.
Questions of the most serious nature are
pending between the Unite States and the
Republic of New Granada. The government
of that Republic undertook, year since, to
impose tonnage duties on fcreign vessels in
her ports, bu. the purpose WIS resisted by this
government, as b ing ,ntia-y to existing trea-
ty stipulation with the United States, aud to
rights conferred by character upon the Pa
mama Railroad Company, and was according
ly relinquished at that time. it being admit
ted that our vessels were entitled to be ex-
empt from tonnage duty in the free ports of
Panama and Aspinwal
But the purpose has been recently revived
on the part of New Granada, b. the enact
ment of law to subject vessels visiting her
ports to the tonnage duty of forty c>,ts per
ton and, altho' the law has not been putin
force, yet the right to enforce it is still asser-
ted, and may, at any time. be acted on by the
government of that republic
The Congress of New Granada has also en-
acted a law, during the last year, which levies
1 fav Of thor,
pound of mail matter transported across the
Isthmus. The sum thus required to be paid
on the mails of the United States would BE-
nearly two millions of dollars annually, in adj
di.ion to the large sum payable by contract to-
the Panama Railroad Company. If the only
objection to this exaction were the exorbitan-
cy of its amount, il could not be submitted to
by the United States.
The imposition of it, however, would obvi-
ously contravene treaty with New Grana-
da, and infringe the contract of that Repub-
lie with the Panama Railroad Company. The
law providing for this tax was, by its terms,
to take effect on the 1st September last but
the local authorities on the Isthmus have
: been induced to suspend its execution, and to
await further instructions the subject from
the government ofthe Republic [ am not
yet advised of the determination of that gov
ernmeUt If a measure SO extraordinary in
, its character, and so clearly contrary to trca-
ty stipulations, 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 ro re-
sist its execution
l regret exceedingly that occasion exists to
invite your attention to subject of still gra.
, yer import in our relations with the Repub-
lie of New Granada, On the 9Th day of
April last, rotous assemblage of the inhab-
itants of Panama committed violent and
outrageous attack on the premises of the Rail-
road Company, and the passengers and other
persons in or near the same involving the
death of several citizens of the United States,
the pillagc of many Others and the dcstruc-
ton of large amount of property belonging
to the Railroad Company.
4 | 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 Granada.
1 have, therefore, demanded of that govern
ment that the perpetrators of the wrongs in
question should be punished; that provision
1 should be made for the families of theVitizens
of the United States who were killed, with
full indemnity for the property pillaged or
destroyed.
The present condition of the Isthmus of Pa
nama in so far regards the security of per
sons and property passing over it, requires
serious consideration Recent incidents tend
to show that the local authorities cannot be
relied on to maintain the public peace of Pa
mama. and there 10 just ground for apprehen-
sion that portion of the inhabitants are med