Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1856-12-11
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1856.

The government of the United States has
at all times regarded with friendly interest
the other states of America, formerly, like
this country, European colonies, and now
independent members of the great family of
nations. But the unsettled condition of some
of them, distracted by frequent revolutions,
and thus incapable of regular and firm inter
nal administration, has tended to embarrass
occasionally our public intercourse, by reason
OF wrongs which our citizens suffer at their
hands, and which they are slow to redress
Unfortunately it is against the republic of
Mexico with which it is our special desire to
maintain a good understanding. that such
complaints are most numerous; and although
earnestly urged upon its attention, they have
not as yet received the consideration which
this government had u right to expect
While reparatiOn for past injuries has been
withheld, others have been added. The po-
litical condition of that country, however
has been such as to demand forbearance, on
the part Of the United States | shall con-
tlnue my efforts TO procure for the wrongs of
our citizens that redress which is indispens-
able to the continued friendly association of
the two republics.
The peculiar condition Of affairs in Nicar-
aqua in the earl Y part of the present year,
rendered 1t important that this government
should have diplomatic relations with that
state. Through its territory had been opened
one of the principal thoroughfares across the
lSthmuS connecting North and South Amer
lea, on which vast amount Of property was
transported, and to which our citizens
resorted in great numbers in passing between
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United
States. The protection Of both required that
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regarded as a responsible government: and
its minister was accordingly received. But
he Remained here only short time. Soon
thereafter the political affairs Of Nicaragua
underwent unfavorable change, and became
involved 10 much uncertainty and confusion.
Diplomatic representatives from two contend
ing parties have been recently sent to this
governments; but with the imperfect informa-
ton possessed, it was not possible to decide
which was the government de facto; and
awaiting further developments, | have refused
to receive either
Questions Of the most serious nature are
pending between the United States and the
Republic of New Granada. The govern
ment of that republic undertook, year since,
70 impose tonnage duties on foreign vessels
IN her ports, but the purpose was resisted
by this government, as being contrary to
existing treaty stipulation with the United
States, AMI to rights conferred by charter
upon the Panama Railroad Company, and
was accordingly relinquished at that time,
it being admitted that our vessels were en-
titled to be exempt from tonnage duty in
the free ports Of Panama and Aspinwall-
But the purpose has been recently revived,
on the part of New Granada. by the enact
ment Of a law to subject vessels visiting her
ports to the tonnage duty Of forty cents per
ton and although the law has not been put
in force, yet the right to enforce it is still
asserted, and may, at any time, be acted on
by the government of that republic.
The Congress of New Granada has also
enacted a law, during the last year, which
leyies tax of more than three dollars on
every 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 an
nually, in addition to the large sum payable
by contract to the Panama Railroad Com
pany. IF the only objection to this exaction
were the exoPbitancy of its amount, it could
not be submitted to by the United States
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously contrayene our treaty with New
Granada, and infringe the contract of that
Republic with the Panama Railroad Com
pany. The law providing for this tax was,
by its terms, to take effect on lst of Sept
last, but the local authorities On the 18th
mus have been induced to suspend its exc
cution, and await further instructions on the
subject from the government of the republic.
| am not yet advised of the determination
Of tha government. If a measure so ex-
traordiuary in its character, and so clearly
contrary to treaty stipulations, and the con-
tract rights of the Panama Railroad Com
pany, composed mostly Of American citizens,
should be persisted in, it will be the duty of
the United States to resist its execution.
l regret exceedingly that occasion exists
to invite your attention to a subject of still
graver import in our relations with the
republic of New Granada. On the 18th day
of April last, riotous assemblage of the in
habitants of Panama copmitted a violent
ami outrageous attack on the premises Of
the railroad company, and the passengers
and other persons in or near the same, in
volving the death Of several citizens of the
United States the plllage of many others,
and the destruction Of d large amount of
property belonging to the railroad company.
! caused full investigation of that event to be
made, and the result shows satisfactorily
that complete responsibility for what occur
red attaches to the government Of New
Granada. l have, therefore, demanded of
that government that the perpetrators of the
wrongs in question be punished; that pro-
vision should be made for the families Of
citizens of the United States who were killed,
with the full indemnity for the property
pillaged or destroyed.
The present condition of the Isthmus of
Panama, in SO far as regards the security of
persons 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
Panama, and there is just ground for appre
hension that portion of the inhabitants are
meditating further outrages, without sde-
quate measures for the security and protec-
ton of persons and property having been
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