Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-12-18

nations, and so consonant to the sentiment
of this enlightened period of the world, wi
command the appreciation of all martini
powers, and thus be incorporated into tn
code of international law
My views on the subject are more full
set forth in tie reply Of the Secretary G
State, copy of which is hereby transmit
ted, to the communication on this sheet
made to this government, especially to tn
communication of France The govern
ment of The United States has at all time
regarded with friendly interests the othe
States of America, formerly like this coun
try, European colonies, and now indepen
dent members of the great family of nations
But the unsettled condition of some of then
distracted by frequent revolutions, anC
thus incapable of regular and firm inter
nal Administration, has tended to embarras:
occasionally our public intercourse by rea
son of wrong which our citizens suffer a
their hands, AMI which they are slow tc
redress.
Unfortunately it is against the Republic
of Mexico, with which it is our especia
desire to maintain good understanding
that snch complaints are most numerous
and although earnestly urged upon its at
tention, they have not rs yet received the
consideration which this Government had
a right to expect. While PREPARATION fol
past injuries have been withheld others have
been added. The political condition Of
that country, however, has been such as to
demand forbearance OH the part of the Uni
ted States. | shall continue my efforts TO
procure for the wrongs of our citizers hat
redress which is indispensable to the COZ.
tinued friendly association of the .wo Re
publics.
The peculiar condition of affairs in Me
aragua in the early part of The present year,
rendered important that this Government
should have diplomatic relations VITA that
State. Through lis Territory had bee
opened one OF the plinci,;,e thoroughfares
across the Misunderstanding North ard
South AmerlcA--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 pro.ec-
tor of both required that the existing pow
er in that State should be regarded as a re-
sponsible government, and its Minister was
accordingly received, but he remained here
only a short time Soon thereafter the DO
litical affairs Of Nicaragua underwent an
unfavorable change and became involved
in much uncertainty aud confusion Di-
nj
ding parties have been recently sent to this
Government, but with the imperfect infor-
nation possessed, 1t was not possible to de-
eide which was the Government de facto,
and awaiting further developments, have
refused to receive either
Questions of serious nature are pend
ing between the United States and the re-
public of New Grenada.
The Government of that Republic under
took, year since, to impose tonnage du-
ties on foreign vessels in her ports, but
the purpose was resisted by this gov
ernment, as being contrary to existing
treaty stipulations with the United State
and to rights conferred by charter to
the Panama Railroad Company, and was
accordingly relinquished at that time, it be-
ing admitted that our vessels were exempt
from, tonnage duty in tho free ports of Pan
anna and Aspinwall; but the purpose has
been recently revived on the part of New
Granada by the enactment Of law to sub
ject vessels visiting our ports to 4 tonnage
duty of ID cents per ton. although the law
has not been put IN force, yet the right to
enforce j. 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 during the past year, a
law which leyies a tax Of three dollars on
every pound of mail matter transported
across the Isthmus. The sum thus re-
quired to be paid Oil the mails of the Uni
ted States would be nearly two millions of
dollars annually, in addition TO the large
r. Co. If the only objection to this exact
ion was the exorbitancy of the amount. it
could not be submitted to by the United
States The imposition of it however,
would obviously contravene our treaty with
New Granada AID infringe the contract of
that PepubIc with tho Panama Rail Road
Co.
The law providing for this tax was by
its terms, to take effect on the first Of Sep
TENDER last, the local authorities on the
Isthmus have been induced to suspend its
execution, to await further instructions on
the subject from the government of the Re-
public; am not yet advised of the deter.
of that Government. If tina. mea-
sure, SO extraordinary in its character. and
so clearly contrary to treaty stipulations,
and the contract rights of the Panama II.
r. Co composed mostly of American citi-
zens, should be persisted in, it will be the
duty Of the United States to resist its exc
cution- l regret exceedingly that occasion
exists to invite your attention to subject
of still graver import in our relations with
the republic Of New Granada. On the fif
teenth day Of April last. rotous assem-
blage of the inhabitants of Panama commit.
ted a 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 cit
liens of the United States, the pillage of
many others, and the destruction of large
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