The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-12-10

snd was accordingly rsIinqnisbed at that
Ame, III being admitted that orr vesssis were
entitled to be exempt from tonnage duty in
the free porls Of Panama and AspinwaIl- ~
Butthe purpose has been recently revived,
on The part Of New Granada, BY the enact.
mentof Jaw 10 subjec. vessels visiting her
pVis To- sfe tonnage duty of fa1,y esa.- psr
tod aud, although tie law has been pul in
force, yeiiibe righ, 10 enforce Ills still assert
ed, and may, at any time, be acted on by
the goEemment of thu, Republic,
Tue Congress gof New Grenada has slso
enacted a law, during the last year, which
levies lax Of more ihan three dollars on
! every pound ofmail matter transported across
| the Isihmus. The sum thus required 10 be
paid on The mails Of Tie United States would
be nearly two millions Of dollars annually,
in addinon to The large sum payable by con
tract to the Railroad Company II The only
objection 10 this exacl;on were the exorbi,an.
cy of ibis amount, ii could hot be subrnilted
10 By the United States.
The imposition Of 1, however, would OBJ
viously coniravere our treaty with New
Granada, and infringe The contrac, OF that
republic with the Panama Railroad Company.
The law providing for This lax was, by its
terms, to take effect on The FIRST Of Septem-
Der last, but the local authorities on the 18TH
mus have been induced 10 suspend It's exc.
culion, and 10 await fufIher instructions on
the subject tram the se"ersmeus of tbe re-
public. ] am pot get advised of the deter
minalion OF that government. If measure
so extraordinary in lis character, and SO clea.
ly contrary 10. treaty slipulalions, aud the
contract rights of the Panama Railroad Co.,
composed mostly of American citizens,
should be persisted in, ii will be the duty of
The United States 10 resist IFS execution.
regret exceedingly that occasion exists to
invite your attention 10 subject of still gra-
yer import in our relations with the Repub-
lie of New Granada. On the fifteenth day
of April last, rio,ous assemblsge OF the
Inhabitants Of Panama committed violent
and outrageous attack on the premises Of the
railroad company, aad the passengers and
other persons in or near The same, involving
the death OF several citizens of lhe Uniled
Stales, the pillage Of many others, and the
destruction Of large amount of properly
belonging tolhe railroad company. caus-
ed 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 Gra.
NADIA. have, therefore, demanded Of that
government that the perpetrators of the
wrongs in question should be punished; that
provision should be made for the families of
citizens of the United Siates-who were kill
ed, with full indemnity for The properly pill
laged or destroyed. r
The present condition OF the Isihmus oil
Panama, in SO far as regards the security Of
persons and property passing over it. re.
quires serious consideration. Recent Incl
dents tend TO show that the local authorities
cannot be relied on 10 maintain the public
peace Of Panama, and there is just ground
for apprehension that a portion Of the inhab-
ian,s are msJiialing further oulrages, with
out adequate measures for ihe security and
protection Of persons or property having
been taken, either by the Stale of Panama,
orby the general government of New Gra.
nada. I-'
Under the guarantees OF treaty, citizens of
the United States have, by the outlay OF
several millions of dollars, constructed
railroad across the Islhmus, and |, has be-
come the main route between our Atlantic
and Pacific possessions, over which multi.
tudes OF our citizens and vast amount OF
property are constantly passing-to the se-
curity and protection of all which, and The
continuance of the public advantages in
volved, ii is impossible for the government
of the United States 10 be Indifferent.
/ have deemed the danger of the recur-
renee Of scenes of lawless violence in this
quarter SO imminent, as 10 make il my duty
TO station part of our naval force in the har-
bors of Panama and Aspinwall, in order 10
protect the persons and. property of the citi-
zsns of the Uniied States in those ports,
andio insure 10 them safe passage across
the Isbmus. And il would, in my judgment
be unwise 10 withdraw the naval force now
in those ports, until, by The spontaneous ac-
ton ofthe republic Of New Granada, or
otherwise, some adequate arrangement shall
have been made for the protection and Sc
curity of line of intsr-oceanic communi-
cation 90 important al this lime not 10 The
United States only, but 10 all other, maritime
States both Of Europe and America,
Meanwhile, negotiations have been insli-
tu,ed by means of special commission, 10
obtain fram New Granada full indemnify
for injuries sustained by our ciiizens on the
lsihmus, and satisfactory security for the
general interests, of ihs Uni,ed States.
In addressing 10 you my last annual mes
sage, the occasion seems 10 me an appropri-
ate one to express my congratulations 10
view of the peace, greatness, and felicity
which ihe United States now possess ard
,enjoy. To poin, you 10 the state Of The va.
rious Departments of the government, and of
all the great branches of the public service,
civil and military, in order TO speak Of the
Intelligence and the integrity which pervadss
the whole, would be to indicate bnt mper-
| fectiv The admin nstrative coud;t;op of tho