The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-12
serted, and may, q. any .ino, Be acted on By

Z ~ttcu, uuo may ~ euy ttmc, Oc uctoo on y
the government Of that Republic. 81 4
Tho Congrss OF New Granada has als
enacted Law during the last year, swhic
levies Q tax ef mors than three dollars o
every pouni of mail matter Transports
across tho Isthuus. Tho sum thus require
to be paid on the mails of the United State
would be nearly two millions Of dollars an
nually, in addition to the large sum payable
by contract tofho Panama Railroad Com
pany. II tho bnly objection to this exIc
ton were the eiorbitancy Of its amount, u
could not be submitted " by the United
st tics. aar y fr- s-t.-.l ~ 81
The imposition Of It, however, would OBJ.
viously contrayene our treaty with New
Grenada, and hfrnge the contract VI that
Republic with tho Panama Railroad Com.
pany. The law providing for this tax was.
by its terms, 10 take effect on the hrst OF
September last, but tho local authorities ou
the lsthmus hare besu induced ~ suspend
its execution, and to await further instrnc-
tons on the subject from the government
Jf the Republc. | am not yet advised OF
the determination OF that government. II
q measure, % euraoIdiniry in It's cl,aract 2,
and 50 clearly costrary to trcaty stipulations,
and the contract rights of the Panama Rail.
road Company, composed mostly Of Amcri.
eau citizens, should be persisted in, IL will
be the duty Of the United States ~ resist iu
ixecution. ..
Iresrct exceedingly that occasion exists TO
invite ypur atten,,on To subject OF still
srtyer import in our relations with the Rcs
public of New Gr,nada. On the 18th day
II April last, a notous asscmblage Of tie
Inhabitants Of Parama committed u violent
md outrageous attack ON the premises Of
the railroad company, and the passengers
and other persons In or near the same, in
yJlying the death OF several citizens OF tie
United States, the pillagc Of many Others,
md the destruction oi u large amount of
property belonging 10 the railroad company.
| caused full investigation Of that event 70
De made. and the result shows satisfactorily
that completc responsibility for what oc.
cured attaches 10 the government Of New
Grenada. | have. therefore, demanded Of
that government that the perpetrators Of tho
wrongs in question should b. punished that
should be made for tho families of
citizens of the United states who were kill.
ID, with full indemnity for the property
pillnged or d strUyed r..
The present condition Of the lsthmus OF
Panama, in SO Car US regards the security Of
persons and property passing over 1t, re-
luires serious consideration. Recent inc'-
Tents tend TO show that tho local authorities
,annot be rolled ON to maintain the public
peace of Panama, and there is just ground
or apprehension that portion of the In
,ab,tants are meditating further outragcs,
without adequate measures for the security
md protection OF persons or property hav.
ng been taken, either by the State Of Pana.
ma, or by the general government Of New
Under the guarantees Of treaty, citizens Of
he United States have, by the outlay of
eyeral millions Of dollars, constructed
abroad ac, oss the lsthmus, and IL has be-
'omc the main route between our Atlantic
md Pacific POSSESSIONS, over which multi
ides of our citizens and vast amount OF
property are constantly passing - 10 the a.
,urity and protection of all which and the
continuance of the public advantages invol-
'ed. it is impossible for the Government of
The United States to DO Indifferent.
have deemed the danger Of the recur.
renee Of similar scenes. ot lawless violence
N this quarter 81 imminent Us TO mako it
ny duty to station part of our naval free
n the harbOrs of Panama and Aspingwall.
n order 10 protect the persons and property
II the citizens Of the United States in thoss
ports, and to ensure TO them safe pa,sigp
Icross the lsthmus. And IL would, in my
Judgment, be unwise to withdraw the naval
orce now in those ports, until, by the spon-
aneous action of New Grenada, or ether.
yise, some adequate arrangement shall have
'een made for the protection and security Il
line of interoccanic communication 81 i'm
,ortant at this time, not 70 the United States
MY, but TO all other maratine States both
f Europe and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations havc been insti-
uted by means of special commission, to
btiin from New Grenada full indemnity
Or injuries sustained by our citizens on de
sthmus, and satisfactory security for the
enerll interests Of the United States.
In addressing to you my last annual mes
age. the occasion seems 10 me mn apprOpr'-
to one to express my congratulations In
lew of the peace, greatness, and felicity
which the United States now possess andeL
Dy. To point you to the state of the vari
us departments of the Government, and II
II the great branches Of the public servi,e,
iyil and military, In order "a speak of TO
nt'll gcnce and the integrity which per-
AIDES the whole, would be 10 Indicate but
the administrative condition OF
ho country. and the Beneficial effects Of that
N the general welfare. Nor would it sui
les to riy that the nation is actually 40
taccat nome and abroad; that is indus.
rial interests are prosperous that the con.
,.lss vi lis mariners whitens every sea: and
the plough oi its liusblndmen is marching
steadily onward to the bloodlcss conquest OF
tho continent; that cities und populous
States arc sprIuginc up. as II by enchant-
nrnt. FROM the bosom ot our western wilds,
md that the Outrageous energy Of our peo-
pie Is making of these UnilsJ States tho
great republc Of tho wVrli. These suits
have not boen attained without passing
through trials and perils, by experience OF
which, and thus only, nations can harden
into manhood.
Our iorelathers wcro trained 10 tho wis.
dom which conceiyed, and the courage which
achieved in Independence, by the circumstances
which surrounded them, and they were thus
made capable Of TIE creation Of the Repub-
lie. IL devolyed on tho next generation to
consolidate the work Of the revolution, to
deliver the country entirely from the inau-
enccs Of conflicting transatlantic partialitics
or untipathies, which attached 10 our colo
NAL and revolutionary history. and to Or
san.ze the practical operation OF tho consti-
totional and legal institutions Of the Union
70 us, OF this generation, remains the not
lees noble task OF maintaining and extend
ing the power OF the United States. We
have, ut lengtb, reached that stage of tLe
national career, In which tho dangers to bo
a1d the exertions 10 bs made,
are the incidents, MT Of weakness, but Of
strength In our foreign relations, we have
10 atiemper our power To tho le-s happy con-
iiuon Of other repablis In America, and to ?
pIace ourselves in the calmness and oonscio,
'liguity Of right by tho side Of tho greatest
and wealthicst Of the empires Of Earope.-