The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-16
The necnliar condition of affairs IN Mica.

The peculiar condition of affairs IN Mica
ragua in the early part of the present year
rendered it important that this government
should have diplomatic relations with that
State. Through its territory had been open
ed one of the principal thoroughfares across
the isthmus connecting North and South
America, on which vast amount of pro-
perty was transported, and to which our
citizens resorted in great numbers in pass
ing between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
of the United States. The protection of
both required that the existing power in
that State should be regarded as respon-
sible government and its minister was &C
cordingly received. But he remained here
only a short time. Soon thereafter the
political affairs of Nicaragua underwent
unfavorable change, and became involved
in much uncertainty and confusion. Dip
lomatic representatives from two contend
ing parties have been recently sent to this
government; but, with the imperfect intor-
nation possessed, it was not possible to de-
eide which was the government de tacto );
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 gov
eminent of that republic undertook, year
since, to 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, and to rights conferred
by charter upon the Panama Railroad
Company, and was accordingly relinqulshed
at that time, it being admitted that our
vessels were entitled 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 enactment 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 law during the last year which
levies a 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 million dollars
payable by contract to the Panama Rail
road Company. If the only objection to
this exaction were the exorbitancy of its
amount, it could not be submitted to by the
United States.
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously contravene 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 the first Of
September last; but the local authorities on
the isthmus have been induced to suspend its
execution, and to await further instructions
on the subject from the government Of the
republic. [ am not yet advised of the
Of that government. If
measure so extraordinary in its character,
and SO clearly contrary to treaty 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 to
resist its execution.
| regret exceedingly that occasion exists
to invite your attention to a subject of still
grayer import in our relations with the
republic of New Granada. On the fifteenth
day of April last riotous assemblage of
the inhabitants of Panama committed 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 citizens
of the United States, the pillage of many
others, and the destruction of large
amount of property belonging to the rail
road company. | caused full investigation
of that event to be made and the result
shows satisfactorily that complete respon-
sibIlity for what occurred attaches to the
government Of New Granada. | 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 States who were killed, with
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
the public peace of Panama, and there is
just ground for apprehension that a portion
of the inhabitants are meditating further
outrages, without adequate measures for
the security and protection Of persons or
property having been taken either by the
State of Panama or by the general gov
eminent of New Granada.
Under the guarantees Of treaty, citizens
of the United States have, by the outlay
of several million dollars, constructed a
railroad across the isthmus, and it has
become the main route between our
Atlantic and Pacific possessions, over which
multitudes of our citizens and vast amount
of property are constantly passing-to the
security and protection of all which, and
the continuance Of the public advantages
involved, it is impossible for the government
of the United States to be Indifferent.
| have deemed the danger of the
recurrence of scenes of lawless violence in
RI ic orartor on - 49,