Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-04-23
eENrRAL AMERICAN DIgFIegLFy

intelligence was brought by the last arrival Of the
George Ian st New York and published in our paper
Of yesterday morning. to the effect that the Republic
Of Granada has refused to give any reparation what
ever for the outrages committed American citizens
at Panama in April last; and the telegraph tells US
to-day that our Government is determined to act
vigorously in the matter and has, in fact, ordered
the Home and Pacific sguadrons to the Lsthmus. As
this portion Of the earths surface promises to be-
come more than the location Of deeds that will
have to be recorded, some sketch of the state Of
affairs in that quarter may not be unweeome to our
readers.
The geographical position of Granada is sufficient
lyWen knoWnto every seho0lboy-With the Caribbean
Sea and Pacific Ocean washing its northern and
western shores, and Costa Rica upon its northwest
ern boundary. 1t is divided into the seven prov
inces of Isthmo Cauea, Antoguia, Candinamarca,
Boyaca, Guanenta and Magdalena. In the first of
these-IsthmO-is included the Isthmus of Panama,
which became an Independent state in February,
1855. 1t does not need that we should insist upon
the commercial importance of this state situated as
it is between the two hemispheres, and in possession
Of the keys Of communication with California and
the Pacific. The exports of the republic for the
year S53 sufficiently show this, amounting TO nearly
forty million Of dollars. The trade, which was Origi-
nally monOpoIsed by Great Britain, has latterly,
since the discovery Of gold in California, for the
greater part, been in the hands of Americans.
In Illustration, 1t may be mentioned that, OF the
609 vessels which entered and cleared at the Pacific
port of Panama in 1882 with cargOes valued at near
/ ly sixty-one Millions those engaged in this move
| ment under the American flag numbered 1853; while
the number under the flag of England was but 1873.
/ The American freights for the same year amounted
to nearly fity-two millions while those under the
| British flag amounted 10 only eight millions In
1853 over ffty-two millions Of gold passed through
! the IsthmUs and of this over fOrty-twO and halt
millions was from California The number Of pas
sengers which crossed through the country the same
| year was 28,69O; of which number 1887 were
coming from, and 1888 were on their way to Cali
| fornia.
In 1855 the statatistics tell the same story. Oh
the 04 passengers across the Ishnus in this year.
10 289 were proceeding to- and l0,015 coming from
California and all in American steamers while but
! 1900 were brought and 100 returned by English
4 steamers. In the same year, the amount Ofgod and
silver which passed from ocean TO ocean, was $40,
4O7 907, of which, S31 81, SIS was from San Fran
CISCO Our readers will redily decidefOr themselves
from these statements, to the importance and the
necessity of peaceble and unrestricted commercial
intercourse with the Republic of Granada.
The origin of the difficulty was made so much the
! subject Of comment at the time Of its occurrence
that it can yet hardly be forgotten. 1t was at Pana
| ma, on the 18th of April last, that the massacre
| took place. by which several Americans lost then
lives The affair grew out of an alteration between
fruit-seller and Of the passengers across the
IsthmUs The firing Of pistol by the latter, IN the
]
collect and, including some Of the police, t.
commence an indscriminate slaughter Of the passen
| gers, and the indisoriminate plumber of their bag
| gage. So unprovOked and wantOn an outraged upoI
life and property, could not be allowed to pass with
out notice. and accordingly the indignation which
was felt and expressed throughout the country, Wa
| followed by the action Of the Government in the
sending of Mr.. Morse, as Special Commissioner,
to act in conjunction with Mr.. Bowin, the American
Minister, and lay before the Executive of Granada
demand for suitable reparation for the insult and al
adequate indemnity for the loss of property. Thi
reparation and indemnity has been refused, and, a
the matter stands, our government seems deter
mined to either enforce the accordance to her JUS
demands, or at least to prevent any future repetl
tion of similar ndignities. The naval force that
to be sent the Ishmus is very good evidence tina
it is the intention of the Administration to show 1t
self in earnest in the business, and we shall, accor
dinghy, be on the alert for important news from
Central America. "-CHarlest0H Courier