Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-05-09

a
penalty, according to the laws Sd guaranteed to all c
zens direct suffrage in elect which the Project Of
Convention would pretend 70 in Panama and Colon
to certain proprietors of land md other property
The undersigned declared That the plan proposed nv
the Plenipoentares for permanently securing liberty of
transit from to by the Isthmus of Panama does
not satisfy its legitimate object and they proved it. The
OF the United States wishes become owner
of the nteroceanc ways they only offer the transit to
such nations may agree the neutrality of the terri
torial strip of land acknowledging its govern
ments, and not the footing of perfec1 muuay The
Government of New Granada proposed oiation that
giving to the citizens of the United States and to their
property the effective protection they desire and the
safety which they say now wanting, within other rea
son but the suspicion the faults commit
ted by themselves should extend all nations the same
benefits and the advantages leaving sacred the
principle of territorial sovereignty; and here it NAV he
added nsuring to the State Of Panama. for its own pro-
per administration, the revenue much wanted
owing to the extreme beralty of the franchises granted
This proposal has not been properly appreciated 1t i'm
plies and it must be understood the participation Of
other Powers in the negotiation
They also declare that various clauses of the Project
of Convention in opposition the contract made
with the Panama Railroad Company; that for instance
which authorizes the consuls of the United States in
certain to establish and collect upon the rail-
road and upon the passengers and property passing by
the same also that clause which would attribute to the
United States full and exclusive power either by charter
or IN another manner to provide for the construction of
any other railroad within the territorial district Of the
existing one
And they declared finally in the name of their Gov
eminent, that they consider New Granada response
BILE for the events at Panama of the 18th of April and
their amenable consequences and consent that
the Government of the United States should decide the
question, the which comprehends formal refusal Of the
indemnity demanded. The motives of refusal to be
found expressed in few words in the memorandum %
ITSELF and shall here be extended This is not pecu
mary question, but question of principle.
The capital point is the antecedens Of the events and
their immediate origin. The inhabitants Of Panama
he
account of its generally brutal behavior and sti more
predisposed against the species Of Adventures whose
breeding place. whose recruiting station, whose arsenal
OF resources whose starting point, and whose Point
doppui the United States and who have improved
and brought anew upon the the ancient ibuser
ism. This unfayorabe predisposition existed princi-
pay among the masses of the poorer class who were
frequently the victims of the outrages by the
passing emigrants and among great nume Of desti-
tute strangers brought from the West Indies and other
places as laborers the railroad and afterwards turned
adrft by the company to starve Such predsposition
the natural effect of experience and while existed
nothing was easy inevitable than explosion
of popular rage and vengeance whenever any
should provoke it. This is what first the United States
Consul at Panama. then the Minister, Mr.. Bowlin and
the Commissioner, Mr.. Corwine and now the Hon PIE
nipotentaries have styled prmeditdon previous
cert New Granada is not to blame that the elements of
sudden and fierce conhagraton should have been thus
accumulated.
party of California fllibusers land at Panama not
having been able to dsembark Nicaragua; then the
dreaded passeng4s emigrants and of these sa-
wages outrages native fires his pistol another with
out any usfabe cause and supported and protected
by those of his party The hour for retaliation fixed
by Providence sounded without New Granada being at
all to blame.
The Plenipotenaries present, ridiculous hecrsay
account the initiatory episode in which Jack Oliver
citizen of the United States figures aggressor. But
three citizens of the United States eyewitness and
victims of the riot-by g. B. Wright. P. b. Read
ing, and w. c. Waters-pointed him by name, IN
count of the ARRAY published under their signatures in
the San Francisco Herald of the 4h May and French
merchant NJ. Bernard mentioned in the certified state
ment of the Consul of France, Count de Nolent saw
him fire the pistol. This unimpeachable testimony is
sufficient to prove that there is hearsay acco and
that the conclusion the Commissioner, MIR. Corwine,
comes to upon this point well the previous
ton made by the Legation of the United States the
effect that the pistol discharged by native pre-
concerted signal for the outbreak, are contrary TO the
Respect q vfsfior esaits, the isgitinate c0use
auence OF the previous according to the of r
rltation that prevailed charge although not abso-
lutte, might be brought against the Republic If the au-
thores had remained Indifferent or had not proceeded
as quickly as possible, and with all the means at their
disposal to quell the tumult and render protection
lives and property But the contrary is proved by album
dant and trustworthy evidence it being testified particu
lary by the Consuls of Ecuador, Rrance England and
Peru at Panama, who must be supposed to be impartial,
admitting at the same time that with regard to those
circumstances which did not fall under their own e-
date notice, they collected the authentic nforma
ton at the moment when possible there should
have been any confabulation in order disgure the
truth. Many Witnesses both native and foreigners,
have be en- udicay examined at different times first as
it being the duty of the public functionaries and after
ward at the requison of the Attorney General of the
nation and the dispositions taken only justify the
Governor OF the State but also all his subordinaes in
Guiding the police
With regard to the Governor who exerted himself with
vey zeal to appease the natives and who had managed
TO restrain them, also to prevent the discharge of
cannon upon the heap of passengers that had taken re-
fuge IN the steamer Taboga and who in vain to
make his voice be heard by those who defending
themselves In one or two edfces scarcely is there any
one now who would him for any other thing than
for having authorized the police fire in order take the
railroad station If they should themselves be fired upon
as was done; and this after the Governor himself ths
United states Consul and of those who had a@-
companled Them had been fred upon by the North Aer
That order under such circumstances was suaot
GENTLY excusable even its legality and fitness be nor
acquesced In And with regard to the police agents
gendarmes we viii limit ourselves to say that upon
animation as eyewitness by the Prefect Of panarens
In the hrst days OF September Of three respectable %
OF the United States, Messrs Allan McIane DayidHH
Corwlne and William Nelson, upon this question: or
they saw any individuals of the gendaruerie rofre.
wound Intentionally any passenger when and v hey
and II they communicates 1t to any authority p hat
did not make any other charge against chem
of having fred in order to take posses &C t,e 4 49,
and Mr.. Nelson ttesed that he had & "a s; III
gendarmes were Afterwards offering I'd & suhjsck rs
and watch Of one Of tie Victims the f]R(I VT
Dubois \tn,;css a :, III i
It IS not rational eharss ss.nst 0s sosr saa'
With them many Of nj merSnts
station. Ne ceud ca1fsin. il <5on -
rated populace Enough wH sss, -
their small namber. to place saieS ~ may - tae
10 rsco9ns y The t e New GranaSa responsible