The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-12-16

!. tined 10 pass. The Un,ed States are more
deeply interested than any other nation in
4 preserving the freedom and security oil all
the COMMUNICATIONS across lhis islhmns. II
is our duty, therefore, 10 take care that ihey
shall not be interrupted either BY inyasons
from our own country or by wars between
the eiudehendem States OF Central America.
Under our treaty with New Grenada OF the
10Th December, 1876, we are bound 10 guar
anty the eEeultality Of The isthmns OF Panama,
i through which the Panama railroad passes,
las well as the rights OF sovereignty and
property which New Grenada has aud pos
sesses over the said Territory" This ooli-
gallon is founded upcn equiealenls granted
i OF ihe United States.
4 Underthese circumstances, l. recommend
TO Congress the passage of an act authori.
zing the President, 10 case OF necessity, to
! employ the land and naval forces oil the Uni
ted States tocasry Into effect tits guarantees
4 OF neutrality and protection. ! also recon-
(. mend similar Legislation for the security Of
any other route across the slkmus in which
we may acquire an nleres, by treaty.
/ With the independent republic on this
continent u is both our duty and our interest
! TO cultivate the most friendly relations We
can never feel Indifferent 10 their fate, and
must alwaysFejoice in their prosperity. Un.
fortunately, bnih for them and for us, bur eS.
ample and advice have lost much of their in-
fiuence 10 consequence OF the law!ess eX.
peditions which have been fitted oui against
some oi them within the limits of our coun-
! Try. Nothing is better calculated 10 re,atd
our steady material PROCESS. or impair our
! character as nation, than ihe lolsralion of
1 such enterprises in violation OF The law ofna-
| tons
1t is one OF the first and highest duties OF
4 any independent State, in lis relations with
/ the members Of the grealiamily OF nations,
10 restrain lis people from acis OF hostile ag-
! Ssesslon against their citizens or subjects.
The most eminent writers on public law do
not hesitate TO denounce such hostile acts as
robbery and murder
Weak and feeble States like those Of Gen.
tral America, may not lee! themselves able
10 assert and vindicsle their rights. The
case would be far different If expeditions
We're set on fool within our own territories 10
make prlvale war against powerful nation.
II snch expeditions were fitted out from
aofoad against any portion OF our own couu-
Try, 10 burn down our cities, murder and
plunder our people, aud usurp our govern
menl, we should call any power on earth 10
the stticiest accoun, lorno, preventing such
enormi.ies
Ever since the administration OF General
Washington, acts of Congress have been in
force 10 punish severely the c.ima OF setting
on iooi a military expedition within the linn
It's OF the United States, TO proceed from
theace against ration or State with whom
we are at peace. The present neutrality act
, OF April 20lh, 1919, is but little more than a
collection oil pre- existing laws. Under this
act The President is empowered 10 employ
the land and naval force and militia "for the
purposs Of preventing the carrying on Of any
Each expedition or oAierhIise from iae terri-
tories and Jurisdiction Of The Unilod Sales,D
and the collectors of customs are authorized
and required to- detain any vessel in port
when there is reason to believe she is about
I 10 take part in such lawless enterprise
When il was first rendered probable that
an attempt would be made 10 get n3 another
unlawful expedition against Nicaragua, the
Secretary Of State issued instructions to The
marshas aud district attorneys, which were
directed by the Secretaries oil War and the
Navy TO lhe appropriate army end navy off.
GERS, requiring ihem 10 be vigilant, and TO
use their best exertions in carrying into effect
The provisions The act ol 1918. Notwih.
standing these precautions, Ihs expedition
has escaped from our shores. Such enter
prises can do no possible good 10 the eonn.
Try, 5ui have already inflicted much injury
both on lis Interests and It's character They
have prevented peaceful emigration from The
United States to the States OF Central Amer.
ica, which could not tail 10 prove highly
beneficial TO all the parties concerned. In
pecunisry point of view alone, our citizens
have sustained heavy losses from the seizure
and closiRg of the transit route by the San
Juan between the two oceans.
The leader Of the recent expedition was
arrested at New Orleans, but was discharged
on giving bail for his appearance in The in-
sufficient SUN of two Thousand dollars.
commend the whole subject 10 The sefi-
Gus attention of Congress, believing that our
duty and interest, as well as our national
character, require that we should adopt such
measures as will be effeclual in restraining
our citizens from committing such oulrages.
| regret 10 inform sou thatlhe President of
Paraguay has refused to ratify the treaty be-
tween the Unned Stales and that State as
amended by the Senate, the signature OF
which was mentioned in The message Of my
predecessor 10 Congress al the opening of It's
session in December, 1883 The reasons as. !
signed for this refusal will appear in the COT |
respondence herewith submiled. ~
Ii being desirable 10 ascertain the fitness
of the river La Plata and ia tributaries for
navigation BY steam, The United States stea-
ner Water Witch was sent thither for that
purposs 10 1883. This enterprise was sue. !
cessfnIly carried ON until February, 1855, I
when. whilst in The peaceful prosecution of
her voyage up the Pareua nver, the steamer
was fred upon by pafugnaysn fort. The
FIRE was returned, but as The Water Whch
was of small force, and moi designed fov oil. I
fensive operations she retired from The con-
ffic, The pre,eSt upon which The attack
was made was decree OF the President OF |
Paraguay of October, 1854, prohibiting fot-
eien vessels of war from navigating the fiv- [
ers of lhu, Stale. AS Paraguay, however,
was the owret OF bu, one bank of the river
or that name, the oIher belonging TO Corrien. !
les, a State os the Argentine Confederation,
lbe rish, oils government TO expect thai such |
decree would be obeyed cannot be acknow' !
edaed But the Water WITCH was not prop |
erly speaking vessel. of.war. She was a
small steamer engaged in scientific enter-
prise intended for the advantage Of CONNER
eial States generally, Under these cifcnn
stances, / am constrained 10 consider The at /
tack upon her as unjuslifiabie, and as calling !
Z for Satisfaction from The Parssuaypn gosefn-
ment. -. I. 49, -. sd
Citizens Of lbe Unilea States, also, who
were established In bHslness ia Paraguay
ha1a haa THAR pfonerlV seiyed end taken