Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-06-30
The President and Costa Rlca

The Washington correspondent OF the
New York Times, under date Of June 1 9th,
communicates the following information
relative to the policy Of Mr.. BuchananS
Administration in regard to Costa Rica,
and Central America. twill be seen that
fllibustcring is TO be nationalzed, and the
Ostend Manifesto carried out:
The President has taken decided stand
in regard to the interference of Costa Rica
with the Nicaraguan Transit. and has de-
clared that her claims 10 the Transit, wheth-
er founded upon conquest or disputed
boundary, shall not be admitted. This is
bold determination, and implies All en-
tirely new policy on the part of the Gov
ernment--tO- wit: the assumption of n di'
rect control over the Central American
States and their affairs.
1t is a declaration of the very policy
which, it had been supposed Mr.. Buchanan
would have most especially avoided.
The Champion Webster treaty negotiated
under Mr.. Fillmore's administration, and
the principle of which wac approved by
Mr.. Webster's successor, Mr.. Everett, pro-
posed to settle the boundary dispute be-
tween Costa Rica and Nicaragua on terms
favorable to the former State, and Nicar-
auga rejected them for that reason The
protests of the Nicaraguan minister against
the acknowledgment of the claims of Costa
Rica were always very earnest. That trea-
ty project was generally censured by the
Democratic opposition, and upon the
ground that it interfered with the local af-
fairs and disputes of tie Central American
States.
The President takes the ground Of Mr..
Marcoleta against Costa Rica, but differs
from the position Of the Democratic party
upon the question of intervention. He de-
cides in favor of taking part in the con-
test between the two States, but decides to
trke part with Nicaragua and against Costa
Rica in this instance. Other cases may
arise, in which the President for the time
being, il this principle be admitted and es-
tablished, may decide upon other ques ions
between these two parties.
Mr.. Buchanan decision in this case in
wolves another point of importance The
late Administration looked quietly on,
when the Nicaraugan transit was INTERRUPT
led in various ways, and refused to take
any steps to restore it. Mr.. Buchanan, on
the contrary, declares that Costa Rica shall
not block it up, and, of course, this in
wolves n decision that it shall not be again
suspended by any other power, orany other
war.
Still, again, another important point is
established by Mr., Buchanan's declaration,
to- wit: n general surveillance over the
transit independently Of the Clayton Bul
wer trea v and ofany other interest of any
other power in the Isthmus. Thus, |
England should happen to take different
view, atany time, Of this OF any other mat
ter of controversy relative 10 The transl
between Costa Rica and Nicaragua ant
should take part with Costa Rica in the
question, there will arise, necessarily,
quarrel between Great Britain and the Uni
ted States.
The declaration which | have alluded t.
is vastly more important, because more dl
rect and practical than anything that cal
be found in Mr. Buchanan's Inaugural
is tantamount 10 declaration OF an eXclu
sive protecLoraGe. or rather dictatorship
over the Central American States.
One effect of the decision is to inyov
the United States in the war of Gen. Walk
ker, who claims to be the legal and legiti
mate Executive of Nicaragua. HpromtS'
him tie potent aid of tie United States
against Co Ia Rica. y. \. L'