New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-01

p;.. - ,l Irr;,ad States In biz lest annual nt-
.sg % IN. g,nate and House Oh Representatives. d-
,irctiy recognized The eisence o. ~.
.ra.ya 40. wishing 10 receive any OF the dpicmaIc
"t 20, OF the two beDigerent parties, nor 70
I.p;de from their imperfect rePorts which was the
sctrol government From thai Tine no change ha7
len rlace 10 the afiars OF this State which can IN
~ ysv authorize my deviation from the line OF con
duct strictly imposed and directly and clearly used ty
the head Of NY Gov ernuleni.
During civil war in a foreign nation whose eA-
istence il aclnow edged by the Government OF me
United States !, remaining q: the same time neairai
the two parties are looked upon a. two Independent,
bcigerent powers and the Government OF ne United
State does not undertake. according 10 my ideas IN.
right 70 govern The hostile acts Of any Of the parties
when they are event. in the course OF war or directed
again,t the other. -
NV portion toward the parties engaged N c.Yil
war which in fact applies 10 this State - that ~
n.ntral and Il il imminen;y the duty of neutral not
TO lend aid 10 the party that il j. not equally ready
10 afford 10 The other.
How definite is this neutral position and how sacred
its obligations the South American RepGblcs have
had ample opportunities Of learning during the civil
wars which resulted in their separation from Spain
in the system adopted by the United States and En-
glard.
Moreover permit me 10 observe, il is a mistake 70
supIore that because the Government OF the United
States by law of Congress, has e1erted Itself 20
prevent recruiting fOr foreign service WITHIN the I.r-
ritory and jurisdiction Of the United States tnat 10Y
this reason the officers commanding national ships me-
cessarily have the same duties and exercise equal
faculties in the waters within the jursdcuonal limits
of foreign government; and moreover It must be as
clear for YOU for me, that had my government In
tended that his ship should take the active part that
YOU propose i'll the questions that al present disturb
the peace Of this country, IT would not have omitted
10 urnish me with the necessary instructions.
Having referred 10 the last annual message of the
President beg 10 call your special attention 10 the
great ineTe, which he expresses for the protection OF
the lives and properties Of citizens of tie United States
in Nicaragua His ", rds made Of with special
4 h., Tod ota 70 az md
absence If what he calls responsible government
cause employ NY best efforts 10 protect those
NV cOuntrynen who are not compromised N the war
The assurance YOU give OF the perfect security of the
property Of the Transit Company, OF its not receiving
any injury from the force under your command, meets
my most cordial thanks but the matter II OF 80 much
importance, and weighs ymind in such manner,
in consequence of recent events in which innocent
Tgnoronte) citizens Of the United States persisted,
that cannot permit any opportunity OF recurring to II
10 pass without awaiting myself OF II.
In reply to the last paragraph of your note have
the honor 10 saw in respect 10 the suspension OF the
communi, alton between the two that although
regret it, il is not matter included ID the limits OF
my instructions.
Further the notice of the blockade of this port has
excited my sincere surprise. You must know that
such notification without being accompanied by the
principal thing which is essentially necessary 10 render
il efectiveihat is the presence of competent naval
force at Or near the not constitute OF Itself
legal blockade.
In the present instance il is the more strange the
waters of this port are not only not in of your
force but are actually held by n ship belonging 10 the
opposite partythe schooner Granada But before en-
teing las hope it may be- useless discussion on
blOckades especially defined IN international law
law of nations and with which 1 presume your Ex-
cellcncy is better acquainted than am, permit TO ask
"a TO how far you claim the exercise of the rights OF
beigerents under the laws Of blockade, and how far
your operations extend to neutral vessels.
request you TO reply to this important question at
the earliest opportunity.
haze Tho ho or "a
want, CHARLES e. DAVIS,
Commander Of the United States ship ST Mays