Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-12-18

which China cannot long be permitted t
withhold. From assurances received | en-
tcrtaln no doubt that the three ministers vii
act IN harmonious concert to obtain simla
commercial treaties for each of the power
they represent.
THE DIFFICULTIES WITH NEW GRENADA.
We cannot fail to feel a deep interest /,
all that concerns the welfare of the indepen
dent republics on our own continent, u
well as the empire of Brazil
Our difficulties with New Granada
which a short time since bore So threaten
ing an aspect are, it is to be hoped in ftir
train of settlement in manner Just and
honorable to both parties.
! The lstllmus of Central America, includ-
ing that Of Panama, is the great highway
+ between the Atlantic and Pacific, over which
a large portion of the commerce of the world
is destined to pass. The United States are
more deeply interested than any other
nation IN preserving the freedom and sccur-
ity OF all the communications across this
lsthlnus. 1t is our duty, therefore, to take
care that they shall not he interrupted,
either by inyaions from our own country
or by wirs between the Independent States
Of Central America. Under our treaty
r,
1916, VIC are bound to guarantee the
neutrality OF the lsthmus of Panama,
through which the Panama railroad passes,
.as well a. the rights of sovereignty and
property which New Granada has and
possesses over the said Terri .ory." This
obligation IS founded upon equivalents
granted by the treaty to the government and
people of the United States.
Under theS' circumstances ! recommend to
Congress the passage of an act authorizing the
President, N case Of necessity. to employ the
land and naval forces of the United States,
to carry into effect thus guaranty of neutrality
and protection. I also recommend similar
legislation for the safety Of any other route
across the isthmus IN which VIC may acquire
an interest by treaty.
With the independent republics on this
continent it is both our duty and our interest
to cultivate The most friendly relations. We
can never tel indifferent to their fate, and
must always rejoice in their prosperity. I'm
fortunately, both for them and for us. our
example and advice have lost mach Of their
influence n con.cquefce of he law lcss eype-
ditipns which have been fitted cut n-ainst
some of thtm within the limits of our cour-
try. Nothing is better calculated to retard
cur steady material progress, or iIapair cur
character as Il nation, than the tol ration of
such enterprises in violation of the law of
nations
1t Is one Of the first and highest duties Of
any ndep,ndent STATE, in its relations with
the members Of the great family of nations,
10 restrain its pe PIE from acts Of hostile az
erosion against their citizens or subjects
The most eminent writer's on public law do
not hesitate - drn3anea such hostile acts us
robbery AMI murder.
Weak and frahlc States, like those of Gem
trll America, may n5t fanl themselves able
/ assert and yindicate their rights. The
case would be far diff rent if expeditions We're
st on foot within our own territori,s make
private war against Il powerful nation. If
such expeditions Wereiittrl out abrDadagainst
any portion of our own country, t. burn
down oar cities, murder and plumber or
P'ppla, and usurp our pyrrnm2nt. we should
call any power ON earth t. the strictc-t ac-
count tpr not preventing such cnormiti's
Ever since the Administration of General
Washington, acts of Congress haye boon in
loicc to punish severely the crime Of setting
ON foot military expedition within the
limits ii taa United Stlta', t. proceed from
thence against "a ultipn or sttt3 with whom
w arr at peace. The Pros mt neutrality act
OF April %, ISIS, is but little more than a
collection OF pre-4Xiatins laws. Under this
act the President is empowered t. employ
the Land anl naval lprces, an the militia
''Ior tae p4rppSi Of preventing the carrying
on vi aay sc, expedition "r enterprise from
the territories and .iuris licti,n Of the United
Sttt's,' ami the collect 'rs Of customs are
anthoril ID aal required to detain any vessel
in port when thrr. is re,lsJn t. believe she is
ablut t. tlkc urt in sac. ltwless enter
pIls :.
When it was FIRST rend,rcd probable t'i4t
"A att nPt wDnld he M e t. get up another
unlawful expedition az inst Nicaragua, the
Secretary OF STATE issued instructions t. the
marSals and district attorneys, which We're
directed by the Secretlri $ # War and the
Navy, to the appropriate array and navy
officers, requiring them to BE- yigilant, and u
us, their 1'stcy 'rtIoas in carrying into effect
Che provisions Of the act Of 1878. Notwith
standing these precautions, the expedition
has escaped from our shores Such enter
prises etn ID n possible god to the country
but have already inflicted much injury both
ON its interests and its character. They have
pr vented peaceful emigration from the Unit
ed States u the states Of Central America,
which could not fail to prove highly b2nef-
eiIl to all the parties concerned In n pccu-
mary point OF view, alone, our citizens have
sustained heavy losses from seizure and clo
sin. 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 tor his appearance in the un-
sufficient sum OF two thousand dollars.
| commend the whole subject to the scri-
5us attention Of Congress, believing that our
duty and our interest, as well as our nation
al character, require that we should adopt
such measures as will be ch,etual in restrain
ing our citizens from committing such outra-
ges.
CAUSES OF COMPLAINT AGAINST PARAGUAY.
regret to inform you that the President
ot Paraguay has refused to ratiiy the treaty
between the United States and that State, as
am ended by the Senate, the signature OF
which WIS mentioned in the message of my
predecessor to Congress, at the opening OF
its s,ssi m in December. 1856. The reasons
assigned for this refusal will appear IN the
herewith submitted.
1t being desirable to ascertain the fitness
of the river Ia Plata and its tributaries for
navigation by steam, the United States steam
er Water Witch was sent thither for that pur
,,,a, in ISj2 This cntnrnrsn was succ ,ss- (