The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-18

The Pending Questions with New Granada
Indemnity % the Panama Sufferers.
The message Of the Executive of New Granada,
and TIE report of the Secretary of State of that
republic to the annual Congress, full synopsis
of both Of which we published yesterday, give
US small ground to hope for a prompt and just
settlement of the claims Of our citizens for in
demnity for the outrsges committed on the 18th
of April last at Panama. Our special commits
Eoner Mr.. Morse, had arrived at BogOta, but
sufficient time had not elapsed, on the departure
of the mail, to afford room for more than the
prehminaries Of the negotiations. The message
of the President and the report of the Secretary,
however, give us Q complete view of the position
they assume in regard to the question: and shonl1
command the early and earnest attention of oar
government.
The questions Of tonnage dues and transit tax
upon the mails crossing the Isthmus of Panama
are of minor Importance, and can very easily b.
arranged by the process of negotiation which will
necessarily absorb some time. But the question
Of indemnity for the outrages committed al
Panama is another matter, and belongs to tina,
class of international questions where the facts
are clear and the responsibility self-evident De
lay therefore, in its adjustment becomes super
cilious triaing with u.s. and its admission on our
part weakens the security of our citizens AID the
respect in which our government should be held
abroad.
Neither the Executive nor the Secretary deny,
in direct terms, the responsibility of their govern
ment to indemnify for the losses experienced by
our citizens in the Panama riot; but, stimulated
by the system of special pleading which they
have adopted, the press of New Granada does
openly deny that they are responsible.
Awaiting themselves of the er parte, and, no
doubt, in some degree exaggerated report
of Mr.. Corwine, both the message and
the report of the New Granadian Secretary
enter upon REPUTATION of the testimony taken
by him, and against some of the facts which he
advances they produce very respectable testimony
But nothing which they advance weakens u
evident duty and obligation of New Granada TO
punish the criminals and indemnify the sufferers.
The first Of these points is tacitly conceded by
the Executive in stating that he gave the strict
est orders to proceed against those who might b.
guilty but we have yet to learn that these orders
have been acted upon in any way at Panama, or
that the first person has been arrested wherr
so many were implicated. 1t is not a suhi
Gent compliance with international duties to
issue orders to punish the violators Of the Law,
those orders must also be carried into execution.
Our government has not to inquire whether
this neglect proceeds from weakness or from an
indisposition to do right on the part of that o.
New Granada; the fact once ascertained, obligates
it to employ all its energy to defend the rights
our citizens
Much Obecurity has been thrown around these
questions with New Granada by the efforts OF
interested parties to involve the discussion OF
other questions which are not at all pertinent.
Under cover Of the excitement caused by the
Panama massacre the Panama Railroad Com
pany has not only endeavored to hide its own
culpability in neglecting to maintain police on
he road and plenipotentiary agent At Paua.
ma, but it has endeavored also TO obtain an in
crease Of its immunities and privileges through
the action of our government. These selfish at.
empts Of gigantic corporation should be re
sisted by the administration, and the attention of
the government directed theoretically to tn
defence Of the claims of the innocent passengers
who suffered by that unfortunate affair."
The present Minister has shown want of skill
in the management OF the question at issue, and
want of courtesy to the government to which
he was accredited, which could not be ignored
by the weak administration Of poor Pierce. He
adopted the halfway measure Of sending out a
special commissioner to act as q tutor t. Judge
Bovlin, and the result has been that which al
ways accompanies half way measures--nothing.
The rule which Mr. Buchanan has adopted 10
regard to the foreign missions and the exigencies
OF the case, both require the appointment of
new Minister to New Granada. Let some man
who is acquainted with the Spanish American
character, and who can at least understand
enough OF Spanish to enable him to hold social 10
tercourse with the people among whom be is sent,
be at once appointed and despatched upon his
misson. Let his Instructions be strong upon the
true points at issue, aud separating the whea'
from the chafl LET him demand at once recogni
ton AND settlement Of the just claims Of our
ctizers A new administration is about coming
into power in New Granada and everything lends
itself 10 an initiation Of the question de moro. Il
this is done at once there can be no doub. OF the
result
re- The telegraph yesterday announced two
forgeries, and another part of the paper disclosed
a defalcation in Brooklyn bank. These are