Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-27
SIR WILLIAM GORE oUSELEY's MlSslo.

rr0iC tee Lo15on fos', v
TITO lsthrnus Of Panama, ono Of the mos. hnp sa
tant geographical positions in the "nr!c' Is 'He s.",
of five email States which, since thrir s9paF.''""
from Spain, have been subjected Ia every v'rise,nae
of revolutionary anarchy. At first They turInnu "e
federal republic, with constitutions modelled ai'ei
that of the United States of America; but IN 'he
wear 1889 the confederation was dissolved. anu s"n7
that period Honduras, San Salvador, NicaraEun
Costa Rica and New Granada have existed ss rep
rate and independent Stales. Constant d'he,en1 !.
and wars have, however, prevailed amoncs. ans = :"
mily of republics, and as q necessary cohSed"e
the progress of domestic improvement mas oeeI :"
rested, trade has languished, and the creole anu II"
tive inhabitants Of Central America can so",.o
ly be said to have derived any appreciate uyan.aSoS
from the enjoyment Of freedom and Independents.
But since the discovery Of gold in California the pso
pie of the United States, who In every aenSe arc W.
ious to tread a .royal road to wealth, have iurneu
from the long sea voyage oftweniy-oiie' housa" aonksd
round Cape Horn, and in multltudes nave ooA
aoross the isthmus to obtain Inc snor'es. ~ tha;r
est access to the new Eldorado. First, through Ine,l
agency the Panama Railroad wac constructed VINCE
low CONVEYS three thousand passengers per ihoh'i
from ocean to ocean, although the line passes tnreus"
a most unhealthy country, and the aulhoritlee :,
State are totally unable to preserve peace ana qu,el
amongst the Indian population, or amongst the horaes
of armed adventures who avail themselves OF the Ia
cilities afforded by this route. Other plans nave oeeu
proposed for the formation OF a ship canal more ~
the north, from Port Cabalos TO the Bay OF Fonseca'
AND w "A n9nHVE lUdl ok bbO Wv
American company has commenced the great WORK OF
opening a direct and convenient water cotnWunica'
ton betwees the Atlantic and the Paclhc. lit 10
mot n wafer communication, but q railroad that 10
now being constructed. ED. HERALD pu. VIM"
private enterprise and private capital have been I'll.
rectsd in the way we have mentioned me great
commercial powers of the world have recognized the
expediency of securing the neutrality OF every inter
oceanic communication which has been, or may
hereafter 10 Central America be opened for tns
~. D,1u,ar (Vaytnn Convention w66 q lew
wears ago concluded; but as the contracting parties
Great Britain and the United S~tates-have hitherto
failed i'm putting a harmonious construction upon no
provisions, further negotiations are now ABOUT 10 DC
commenced by Sir W.. Oussley, who mas re9ently
besn despatched from this country on q special mis-
sion TO the Cabinet at Washington. In the mean
lime, various questions have arisen which have
greatly complicated what is termed the Central
American question. The protectorate exercised
by England over the Mosquito territory-the ces-
sion of the Bay Islands 10 Honduras-the at
tempted acquisition by the United States OF I1gre
Island-tbe pirstical expedition of the hlliouster
Walker, and the bombardment OF Greytown' are Ill
matters which within the last few years, have ocou.
pied the attention and embarrassed the diplomacy OF
the English and the United States governments
Those who are acquainted with the utter weakness
internal discussions of the Central American
States know that the aid Of 6libusters has been IN
voked equally by every party that has been deslrous
of obtaining n temporary TRIUMPH ana tnat conlu,
RiOn Ill lhN AOSh -" tNS
the great powers of the world compel the enforcement
that system or international police which is neces
to secure peace and settled government in States
have proved that they have not the inclination
nr tbs ability TO strengthen and sustain themselves.
The Central American Creoles-for We say nothing
of the mixed race constituting the Indian and negro
population-are not only totally unified. by want OF
energy and by want of knowledge and public spirit,
10 develope the material resources OF the rich coun-
which they iuhabit, but they are influenced by
petty rivalries aud iealousies which prevent the con-
,plidation OF anything like a firm and efficient form OF
Government. The President Of 10 day is to morrow a
ngitive-Dot only is State arrayed against state, but
,ty against city; in short, fesbleness, insecurity, civil
aud the intervention OF foreign hlibusters may
os said to constitute features Of the normal condition
Vt the Central American republics. In this state Ut
hugs it cannot be deuied that England and the
United Ststes have a paramount interest IN the future
aud future good government OF the States
occupying the lsthmus. The United States govern
neut at the present time appears to be not only dis
posed, but able to prevent any renewed attempt Oh the
part Of Gen. Walker. BY q little mutual concession
difficulties as to the construction of the Bul~er Clay.
on Convention may, we are persuaded, be easily re-
moved. England and the United States, by grant.
ny the neutrality Of the route, by disclaining all de-
ire to exercise exclusive control or dominion, by
protecting the Central American States from the in.
.ursions of piratical adventures, may, Wa are con
'inced, now supply the basis Of an arrangement
which will be equally honorable to both, and at the
ame tins be highly beneficial to the INNER of
he world, aud to those countries whose benefit and
il, would 80 essentially tend to secure and