Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-08

cannot fail to be acceptable to other nations.
Au these difficulties might be avoided il, consist
emily with the good faith of Nicaragua, The use Of
this traAsit could be thrown open to general COM
petition; providing at the same time for the pay
ment OF reasonable rate TO the Niearaguan gov
ernment on passengers and freight
] In August, 1852, the Access ~ Transit COmpa-
ny made its hrst inter oceanic ri over the Nicar
aguan route, and continued in essfu operation,
with great advantage to the pi b until the 18th Of
February, 1856, when it was tloed, and the grant
to this company, as well as IFS iarter, were sum
marily and arbitrarily revok, oy the government
of President Ryas PreviOI s t this date, hOwev
err in 1854 serious disputes CO lcernng the settle
ment of their accounts had al Sc between the COM
pany and the government, threatening the Interrupt
tiOn Of the route at any moment These the u
States in vain attempted to compose. It would be
useless to narrate the various proceedings which
took place between the parties up to the time when
the transit was iii sconnued. Suffice it 10 say, that
since February, 1856, it has remained closed, much
to the prejudice Of citizens OF the u States Since
that time the competition has ceased between the
rival routes OF Panama and Nicaragua, and, in con
sequence thereof, an unjust and unreasonable
amount has been exscted from our citizens for
their passage to and from California
/ 4 treaty was agreed tOOn the l6th'day Of NOyem-
Der, 1857, by the Secretary Of State and Minis er
of Nicaragua, IN ier the stipulatOns of which the
use and protection of the transit route would have
/ been secured not only to the United Ssate=, but
equally to all other nations. How and on what
pretext this treaty has failed TO receive the rstiea
ton Of the Nicarlguan government, viii appear By
/ the papers herewith communicated from the State
/ Department. The principal objection seems to
have been to the provision authorizing the United
States to employ force to keep the route open, in
case Nicaragua should fail to perform her duty in
this respect From the feebleness of that republic,
its frequent changes of government, and its con-
slant internal dlsSenslon5, tll5 had become most
important stipulation, and one essentially necessary
/ nIv fha itv of he bUf far
safety of American citizens passing and repassing
to and from our Pacific possessions. Were such
a stipulation embraced in 4 treaty between the
United States and Nicaragua, the knowledge Of
This fact would Of itself most probably prevent hos
tile parties from committing aggres=ions on the
route, and render actual interference for their
protection unnecessary.
The executive government Of this country, in
its intercourse with foreign nations is limited to
the employment Of diplomacy alone When this
fails it can 90 no farther 1t cannot legitimate
| ly resort to force without the direct authority
OF Congress except in resisting and repelling
hostile attacks. 1t would have no authority to
enter the territories of Nicaragua even TO pre-
vent the destruction of the transit, and protect
the lives and property of our citizens on their
passage. 1t is true that Oh a sudden emergency
of this character, the President would direct
any armed force in the vicinity to march to their
relief, but in doing this he would be acting
his own responsibility
Under these circumstances, earnestly re-
commend to Congress the passage of an act
authorizing the President, under such restric-
lions as they may deem proper, to employ the
land and naval forces of the United States in
preventing the transit from being obstrueted or
closed by lawless violence, and in protecting
the lives and properties of American citizens
travelling thereuPon, requiring at the same time
/ IL ~ L n -
ment the danger shall have passed away. With
out such a provision, our citizens will be con-
stantly exposed to interruption in their progress
and to lawless violence.
l similar necessity exists for the passage of
such an act, for the protection of the Panama
and Tehuantepec routes.
In reference to the Panama route, the United
States, by the existing treaty with New Grana-
da, expressly guarantee the neutrality Of the
Isthmus, with the view that the free transit
from the one to the other sea may not be inter-
rupted or embarrassed In any future time while
the treaty exists"
In regard 10 the Tehuantepec route, which
has been recently opened under the most favor
able auspices, our treaty with Mexico of the
Both December, 1853, secures to the citizens of
the United States the right of transit over it
for their persons and merchandise, and stipulates
obstacle thereto 1t also comedies to the Uni
ted States the right to transport across the
Isthmus in closed bags, the mails of the United
States not designed for distribution along the
line of the communication; also the effects OF
the United States government and its citizens
: which may be intended for transit, and not fOl
f distribution on the Isthmus, free of Custom
House or other charges by the Mexican govern
t, | fibsse treaty sfi1Uisffr,
and Mexico, in addition to the considerations
J applicable to the Nicaragua route, seem to re-
quire legislation for the purpose of carrying
them into effect.
The injuries which have been inflicted upon
our citizens in Costa Rica and Nicaragua during
. the last two or three years, have received the
prompt attention of this government. Some o.
: these injuries were of the most aggravated cha
t racter. The transaction at Virgin Bay in April
1856, when company Of unarmed Americans
, who were in no way connected with any bellig-
erent conduct or party, were fired upon by the
3 troops of Costa Riea, and numbers of them kill
ed and wounded, was brought to the knowledge
of Congress by my predecessor soon after it:
D occurrence, and was also presented to the gov
Q ernment of Costa Riea, for that immediate in
g vestigation and redress which the nature of th'
? case demanded. A similar course was pursued
with reference to other outrages in these coun
] tries some Of which were hardly less aggrava-
7 ted in their character than the transaction al
, Virgin Bay. AT the time, however, when Oul
{; lpresent Minister to Nicacaragua was appointed,
. in December, 1857, no redress had been obtain
S ed for any of these wrongs, and no reply ever
c had been received to the demands which haC
: been made by this government upon that Of Cos
: ta Rica, more than year before. Our Minister
was instructed, therefore, to lose no time in ex'
= pressing to those governments the deep regre
4 with which the President had witnessed this In
i attention to the just claims ofthe United States
+ and in demanding their prompt and satisfactory
a adjustment Unless this demand shall be com
Piled with at an early day it will only remain
for this government to adopt such other meas
I ures as may be necessary, in order to obtain fol
itself that justice which it has in vain attempted
to secure by peaceful means, from the govern
i ments of Nicaragua and Costa Riea. While j
has shown, and will continue to show, the mos
sincere regard for the rights and honor Of thes'
L republics, it cannot permit this regard to be me-
y by an utter neglect, on their part, of what i
4 due to the government and citizens ofthe United
Il States.
Against New Granada we have long standing
Is causes Of complaint arising out Of the unsatiste
it claims Of our citizens upon that republic; and {
&c these have been more recently added the outrage
% committed upon our citizens at Panama in April
3 1856. A treaty for the adjustment Of these diff
=, culties, was concluded by the Secretary Of Stat
: and the Minister of New Granada, in September
= 1857, which contained just and acceptable pro
= visions for that purpose. This treaty was trans
: mitted to BogOta, and was ratified by the govern
/ .nent of New Granada, but with certain amend
{ ments. 1t was not, however, returned to thi
city until after the close of the last session Of Ii
Of Senate. Il will be Immediately transmitted {
r that body for their advice and consent; an
s. should this be obtained, it will remove all ex
at isting causes Of complaint against New Granad
re on the subject of claims.
n- Questions have arisen between the two govern
ii ments as to the rights Of New Granada to levy
: | Anrnnra dntu unnn fha vassals of iha Unita