The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-26


FARs.-we have received another ray of light
on the entangled skein of Nicaragua Transit az
fairs A gentleman from Central America, in
letter which We published on Friday, tells us
that Joe Whites grant for the Transit route,
which was supposed to be the basis of the Cass-
YrisarH treaty, expired on the 3Oth of June
last, and that both grant and treaty fell togo
Their. We do not know how true this latter as
sertion may be, for there is hitch In this last
Joe White contract about the construction of a
railroad from Lake Nicaragua to the Pacific,
which is not 80 very clear. It was pub
licly announced some time since that be sent
down Mr.. Fitzgerald to construct the road
and, 40 far as we can learn, he is at work doing
something in Nicaragua Upon the interpre-
tation Of this stipulation may depend the ex-
istence or the relapse Of the White contract
The late much trumpeted proceedings ofCom-
modore Vanderbilt, in sending down hi son-in-
law (Allen) with one hundred thousand dollars
open the route in ninety days, has also been ex-
planned to US II seems that the famous nego-
tiator, Mr.. Webster, purchased of some of the
governments down there the existing Transit
steamers, and to pay for them drew drafts on
Commodore Vanderbilt The Commodore did
not see fit to honor them, and they were, accord
ingly, returned to Central America under pro-
test. As be became afterwards assured that the
Joe White contract would lapse on the 3Oth of
June, he sent Mr.. Allen and the money down to
Nicaragua fer the purpose of paying those
drafts and accepting the boats, but with the ex-
press condition that with them he should re-
cieve an exclusive grant Of the Transit route. II
now remains to be seen whether the hundred
thousand dollars will bring the boats and the
grant into the possession of the Commodore.
There is in all there proceedings relative to
the Transit steamers in Nicaragua something
that lie not very comprehensive. These boats
were the private property Of an American CON-
pany General Walker confscated them and
sold them to Morgan a. Garrison. They were
subsequently captured by the Costa Rican gov
eminent, assisted BY the "house of Vanderbilt"
All OF General Walkers acts have been declared
void by the government Of Nicaragua on the
ground that his was uurping government.
We do not conceive that these steamers were
good prizes Of war, and II would seem that there
is good ground for u claim for their restitution
TO the Nicaragua Accessory Transit Company.
Have the rights Of this company been com
pletely overrlaughed In the selfish contests of
some Of ia former members 10 obtain mono
poly of the Nicaragua transit? We suspect
there is yet niger in the fence iu relation
10 this subject.
The telfsh squabbles of these Transit route
commodores have lost TO themselves a most
profitable enterprise ami deprived the country
for two years Of one Of its most important
routes Of travel II is now time that the gov.
crnment should cut itself loose from these mo-
nopolizlng interests, and by The adoption Of
firm policy In our Central American relations
open field there for new interests and enter.
prises by new men. The conduct Of the Moros.
the Martinezes, and Rivases, of Central America
has been Just as selfish and avaricious in this
matter as has been that Of our steamboat COM
modores A firm attitude towards them ia inst
az necessary o. II is towards the Transit route
spectators here. They have given us ample
occasion, and, indeed, have forced our govern
ment into the petition of taking some such
step, by their mendacious declaration appended
10 the Belly grant.