Washington telegraph., 1858-12-22


tr.verse the route: but they insist that II shall
never hereafter be ciosci, by an arbitrary de-
r-ro az ,bat government. If disputes arise be-
tween II tand those with whom they may have
entered into contracts, these mustbe adjusted
~ s,r,, f,ir tribunal provided for the purpose.
and the rautc must no. be closed pcnding the
contfexcrsy This Is our whole policy. and IL
c,nuot fail to lie acceptable to other nations
An those Difficulties might be avoided. IL.
with the good faith of Nicaragua the
,,.o f tlis transit could he thrown open 90 gem
or.i CONNIE ! ton providing at the saRc time
for the pavuaent of a reasonable rate tn tbc Mic
arauua government on passengers and freight.
II An-,st. is53. the Accessory Transit Com
NAM made It's first interoceanic trip over the
Nirsraeuan route. and continued in successful
,,,,,y-,,ioa with great advantage to the public.
nnti The 18th February, 1856, when it was
closed. and the grant to this company. well
as its charter, we're summarily and arbitrarily.
revoked BY the government of President Eras.
Previous to this date, however, in 1851, serious
disputes concerning the settlement Of their ac-
counts. had arisen between the company and
the government, threatening the interruption
of the route at any moment These the United
States in vain endeayorei 10 compose. 1t would
be useless to narrate the various proceedings
which took place between the parties, up tall
the time when the transit was discontinued.
Suffice il t. say that since February. 1S54
Of citizens Of the United States. Since that
time the competition has ceased between the
rival routes of Panama and Nicaragua. aud. in
consequence thereof. an unjust snl unreasoJ.-
able amount has been cIactel from our citizeus
for their passage To AMI from, California
A treaty was signed on the 18th Of November.
ES57. lyv the Secretary ot state and Nj Ii~!cr uf
Nicaragua under tn, stipulatioas If which The
use and protection of the transit route vNgld
have bcen secured not only to the l nijesi States
but equally 10 all nations. How aud on what
pretcxis this treaty has failed 50 receive tn. ra;i-
ficatioa Of the NicaTagua1 government. will ap-
pear by the papers herewith communicated from
the State p partmcut. The priHcipal Objection
seems to have hccn to the provision authorizing
the United States "a employ fore" To keep the
route open. in case Nicaragua should fail to per
form her duty in this respect From the feeble
ness Of that republic. its freqaeut changes of
government. and it, constant internal dss.il~ions
this had become most important stipulation.
and oae essentially necessary not oaly for the -
curitv ftha sGlth but for tire safety Of American
citiEras passing and rcpassing to and from Our
pacific possessions. Wcrc such stjpuiations en-
braced in treaty between the United States and
Nicaragua the knowled- g Of this would Of itself
most probably prevent hostile parties tIom com
mitting aglrs>-ion- on the route and render our
actual Interference for its protection unlrcssssl-
~.
The executive GOV, rlmslt o: this country. in
the employ Of diplomacy alo r.. When this
fails il proceed no further. It ctano, leeiti-
mltcly resort to force without the direct author
iiy % Congress. except in resisting and repelling
hostile attacks. II would have No authority to
enter the territories of Nicaragua even to pre-
vent the distinction Of the transit. and protect
the Ewes and property of our own citizens on
their own If1s-lg,- II IS true. that 81 sgIticu
emergency OF this character. the President would
diTcc; an arm Z force ia the vicinity to march
to their relief; bat in doing this h. would act
upon hiS own responsibility.
Un'inr these circumstances casuc>tly rccnm-
m nd to Congress. tine passage Of an act author
iziRg the I'r -sidrut. under such restrictions d
they may deem proper. to employ the land and
naval forces OF the United states in preventing
the transit from being oliStruct Il or closed by
lAgless violence, and in protecting the lives and
property nf American citizens travelling there
upel. requiring 1t the same time ilAi these for
CO. shall b. withdrawn the moment the danger
skAil have pe~sed away. Without such n Prov
sion. oar eitiz .ns will hc constantly exposed o.
interruption in their prosrcs, and to laWl-s vio-
y sssssrT Irzy=-sJ, s.s.-r, Igs tssg I.f~-.,s -
such an act for the protection Of tie Panama
and Tchuantepcc routes.
In reference to the Panama FoItr. the United
States. by their existing treaty with New Gran4-
da. expressly guarantees tn neutrality or tllc
I-thmIs. with tlis view that the FREE transit
from the one to the other sla may not b. inter
ruptci or embarrassed n any futiIrc time while
this treaty exists.
Ia regard 10 the Teliuantepec roItc which las
been recently opened uudcr the most favorable
auspces. our treaty with Mexico Of the S1;h Do
cemter 1853. secures to the cit keus OF the [ al
ted States right oI transit over II for tAcir per
Foas ana merchandise, and -ilpuates that neither
government shall ~iuterpJsc any obstacle there
To- 1t also eonced = to the United States iht
fright 10 transport across the i-tmIS. in clo>rl
bags. tic mails of the United State not int md
el for distribution along the line OF the evmTnu
nication: also. the effects Of TIL United STATES
Government and its citizens which may b. Ia
eeaded for transit; and not Tor distribution on
the i=tamus. free OF cu-tom-huu-c "r other char
gcs by tic Mexican government.
These tFeaty stipulalions with New Grana,ll
ana Ncx!se, in addition TO the considerations sJ-
plicable ts tie Nicaragua route. seem To rsiHir
legislation for the purpose Of carrying them into
eject
The injuries which have been inlict i upon
c!tz ~ in Costa Bca and Nicaragua. during the
last two three years have received the prompt
attention Of this government Some Of thee. in
jurics were OF the most aggravated charact r.
The transaction at Virgin Bay in April. lsj6,
when a company If unarmcd Americans. who
were in no way connected with any belliscrrnt
conduct OF party. were fired upon by Ia. troops
Of Costa Rica, and numbers Of them killed aud
wounded. was brought to the knowlcd-sr of Con
grs-s by my predecessor soon alter it, occur
OF Costa Rica for that immsd diate invest -;stloa
and redress which the nature OF tine demand
cd. \ similar course was pursued with rel.r-
exec 20 other outrage in these countries, some
OF which were hardly less aggravated in their
character than the transaction at Nir-sia Bay.
At the sIme time. however. when orr present
minister to Nicaragua was appointed. in Dee M
bcr last. Is-J7, redress had been obtained ior
any Of these wrongs. ard no rePly even hal been
tnads hy this government upon that 81 Costa
SHEA. moro than ycs,T before. Our minister
yas instructed. therefore. to lo-e no time in cN-
pressing To those governments the deep regret
with which the Pr'-dent had witnessed this in
attention To the Just claims of the United State.
and IN demanding their prompt and satisfactory
adjustment.
Unless this demand shall bc complied with at
an early day. It will only remain for this govern
ment 10 adopt snch other measures may b.
necessary in order to obtain justice for itself that
justice which il has in vain attempt-d to secure
- peaceful means. from the governments OF Mic
.aTagna and Costa Rica While it has shown and