Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-10


! Well founded apprchensiOn' are now en-.
tertained, that the Indians and wandering
Mencans equally lawless, may break mp
the important stage and postal oommuniea.
ton recently established between our At
lantic and Pacific possessions. This passes
very near TO the Mexican boundary, through
out the whole length Of Arizona. | can
imagine no possible remedy Tor these evils,
aud no mode Of restoring law and order on
tina, remote and unsettled frontier, but for
the government of the United States to as
sumo temporary proteetorate over The
northern portions of chihuahua aud Sono-
"a, and To establish military posts within
the same and this is earnestly recommend.
. ed to Congress. This protection may bo
withdrawn, NJ soon as local governments
shall be established In these Mexican states,
capable Of performing their duties % the
United States. restraining the lawless and
preserving peace along the border.
do not Doubt that this measure will he
viewed in u friendly spirit by the govern
men,s and people Of chihuahua and Sono.
"a, AS IL will prove equally checual Tor the
protect ion 81 their citizens on that remote
aud lawless frontier, as for citizens Of the
United States.
And in this connection permit mo 10 re-
call your attention 10 the condition OF Ari-
ronia. The population OF that territory.
numbering a. Is alleged, more than ten
thousand souls. arc practically without a
government, without laws, and without
any regular administration of justice. Muir
der AMI other crimes are committed with
/. impunity. This state Of things calls loudly
for redress and I. therefore. repeat my
recommendation Cor the establishment VI q
territorial government over Arironis.
The political condition Of the narrow
is,hmus Of Central America. through which
transit routes pass, between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. presents subject OF
deep interest 10 all commercial nations. IL
Is over these trinsits that a large proper.
ton Of the trade and travel between the
European aud Asiatic continents j. destined
g. pass. To the United States these routes
are of incalculahle importance, a. a means
of communication between their Atlantic
and Pacific possessions. Tho latter now e1'
tend throughout seventeen degrees Of lhti.
tudc on The Pacific coast. embracing the
important State oi California and the four
lshing Territories OF Oregon and Washing.
ton. All COMMERCIAL nations. therefore,
hauo a deep and direct interest that these
communications shall ~ rendered secure
FROM interruption. lf an arm Of the s,a,
connecting the two oceans, penetrated thro'
Nicaragua and Costa RIea. It could not be
pretended that these States would have the
right TO arrest or rciard its navigation, 10
the injury u other nations. The transit
by land over this narrow islhmus occupies
nearly the same position. IL isa highway
in which they themselves have little inter.
cst, when compared with the vast interests
OF the rec, ot the world.
Whilst their rights Of sovereignty ought
10 h. respected. u ~ the duty Of other ma
tions 10 require that this important passage
shall not BE- interrupted by tho civil wars
and revolutionary outbreaks which have -
frequently occurred in that region. The
stake too important 20 he LETT at the mtr.
cy of rival companies. claiming 10 hold
conflicting contracts with Nicaragua. The
commerce Of other nations - not 81 stand
still and await the adjustment OF such petty
controversies. The government Of the Unit
cd States expect no more than this, and
they will not be satisfied with less. They
would not, IL they could, derive any adj
vantage from the Nicaragua transit, not
common 90 the rest oi the world. lts neu-
irali:y and protection, for tho common Use
of all nations, j. their only object. They
have no objection that Nicaragua 'hall de-
mand and receive a lair compensation from
the companies aud individuals who may
traverse the rouic but they insist that IL
shall never hereafter be- closed by an arbl'
,rary decree Of that government. II dis
rutcs arse between u and those with whom
they may have entered into contracts, the-'
must be- al usicd by some fair tribunal pro.
yided Tor the purpose, and the route must
not BE- closed pending the controversy -
} This il our whole policy. and It cannot fail
TO b. acceptable to other nations.
All these difficulties might BE- avoided IL,
consistent with the good faith Of NicAa-
qua, the use Of this transit could he thrown
} open 10 general competition providing nj
the same time Tor the payment OF reason
able rate to the Nicaragua government on
passengers aud freight.
In August. 1859, tho Accessory Transit
Company made It's first Intcr-oceanic trip
over the Nicaracuan route, and continued
in successful operation. with great adVan-
tage ,o the public, until the 18th Of Febru-
airy, 1856, when 10 WIS closed. aud the
grant 10 this company. as well as it, char.
TER. were .ummarily and arbitrarily revoked
ny the government Of President Nyas.-
Previous to this date. however, in 1854, Sc
rious disputes concerning the settlement OF
their accounts had arisen between the CON-
Iany and the government, threatening the
interruption of the route ne any moment.
Tho-e the United State endeayOred IN vain
to compose. IL would be useless TO narraic
the various proceedings which took place
between the parties up tiIl the time when
the Transit was Discontinued. Suffice IL 10
say that. since February, lsj6, u has r..
NAMED closed, greatly 10 the prejudice OF
citizens OF the United States. Since that
time. the competition has ceased between
| the rival routes of Panama and Nicaragua,
! and. In consequence thereof, an unjust and
unreasonable amount has been exacted from
our citizens for their passage TO and from
| California.
! 4 trraiy was signed ON the 10th day OF
Nov, 1857. by the Secretary Of State and
Minister Of Nicaragua. under the stipula-
tions Of which the use aud protection of the
I Transit route would have been secured. not
only % the United States, but equally 10 all
other nations. How and on what pretcxt
this treaty has failed To receive the ratifca-
ton of the Nicanguan government will APP
pear by the papers herewith communicated
IRON the State department. The principal
objection seems 10 have bccn TO the provision
authorizing the United States To employ
ploy force TO keep the route open, in ease
Nicaragua should fail TO perform her duty
/ in this respect From the iccbleness Of that