White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-30

I zed by the law OF Nations, not only {
: Just in itself, but as means of prevent
ing actual war.
D But there is another view of our rcls
tions with Mexico, arising from the Ut
happy condition of affairs along our south
western frontier, which demands imrnedi
, ate action. In that resnste region, wher
2 there are but few white inhabitants, larg
: bands of hostile and predatory Indian
: roam promiscuously over the Mexica
, States of Chihuahua and Sonora, ant
our adjoining Territories. The local gov
/ ernments of these States are perfect,
; helpless, and are kept in a state Of con
slant alarm by the Indians. They hav
not the power, if they possessed the will
! even to restrain lawless Mexicans iron
passing the border and committing dep
relations on our remote settlers. A stat
of anarchy and violence prevails through
out that distant frontier. The laws are
dead letter, and life and property ar
wholly insecure. For this reason the set
Element of Arizona is arrested, whilst j
is of great importance that a chain o
inhabitants should extend ali along it
southern border, sufficient for their owl
protection and that of the United State
mail passing to and from California
Well-founded apprehensions are now en-
tertained. that the Indians, and wander
ing Mexicans equally lawless, may breal
up the important stage and postal com
munication recently established between
our Atlantic and Pacific possessions
This passes very near to the Mexican bouh
dairy throughout the whole length of Ar.
iona. l can imagine no possible remedy
for these evils, and no mode of restoring
law and order on that remote unsettled
frontier, but for the government of the
United States to assume a temporary pro
tectorate over the northern portions o
chihuahua and Sonora, and to establish
military post within the same and this
earnestly recommend to Congress. This
protection may be withdrawn as soon as
local governments shall be established in
those Mexican States, capable of perform
ing their duties to the United States, re.
straining the lawlcss and preserving peace
along the border.
l do not doubt that this measure will
be viewed in friendly spirit by the gov
eminent and people of Chihuahuaa and
Sonora, as it will prove equally effectual
for the protection of their citizens on that
remote, and lawless frontier, as for citizen:
Of the United States.
And in this connection, permit me to
recall your attention to the condition Of
Arizona The population Of that Terri
tory. numbering. as is alleged, more than
ten thousand souls, are practically without
a government, without laws, and without
any regular administration of justice.
Murder and other crimes are committed
with impunity. This state of things calls
loudly for redress and l, therefore, re-
peat my recommendation for the estab-
lishment of a Territorial Government
over Arizona.
The political condition of the narrow
Isthmus of Central America, through
which transit routes pass between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, presents a
subject of deep interest to all commercial
nations. 1t is over these transits, that a
large proportion of the trade and travel
between the European and Asiatic conti-
nents is destined to pass. To the United
States these routes are of incalculable i'm
portance, as a means of communication
between their Atlantic and Pacific pos
sessions. The latter now extend through
out seventeen degrees of latitude on the
Pacific coast, embracing the important
State of California, and the hourishing
Territories of Oregon and Washington.
All commercial nations, therefore, have
deep and direct interest. that these COM
munications shall be rendered secure from
Interruptions. II an arm of the sea, con-
Meeting the two oceans, penetrated through
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, it could not
be pretended that these States would have
the right to arrest or retard its naviga-
ton. to the injury of other nations. The
transit by land over this narrow isthmus,
occupies nearly the same position. 1t is
highway in which they themselves have
little interest, when compared with the
vast interest of the rest of the world.
Whilst their rights of sovereignty ought
to be respected, it is the duty of other ma
tions to require that this important pas
sage shall not be interrupted. by the civil
wars and revolutionary outbreaks which
have so frequently occurred in this region.
The stake is too important, to be left at
the mercy Of rival companies, claiming to
hold conflicting contracts with Nicaragua.
The commerce of other nations is not
to stard still and await the adjustment Of
such petty controversies. The govern
ment of the United States expects no
more than this, and they will not be sat
isfied with less. They would not, if they
could. derive any advantage from the Nj
caragua transit, not common to the rest
of the world. Its neutrality and protec-
ton for the common use of all nations, is
their only object. They have no obiec-
ton that Nicaragua shall demand and re-
ceiTe fair compensation from the COM
panies and individuals who may traverse
the route; but they insist that it shall
never hereafter be closed BY any arbitrary
decree of that government. II disputes
arise between It and those with whom
they have entered into contracts. these
must be adjusted by some fair tribunal
provided for the purpose. and the route
must not be closed pending the contro-
versy. This is our whole policy, and it
cannot fail to be acceptable to other ma.
tons.