Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-11

tacks. Il would hs7e no authority ID enter the
territories Of Nicsagua, even 70 present DE de-
structou Of the transit and protect the lives and
property Of our own citizens on their passage. Il
IS true that on q certain emergency Of this ehaae
ter the President would direct any armed force in
the vicinity to march to their re!efi but in doing
this be would act upon his own responsibility.
Under these circumstances earnestly recommend
70 Congrsas The passage Of an authorizing tia
President, under such restrictions they may deem
proper, to employ the land and naval forces Of the
United States in preventing the transit from being
Obsruotsd closed BY lawless violence, and in pro-
tecting the lives and properly q American citizens
travelling thsrsupon, requiring the same time that
those forces shall be Withdrawn the moment the
danger shaIhays passed sway Withours such pro-
vision our citizens VIII be constantly exposed to in
tsEEupt0n II their progress and q lawlsss Yiolenee.
similar necessity exists for the passage Of such
an act for the protection Of the Panama and Te-
huantspeo routes.
In reference to the Panama route the United
States By their existing treaty with New Granada,
expressly guaranty the neutrality Of the lsihnus,
" With the view that the free transit from the
the other sea may not b Interrupted Or embaFrass
ed IN any future time while this treaty exists ."
In regard TO the Tehusntepee route, which has
been recently opened under the most favorable aus
pices, our treaty with Mexieoof the Both December
1853, secures to the citizens Of the United States
right Of transit over It for their persons and mer
c6andise, and stipulstes that neither Government
shall Gnterpose any obstacle" thereto. Il also con-
csdes to the United States the fright to transport
across the Isthmus in closed bags the mails Of the
United States not intended for distribution along
the line of the communication; alE9, the effects Of
the United States Government and its citizens
which may be intended for transit and not for DIS
tribuhon on the Isthmus, free Of eustom-house or
other charges BY the Mexican Government"
These treaty stipulatons with New Granada and
Mexico in addition to the considerations applicable
to the NICARAGUA route seem to require legislaton
for the purpose Of carrying them into effect
The injuries which have been inflicted upon our
citizens in Costa Rieaa and NieaBsua, during the
last two or three years, haye, received the prompt
attention Of this Government. Some OF these IN
iuries were ofthe most aggravated character. The
| transaction at Virgin Bay in April, 1856, when
company Of unarmed Americans, who we're IN no
way connected with any belligerent conduct or
party, we're fired upon b. the troops Of Costa klca
/ and numbers Ct them killed and wounded was
brought to the knowledge Of Congress 81 my prede-
eessOr. soon after its Occurrences and was also pre-
1 scented to the Government Of Costa Riea for that
| immediate Investigation and redress which the ma
! ture of the case demanded. A similar course Was
pursued with reference to other Outrages in these
countries some Of which were hardly less aggrava-
ted in their character than the transaction at Virgin
I Bay.
| to Nieuragua was appointed, in Deeember, 1857,
redress had been obtained for any Ofthese wrongs
and no reply eyen had beenreceived to the demands
which had been made BY this Government upon
| that Of Costa Rica more than a year before. Our
minister was instructed therefore, to lose no time
in expressing to those Governments the deep regret
with which the President had witnessed this inatten
ton to the Just claims Of the U. s. and IN demand
| ing their prompt and satisfactory djussment. On-
less this demand shall be complied with ct an early
daY, it will only remain for this Government to a.
/ dept such other measures as may be necessary in
order to obtain for itself that Justice which It has IN
vain attempted to secure by peaceful means from the
/ Governments Of Nicaragua and Costa Riea.-
While it has shown, and will continue to show, the
most sincere regard Cor the rights aBd honor Of
these Republics, 1t cannot permit this regard to be
met BY an utter neglect on their part Of what is due
4 to the Government and citizens Of the Z. s.
/ Against \ ew Granada we have long standing
causes Of complaint, arising out Of the unsatlshed
claims Of our citizens upon that republic; and to
i these have been more recently added the outrages
Il committed upon our citizens at Panama in April
L 1856. treaty Tor the adjustment Of these difficult
| ties was concluded by the Secretary Of STATE and
[ the Minister Of New Granada, IN September, lo51,
I which contained just and acceptable provisions or
that purpose. This treaty was transmittedtO BegO-
/ ia, and was ratified by the Government Of New
Granada, nut with certain amendments. IL Was net,
however, returned 10 this city until after the close
of the last session of the Senate Ii Mill he imme-
diatey transmitted to that body FOR thef advice and
consent; and should his be obtained it will remove
all our existing causes Of complaint against AsE
| Granada on the subject Of claims.
/ Questions have arisen between the two govern
ments as to the right Of New Granada to levy a
tonnage duty upon the vessels Of the United States
in its ports Of the Isthmus and 70 levy passenger
/ tax upon citizens arriving in that country,
| whether with a design to remain there or 10 pass
to haNar
tax upon the mail Of the United States transport
ed over the Panama railroad. The government Of
l New Granada has been informed that the United
Z States would consider the col ecti0n OF either Of
these taxes as act in violation Of the treaty be-
tween the two countries, and as such would be re-
4 sisted BY the United States At the same time We
are prepared 70 discuss these questions in spirit
/ VI amity and Justice, and with sincere desire to
/ adjust them in a satisfactory manner. A nsgOtia-
ten for that purpose has already been commenced.
! No effort has recently been made to collect these
( taxes is any anticipated under present oircum-
I stances. ....- 600 81
| VIM the Empfe Of Brazii our relations are Of
/ the most friendly character. The productions OF
the two countries, snd especially those Of 81 agri
cultural nature, such as 10 invite extensive mu-
tual exchanges. A large quantity Of American
-four is consumed in Brazil; whilst more than treble
the amounl 10 value Of Brazilian coffee is consumed
I in the United States. Whist this is the case,
heavy duty has been levied until very recently ups
on the importation Of American hour into Brazil
/ an gratiHed, however, 70 be able to inform. you
that in September last this has been rsduesd from
81 80 to about fortynine cents per barrel, and the
duties other articles Of production have been
d mnished in nearly the sane proportion. zs1 ~
| regret to state that the Government Of Brazil
still continues to levy export duty Of about IL
per cent on coffee. notwithstanding this article IS
admitted free from duty in the United States. This
is a heavy charge upon the consumers OF coffee IN
our country as we purchase half Of the entire sur
plus crop of that article raised in Brazil Our Min
ster under Instructions viii reiterae his efforts to
have this export duty removed; and i is hopedthat
the enlightened Government Of the Emperor viii
adopt this wise, Just, and equal policy. In that
event there is good reason 10 believe that the com
meree between the two countries viii greatly in
crease, much 70 the advantage Of both.
The claims Of cur citizens against the Government
Of Brazil are not, in the aggregate OF very large
amount; but some Of these rest upon plain prinei-
pies Of Justice and their settlement ought to be
longer delayed. A renewed aud earnest and I
trust sueeessfu. effort viii be made by our Minis
ter to procure their final adjustment.
On The I'd Of june last Congress passeda i0intFe-
solution authorising the President TO adopt such
measures and use such force as, in his Judgment
may be necessary and advisable" ''for the purpose
of liusiing the differences between the Unitsd
States andy Ihe Republic Of Paragua, in eonnsxion
with the attack the u. s. steamer Nster- Witch,
and With other measures referred To- in his annual
message And on the 18th July following they
made an appropriation to defrsy the expenses and
compensation OF commissioner to that Republic,
should the President deem it proper TO make such
appointment. 7- 80 .s-aa'