The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-12-16

All commercial nations. therefore, have deep
and direct interest that these communications
snail be rendered secure from Interruptions.
ST an arm of the sea, connecting the two
oceans. penetrated through Nicaragua aud Co8te
Rica, it could not be pretended that these States
would have the right to arrest or retard its navi
CATION to the niury of other nations. The trarJit
by land over this narrow isthmds 9ecupielpeaglY
the same position. It is highway which
they themselves have Ii tile interest, wheG5sSS z
pared with the vast interest Of ths Z : z
world. While their rights of 81 q voG 9. . : Y
to be respected, it is the duty &
to,requirs that this important pas = = y. IL
be interrupted by the civil warsa? e-jSolnHons.
~ outbreaks which have so frequently occurred
it that region.
The stake is too important to be left at the
mercy OF rival companies, laimingto hold con
illcting contracts with Nicaragua. The com,
merce Of other nations is not to stand still and
await the adjustment of such petty controvcr-
sizes. The government Of the United States'ex
pect no more than this and they will not be salts
fed with less. They would lot, if they could,
derive any AAKantagr from tho Nicaragua tran-
siL not common to the rest Of the world. Its
neutrality and protection, for the common use
Of all nations, is their only object.
They have no objection that Nicaragua shall
demand and receive fair compensation from
the Companies and individuals who may traverse
tho route; but they insist that it shall never
hereafter be crossed. by an arbitrary decree oI
the government. If disputes arise between 1t
aud those with whom they may have entered
into contracts, these must be djusted by some
fair tribunal provided for the purpose, and the
route must not be closed pending the cOhtro-
versy This is our whole policy, and it can.no'
fail to be acceptable to other nations. "a. r
All these difficulties might be avoided, if, con
sisehtly with the good faith Of Nicaragua, the
use of the transit could be thrown open TO gen
eral competition, providing at the same time lol
the payment Of a reasonable rate to the Nicara
guam government, on passengers aud ffeHht
In August, 1869, the Accessory Tran,
sit Company made its first interoceanlC
trip over the Ncaraguan route, and con
tinued in successful operation, with grea
advantage to the public, until the 18th Q
February, 1856, when it was closed, anC
the grant to this company, as well as lts
charter, were sGmmarily and arbitrarily
revoked by the government OF Presiden
Rivas. Previous to this date, however
in 1854, serious disputes concerning The
settlement of their accounts, had ariser
between the company and the govern
ment, threatening the interruption Of The
route at any moment.
These the United States in vain endeay
ored to compose. 1t would be useless t
narra,e the various proceedings which
took place between the parties, up till thu
time when the transit was discontinued
Suffice it to say, that since February eigh
teen hundred and fifty-iive, it has remain
ed closed, greatly to the prejudice Of ciil
zens of the United States. Since that tim
the competition has ceased between th
rival routes of Panama and Nicaragua
and, in consequence thereof, an unlus
; and unreasonable amount has been exact
ed from our citizens for. their passage t
and from California.
A treaty was signed on the sixteent
day of November, eighteen hundre
G and ffty-seven, by the Secretary c
State and Minister Of Nicaragua, unde
, the stipulations of which the use and pre-
g lection of the transit route would hay
been secured, not on y to the Unite
! States, but equally to all other nations.-
, How and on what pretext this treat
/ has failed to receive the ratification of tn
a Nicaraguan government, will appear b
the papers herewith communicated froI
i the State Department, The princip,
t objection seems to have been to the pre-
:. vision authorizing the United States
= employ force to keep the route open,
J case Nicaragua should fail to perform he
e duty in this respect.
From the feebleness of that Republic
}, its frequent changes of government, an
u its constant internal dissen,ions, that ha
=. become most important stipulation, al
ID one essentially necessary not only L
a the security of the route, but the safe
q Of American citizens passing and repas
ing to and from our Pacific possession
Sc Were such a stipulation embraced in
IN treaty between the Uunited States al
ne Nicaragua the knowledge of this ia
n, would Of its self most probably preve
Il hostile parties from committing aggrt
st. sions on the roue and render our q
'.l '.a tual Interference for its protection unne
"a. essary,
cd The Executive Government of Il
ny country. in its intercourse with torel
=, nations, is limited to the employment off
% oi plomacy alone. 1t can not Legitimate
ch resort to force, without the direct autho
re- ty of Congress except in resisting a
. t' rcpelliug hostile attacks. 1t would hs
g" Of M authority to enter the Territories
er, Nicaragua. even to prevent the destr'
les ton of the transit, and protect the In
' o' and property OF our own cluzens on tn
r.. passage. 1t is true, that on a sudd
or emergency Of this character, the Ere
ote d nj would direct any armed force IN
a., vicinity to march to their relief; but in
w., ars ing this he would act upon his own
,B sponsibllty
III Unler these circumstances earnes
nc9, recommend to Congress the passage OF
,'Sl Az act authorizing the Pres dent, under 81
ties restrictions as they may deem proper
ell. employ. the land and naval forces Of
LL9ql United States in presenting the tra'
H,y from being obslructed or closed by h
be-. be- less violence, and in protecting the Ii
ms and properly of American cit zens the
'ry upon, requiring al the same time that h
m E1rces shall be Withdrawn the MON
and the danger shall have passed aw
,su Without such a nroyiniou our citiZens