Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-05
TgE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
az RITCHIE & DUNNAvANT
TURsDAY MORNING, JANUARY 5.
THE NICARAGUA COMPLICATIONS.

| TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 5.
TIE NICARAGUA COMPLICATIONS.
There much sound sense in the following article
from the last New York Herald, which presents
spirited grouping of recent evens Of the state Of feel
ing In this country, and Of the real condition of affairs
in Central America. While would not have the
Administration iOta from it's duty in main
tanning the strict letter of the neutrality laws they
exist on the statute book, would warmly appeal to
Congress promptly TO carry into effect the earnest
commenda:ions of President Buchsnaa's Message,
for reorganization of our policy towards the neigh
boring States of Central America. Chief among these
recommendations Is the abrogation Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, whose Delphc interpretations have
given 80 much trouble and must continue to produce
new complications and difficulties of all sorts. What
we need in the present ofexpanded liberalism and
national progress, is an American policy that. while
respecting the peace and Just rights Of neghbors,
will furnish fsr field for the mild and gradual in.
fuenoe of American institutions and their slow but
certain progress over this Continent. While de-
preoate the continuance of illegal forays upon COM
munities with whom we are at peace, who can deny
that II is written by the finger Of Providence that the
ignorance, imbecty and 9uasi.barbariam of the peo
pie of Central America and of the contiguous islands
must give way to the natural sweep of free thought
and action, and in time yield to the genial sway of our
own enterprising people3 If We manifest simply,
natural prudence and patient wisdom, Cnba, with all
its rich treasures and power, in commanding the
Gulf, cannot but fall into arms and form bril-.
liant and valuable component Of the American con.
federacy. No one desires such contamination more
ardently than President Buchanan, and every pa.
triot should encourage and cheer him in the policy
whereby he seeks to bring about so happy result
THE NlcARAGUAN IMBRoGLIo-wHAT SHOULD
BE DONE AND WHO SHOULD DO 1T.
Our dispatches from the South to day give telling
evidence Of the excitement there consequent upon
the arrest of Gen. Walker and the partial breaking
| up of his expedition. The meetings at Mobile and
New Orleans, the rapid enlistment of men in those
places and the reported departure of eight hundred
men on the 26thfrom Texas are but the beginning Of
q movement that will yet supersede the Kansas agi-
tion in the intensity with which il will rell through
the Southern portion of the Union. In connection
with this subject the present condition OF affairs in
Nicaragua becomes of great Importance, and we
publish series of very interesting transations from
Central American papers, which show that far from
being settedhe questions that have kept those petty
States in perpetual broil are more irritating than
ever All the facts demonstrate the urgent necessity
of the interposon of some stronger influence than
!
ments parties.
The provisional executive Of Nicaragua, in the ad.
dress to the Constituent Assembly OF that republic at
ts opening session. recognizes the great fact that the
whole of the Central American republics are involved
in the rapid vortex Of POLITICAL commercial and social
development of the maritime and industrial nations,
and that if they do not advance with equal step, they
are in danger OF being overwhelmed similar re.
cogniion Of OF the greatest truths Of the age was
contained in the address of President Mora to the
Congress of Costa Rica, something more than year
since. The series of translations which we today
publish evince the manner In which they propose to
keep step with the march of the world. Costa Rica
claims in virtue OF possession the province of Ncoya
or Gusncaste, and the right bank OF the San Juan
river and COL Cauty, under her flag, Is levying war
upon the shores of Lake Nicaragua. The government
Of Nicharagua accepts the thus virtually made,
and is preparing to invade Costa Rca while both
governments negotiating with the agents OF GER
sive privilege of the Transit route grant, under which
the men in power all hope to line their pockets with
gold.
While these things are passing between the native
governments and the specustore, series OF strange
events occurs compcate still more the slate of af
fairs. Col. Frank Anderson, by movement unri
vailed for gallanry decision and success has deprived
Costa Rica Of the possession OF the key OF the San
Juan river and of the steamers upon it. One day
more and General Walker would have been on tri.
, umphal march to Granada, which could only have
been compared to that Of Napoleon to Paris on the
return from Elba. Bat that one day was fatal Com.
II,
stops the trumphal march OF Gen. Walker, and aban.
dons the gallant Anderson 10 the power not of Mica
ragua, but of Costa Rca The fret act of Com. Paul
ding, in invading the territory OF another State and
sezing its presumpve chief, cannot be upheld upon
any principle of international law, but may yet be
defended under the curious and conflicting provisions
, of the Csyton-Bulwer treaty. His second act, IN
abandoning Anderson and his gallant companions,
after having deprived them of their chief and bis
forces by aot of war, is of unmitigated nhu.
manity, and can only lead to great complications.
BY this course on the part Of the United States
Commodore another revolution may be created in
Nicaragua. Anderson in possession of Castillo Vie.
10, the strongest point in all Central America and OF
all the river and one of the lake steamers, may yet
. make common cause with Jerez Chillon and Others
9 known opponents of the present government Of Nj.
oarsgus, who are at Rivas with 7UO men, and rein.
a state the democratic power in Nicaragua. Frank
Anderson may yet be the Napoleon of Central Anne.
RIGA, or he may hold his present position, awaiting
the return of Gen. Walker, which will probably be
unhesitatngly demanded by popular opinion in the
South If the reinforcements which are said TO have
left Texas on the Goth should reach him. his position
= will be an mpregnable one if they are stopped by
the Susquehanna and the Fulton at Greytown, and
sent back still greater complications will ensue.-
= Whatever course things may take, either in Sicara
qua among the Southern hiibusters, il is evident
that the manner in which the republics Of Cen,
trail America shall keep step With the march of pro-
j. nor in ambitious and ayarcious squabbes over the
sale Of the exclusive privilege OF the Transit route to
set of Wall street sharpers.
. There Is but way to settle this whole question
The government, in view Of the facts that daily de-
velope themselves, must awaken to sense that this
movement is q much greater one than mere private
adventure. 1t must decide at upon its policy,
and act with energy and decision The Transit route
grant 10 the shirt of Nessus for both Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, and each is striving its utmost to put it
on. To place all these questions at rest the princi
pie that none OF these governments shall be allowed
to tax the commerce of the world for the right OF
peaceful passage its territories, must be laid
down and maintained by our government; and, as a
corolary to this undspued principle of international
law, it must insist that exclusive privilege for the
carrying of passengers and goods the Ishmus
shall be granted to any one. Let it, then, proceed at
to ratify the late treaty with Nicaragua essb.
lish it's naval depots at the Atlantic and Pacific ter
mini, aud extend its moral guarantee over the line -
The Clayton Bulwer treaty, If be found to conflict
with the paciGcation OF the Central American States,
must give way to the greater need of the nations
Such course will settle the whole batch of these
complicated questions, and dispose of Walker and
the Transit route in way that will be satisfactory to
all.
AS for the half breed communities that lie upon the
Isthmas taking any measures that will enable them
to keep up with 1.-The rapid political commercial and
social development of the maritime and industrial
nations" their whole past history demonstrates their
utter incspacity for such course. Day after day,
and year after year, not only the communities of
Central America, but the mixed breed nations of all
Spanish America, have exhibited rapid decadence
10 their industrial and social civilization The white
elemement is rapidly being absorbed and extingush.
ed by the large prepouderence Of inferior and
with the white element everything except hollow
imitation Of the forms of civilization is disappearing
If our government will not accept the mission and
the destiny that is before it, It must give way to the
busers; for imperative reasons Of internal as we'll
as external policy demand the extension of in.
duence south ward.
A NOBLE TRIBUTE TO RANDAIL's LIFE
Of JEFFERSON.
i We take the liberty OF publishing An extract from
private letter. addressed to US by one Of the most
accomplished writers and best historians Of Virginia