The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-10-21
Tne ExuedirIOn 10 paraguay

President, Lopez, to finally rstify 4 treaty
OF commerce made in 1853, and alleged out
RACES upon the United States steamer Wa
ter Witch, and upon an American trading
company. In March, 1863, Mr., J. 8. Pen.
dleton, as Minister Plenipotentiary to Par.
aguay, formed q commercial treaty between
that country and the United States, which
was sent to Washington for final ratifca.
ton. This treaty was slightly amended, on
the lst Of June, 1854. No 6nal action on
the part OF Paraguay upon the treaty having
been had up to 1856, in that year Mr. Fitz-
patrick was appointed special commission
er to secure it's ratification. When he ap'
piled to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in
Paraguay for this purpose, he was met by .
reference to the alteration in the text, which
consisted principally in using the expression
of the "Government of the United States
of America" for that of Government of the
"North Amer ican Union;" by complaint
of the extension of tho time prescribed for
the ratification of the treaty, and more par
ticularly by On inquiry into the intentions
of our Government in regard to the affair OF
the Water Witch, and the claims of the
trading company. But Mr.. Fitzpatrick hav-
ing no authority to enter into extended ex-
plantations en- these points, his request for q
ratification OF the treaty Of 1853 was refus.
ed, and the object Of his mission was thus
left unaccomplished.
In the meanwhile, Immediately after the
formation of the treaty Of 1868, the indica.
tiona were that extended commercial rela.
tions between the United States and Pura-
quay would be mutually profitable and also
agreeable but the dissipation OF this idea
on the port OF Lopez, at least, is, no doubt.
the real reason why that treaty, as amend.
ed, has not received his sanction. Lieuten.
ant Thomas J. Page, in command Of our
steamer. of.war, Water Witch, soon after
the treaty was made, sailed up the Paraguay
for scientific exploration of the country,
and gained much valuable and interesting
information. While engaged in the explo.
ration of the Parana river, 10 February, 1855,
his vessel was fred into by the commander
of the fortress Of ltapiru, and suffered the
loss of one OF her crew, as we'll as some
considerable damage to her hull. The fire
was returned, as we'll as circumstances per.
nitted, by the Water Witch. Both Gov.
ernments refer to this transaction now as
one Tor which the other should make amends
our own taking the ground that ut the time
of the attack the Water Witch was not in
Paraguayan waters, and that it was, in any
event, q gross outrage to fire into vessel
engaged as she was. On the other hand,
the Paraguayan Minister refers to this trans.
action as one in which "scandslous hostili-
ties" were offered to his country by the
commanding Officer Of the steamer Water
Witch.
About the time the treaty was fret form.
ed, Lopez-Who, after the usual fashion o
South American rulers, monopollzcs, as ful'
ly as possible, all the political powers and
commercial advantages Of his country-con'
ceived that his interests might be greatly
promoted BY connection with energetic
and enterprising parties in the United States
and under assurances OF his friendship, g
trading company, known as the United
States and Paraguay Navigation Company
was formed, chiefly through the efforts oI
Mr.. E. A. Hopkins, among capitalists in
Providence, K. ]. An assorted cargo Of
valuable implements, and un infinite varie.
" of things calculated to be useful to the
Paraguayans, us we'll as valuable presents
to Lopez. were sent out to Paraguay, in the
expectation Of receiving in return sntfi:i'
ent quantity Of the productions OF that coun'
try to realize very handsome profit. Al
first the agents of the company were treatee
with great kindness but it is alleged thai
inasmuch as their advant created new as
piratons for improvement and progress:
among the people, which Lopez conceived
to be inimical to bis schemes OF aggrandizs
ment, they were suddenly subjected to in
famous treatment. Personal indignitiet
we're offered to them, their mills and lacto
ries were closed, and their employers order
| ed out of the country. For all this heavl
claim for indemnity has been preferred b.
the company, ut which the Paraguay0n Min
lister scouts, by saying that in reality tn,
company owes his Government $4,000, ad
vanced to it to help it out of its difficulties
and that satisfaction is due rather 10 Para
quay than to anybody else. .... ..
J. The American Congress having, in accor
dance with the recommendation Ot DIR. Bu
channan in his last annual message, author
lied the employment OF On armed embass
to settle oil these difficulties. Hon. Jas
|, B. Bow lin, OF Missouri, has been appointe
Commissioner, and he is now about to re
ceive bis final instructions, which, 1t is SUP
posed, will direct him to demand an apolog
for firing into the Water Witch, indemnit
to the American claimants, a final ratiica
+ tion OF the treaty Of 1858, and full protee
, ton to the interests of our citizens In Para
quay hereafter. The naval squadron whic
Is to accompany Mr.. Bowlin, and, it nece'
sury, enforce his demands, is to be undt
the command Of Commodore w. b. Shubrlc
, and consists Of the following vessels:
!, Frigate Sabine, Captain Adams frigat
St. Lawrence, Captain Hull sloop'ot-ws
Falmouth, Commander Farrand; sIoop-o
war Preble, Commander jenkins; brg-t
war Dolphin, Commander SseedmaB; brig
> of-war Bainbridge, Lieutenant Renshaw
! brig-of.war Perry, Lieutenant Tflgham
= s,eamer.ol.war Fulton, Lieutenant AlmJ
steamer.of.war Water Watch, Lieutenal
7 Pegram; steamer-ot-war Harriet Lane, Cal
tain Faunce; steamer Memphis. Comma'
: der Marchant; steamer AtaIanta, Commal
der Ridgely; steamer Caledonia, Commal
= der Gaze; steamer Southern Star, CommaI
y der Pennock; steamer Westernport, Con
i, mander i. I. Hunter; storeshlP Supp!
= y Lieutenant Stanly. t ..., .....