The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-28
THE UNITED STATES AND PARAGUAY.

The resolution reported by the Committee on For
eign Relations in the Senate, in accordance with that
portion of the Presidents message which calls for
redress of outrages committed on the United States
steamer Water Witch and American citizens by the
government of Paraguay has given rise to an in
qury into the exact state of the present relations
subsistng between this government and that of Par
aguay.
1t is known TO most of our readers that Commander
Page was sent in 1853 with the Water-Witch to
make exploration and survey of the tributaries of
the river La the principal of which are the
Parana and Paraguay they having been declared in
August, 1852, by General Urquiza President of the
Argentine Confederation open to all foreign flags.
This gave access to Paraguay, which is independ-
ent government and not member of the Argentine
Confederation
Captain Page was commissioned, also, by the Pres
ident to negotiate, either jointly with ministers
at the courts of Brazil and the Argentine Confedera-
ton, or sngly, circumstances might render neces-
sary, treaty of friendship and commerce with the
government of Paraguay. On his arrival however,
in the waters of La Plata, he learned that this had
already been done by minister to the Argentine
Confederation, who at the invitation of the English
minister, admiral Sir Charles Hotam, had ascended to
Asuncion in amanof- war steamer while the Sardin-
ian minister, Mr.. Cerut availed himself Of a SINH
lar invitation from Monsieur St. George, the French
ministerial bound on the same errand and on the
4th Of March, 1853, each concluded treaty with
Paraguay. The exchange Of rati6catons Of the
American treaty was to be effected in fifteen
months from that date, at the city of Asuncion
II Immediately transmitted home, and on
being presented to the Senate, there were found in
it such expressions as the Omitted States of North
America" the "North American Union, - which, be-
ing unusual and not admissible, were stricken out,
and the United States of America" substituted
These were the only changes made and in this form
it was returned with instructions to Commander
Page to propose to the government of Paraguay an
exchange Of Publications. 1t was received by him
on the 5th of October, 1854, while at Corrienes
and as the Water-Witch in common with all mem
ofwar had but recently been excluded from the wa
tiers Of Paraguay by special decree, he despatched
on the following day two officers, in steamer bound
to Asuncion with a note to the Minister Of For
eign Relations. informing him that he had been com
by the President of the United States to
exchange the ratification Of the treaty and proposed
to meet a person duly authorized on the part of
Paraguay. The minister declined to notice the note
Of Commander Page, because it written in Eng
fish. This state of things was Immediately re-
ported to the State Department with the information
that the treaty was on board the Water-Witch,
where it would be kept until further orders
Captain Pages reception by President Lopez, on
his arrival in Paraguay entirely satisfactory his
with the people friendly and cordial and
I'll the facilities for the prosecution of the work
with which he was charged were promptly granted
The work progressed wel--for no country had so
deep interest in the results of the exploration
Paraguay the unfortunate rupture between
the agent of the American and Paraguay Company |
aud President Lopez. This company had been in
linced under assurances aud pledges of exclusive
privileges and advantages from Mr. Lopez to embark
imam enterprise, commercial agricultural and manu-
featuring, involving great outlay of money butprom
ising corresponding return. A number of Amer- |
can citizens, belonging 10 this company became,
established in and Asuncion Their
works-cigar factory, saw-mill agricultural estab-
lishment &c.-were in prosperous operation, when
Lopezs wrath, kinded by an angry correspondence
that had arisen between himself and the agent of |
the company into devouring fame, fell indiscrimi
nately upon all the Americans. He broke up the
operations of the company in all its branches closed
the cigar factory, tore down the MILL and drove |
The people from the agricultural establishment
These outrages called Captain Page--then engaged
with The Water Witch at distance-to Asuncion
His previously good relations with President Lopez
enabled him to have frequent unreserved personal
interviews with him, hoping to effect reconcilia-
tion and restore the company to it's previous pros
porous condition In this he failed; and only by
firm and positive assurances to President Lopez as
to the course his duty to American citizens would
require him to pursue did he secure to them while
residing Shore protection of person and proper
ty which they felt assured they should not have en-
ioyed but for the Water Witch Failing to recon
Gle the difficulties between the government and
company, Captain Page obtained an assurance from
the President that the Americans should be permit |
ted to leave the country with their property by the
usual conveyances. They received their passports,
but on asking for the permit at the eustonhouse for
The shipping Of their goods, &C. they were inform.
ed that the permit could not be granted until the
leeds for the real estate which had been purchased
by the company and paid for should be surrendered
to the government II was well known that the col |
- n II. Al