Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-12-16

The injuries which have been inhic-
ted upon our citizens in Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua, during the last two or three
years, have received the prompt atten-
ton of this government. Some of these
injuries were of the most aggravated
The transaction at Virgin Bay in
April, 1856, when a company of unar-
med Americans, who were in no way
connected with any belliSerent conduct
or party, were fired upon by the troops
of Costa Rica, and numbers of them
killed and wounded, was brought to the
knowledge of Congress by my process
ors soon after its &C occurrence, and was
also presented to the government of
Costa Rica, for that immediate ~investi.
CATION and redress which the nature of
the case demanded. A similar course
was pursued with reference to other
outrages in these countries, some Of
which were hardly less aggravated in
their character than the transaction ut
Virgin Bay.
AT tho time, however, that our pres
ent minister TO Nicaragua was appoin.
ted, in December, 1857, TO redress had
been obtained for any of those wrongs,
and nc reply even had been made by
this Government upon that o fCosta Ri
ca more than. a year before. Our min
lister was instructed, therefore, to lose
no time in expressing to those govern
ments the deep re.r;t with which the
President had witnessed this inatten.
ton to the just claims of the United
States, and, in demanding their prompt
anl cot f,ofnrr a1i,StD,onk .
Unless this demand shall be com piled
with it an early day, it will only remain
for this Government to adopt such
measures as may be necessary, in order
to obtain for itself that justice which it
has in vain attempted to secure by peace
full mean from the governments of Mic
ar0gua and Costa RIGA. While it has
shown and will continue to show the
most sincere regard for the rights and
honor of these republics, it cannot per-
nit this regard to be met by in utter
neglect on their part of what is due to
the Government and citizens ofthe Uni
ted States.
Against New Granada VIC have long
standing causes of complaint, arising
out of the unsatisfed claims of our citi
zens upon that republic, and to these
have been more recently added the out
RACES committed upon our citizens 1t
Panama in 1856. 4 treaty fo. me az.
justmcnt of these dificp!.iies Wis ron.
cluded by the Secretary of ,.are and the
Minister of New Grann1.A, in September
1857. which contai-.e cd Just and accept.
able provisions cor that purpose.
This treaty was transmitted to BoSota
and -.,as ratified by the government OF
new Granada, but with certain amend,
ments. 1t was not, however, returned
to this city until after the close of the
last session of the Senate. 1t will be
Immediately transmitted TO hat body
for their advice and consent, and should
this be obtained, it will remove all oul
existing causes of complaint against
New Granada. on the suhiec. of claims
Questions have arisen between the
two governments as to the right of New
Granada to levy tonnage duty upon the
vessels of the United States IN its port.
of the Isthmus, and to levy n passenger
tax upon our citizens arriving in thai
country, whether with a design to re
main there or to pass from ocean tc
ocean by the transit route and also {
tax upon the mail of tho United State,
transported over the Panama Railroad
The government of New Granada has
been informed that the United States
would consider the collection of these
taxes an act in violation of the treaty
between the two countries, and as such
would be resisted by the United States
At the same time We are prepared to
discuss these questions in a spirit Of
amity and justice, and with a sincere
desire to adjust them in o satisfactory
manner. A negotiation for that pur-
pose has already been commenced. Nc
effort has recently been made to collect
these taxes, nor is any anticipated un-
+ der present circumstances.
With the Empire Of Brazil our rcla-
} tons are of the most friendly character.
The productions of the two countries,
and especially those of an agricultural
nature, are such as to invite extensive
mutual exchanges. A large quantity of
American -four is consumed in Brazil,
whilst more than treble the amount in
value of Brazilian coffee is consumed in
the United States.
Whilst this is the case a 'cagy duty
has been levied, until very recently, up
on the importations of American -four
into Brazil. 1 am gratiied. however,
to be able to inform you that in Septem
Der last this has been reduced from S1,32
to about 40 cents per barrel, and the
duties on other articles of our produc-
ton have been diminished in nearly the
same proportion.
I regret to state that the government
of Brazil still continues to levy an ex-
port duty of about IL per cent. on cof-
fee, notwithstanding this article is ad-
mitted free of duty in the United States.
This is a heavy charge upon the consu-
mers of coffee in our country. as we
purchase half Of the entire surplus crop
of that article in Brazil.
Our Minister under instructions will
reiterats his efforts to have this export
duty removed, and tits hoped that the
enlightened government of the Emperor
will adopt this wise, just and equal pol
icy. In that event there is good reason
to believe that the commerce between
the two countries will increase much to
our advantage.