The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-12-18

closed, 10y an arbitrary decree Of that gov
eminent. If disputes arise between it and 1
those with whom they may have entered |
into contracts, these must be adjusted 10y /
some fair tribunal provided for the pur- |
pose. and the route must not be closed |
pending the controversy. This Is our |
whole policy. and it cannot fail TO be ac- |
ccptable to other nations.
All those difficulties might be avoided. !
il. consistently with the good faith of Nj |
caragua. the use OF this transit could be /
thrown open to general competition; pro-
yiding at the same time for the payment
of a reasonable rate to the Nicararuau
government, on passengers and freight
In August. 1852. the Accessory Transit
Company made its first intcr-oceanic trip
over the Nicaraguan route. and continued
in successful operation. with great advau-
tare 20 the public. until the 18th Febru-
ary, lSjG. when il was closed, and the grant
10 this company, as well as its charter. were
summarily and arbitrarily revoked by the
government of President Rivas. Previous
20 this date. however. in 1854. serious dis
putes concerning the settlement Of their
accounts had arisen between the company
and the government. threatening the in
terruption Of the route at any moment
These the United States in vain cndcavor-
ed 20 compose II would be useless To-
narrate the various proceedings which took
place between the parties. up till the time
when the transit was discontinued. Sut-
fee IL 10 say that. since February. 1856. it
has remained closed. greatly to the prclu-
dice Of citizens Of the United States
Since that time the competition has ceased
between the rival routes Of Panama and
Nicaragua, and, in consequence thereof,
an unjust and unreasonable amount has
been cxacted from our citizens for their
passage to and from California
4 treaty was signed on the 10th day of
November. 1857. by the Secretary Of State
| and minis Of Nicaragua. under the stipu-
latious Of which the use and protection Of
| the transit route would have been secured,
not only to the United States. but equally
TO all other nations How. and on what
/ pretexts this treaty has failed to receive
| the ratification Of the Niearaguan govern
ment, will appear by the papers herewith
| communicated from the State Department.
The principal objection seems to have been.
/ 10 the provision authorizing the United
/ States 81 employ force 20 keep the route
| open. in case Nicaragua should fail 70 per-
| form her duty in this respect. From the
/ foeblonc-s ot that republic. it, frequent
| change Of government, and it, constant
/ internal discussions. this had become
| most important stipulation, and one cs-
/ sentially necessary not only for the -eCu-
rity Of the route, but for the safety Of
American citizens passing and rcPas-ingto
and from our Pacific possessions. Were
such n stipulation embraced i'm q treaty
/ between the United States and Nicaragua,
the knowledge Of this fact would Of itself
most probably prevent hostile parties from
committing acgressions on the route. and
render our actual interference for its pro-
| lection unnecessary.
| The executive government Of this Couu-
| try. in it, intercourse with foreign nations.
Is limited 10 the employment Of diploma
/ cy alone. When this fails. it can proceed
| no further. IL cannot legitimately resort
/ To force, without the direct authority of
| Congress. except in resisting and repclling
| hostile attacks. 1t would have no author
| ity 10 enter the territories of Nicaragua,
/ even 10 prevent the destruction of the
| transit, and protect the lives and proper
/ ~ Of our own citizens on their passage
| II is true, that on sudden emergency of
this character, the President would direct
any armed force in the vicinity to march
to their relief: but in doing this he would
act upon his own responsibility.
/ Under these circumstances, ] earnestly
| recommend to Congress, the passage Of an
act authorizing the President, under such
restrictions a. they may deem proper, to
| employ the land and naval forces of the
United States in preventing the transit
| from being INSTRUCTED or closed by law
les violence. and in protecting the lives
and property OF American citizens travel
ling thereupOn. requiring at the same time
1 III ~ J.. Ill
| moment the danger shall have passed
away. Without such provision, our citi-
| liens will be constantly exposed to inter
ruption in their progress, and to lawless
| violence.
similar necessity exists for the passage
Of such an act, for the protection of the
Panama and Tchuantepec routes.
| In reference to the Panama route, the
United States, by their existing treaty with
New Granada, expressly guarantee the
neutrality Of the l,thmus, with the view
that the free tansit from the one to the
other sea may not be interrupted or en-
harrasSed in any future time while this
treaty exits"
In regard to the Tehuantepec route,
which has been recently opened under
the most favorable auspicies. our treaty
| with Mexico Of the 3Oth December, 1888.
secures to the citizens of the United States
q right OF transit over il for their persons
and merchandise, and STIMULATES that
| neither Government shall ''InterpoSc any
obstacle" thereto. Italso comedies 20 the
United States the fright to transport
across,thc I-thmus. in closed bags. the
mails Of the United States not intended for
distribution along the line olthe commu-
nication also. the effects of theJ nitcd
States government and its citizens which
may be intended for transit, and not for
distribution on the Isthmus, free of custom
house OF other charges by the Mexican
government.
These treaty stipulations with New Gran
ada and Mexico. in addition to the consid-
erations applicable 70 the Nicaragua route,
seem 70 require legislation for the purpose
Of carrying them into effect.
The injuries which have been inflicted up
on ourCitizens in Costa Ricaand Nicaragua,
during the last two or three years. have
received the prompt attention Of this gov
eminent. Some OF these injuries were Of
the most aggravated character. The trans
action az Virgin Bay in April, 1850, when
a company Of unarmcd Americans. who
were in no way connected with any be
hVcrcnt conduct or party, were fired upon
by the troops of Costa Rica. and numbers
! OF them killed and wounded, was brought
% the knowledge Of Congress by my pre-
dcCcssor soon after its occurrence. and was
: also presented to the government Of Costa
] RiCa. for that immediate investigation and
: redress which the nature Of the case de-
mandcd. a similar course was pursued
! with reference to other out RACES in these
countries. some Of which were hardly less
aggravated in their character than the
. transaction at Virgin Bay. At tho time,
however. when our present minister to
| Nicaragua was appointed, in December,
7 | 1857. no redress had been obtained for any
, Of these wrongs and no reply even had
q been received to the demands which had
been made by this government upon that
I | Of Costa Rica, more than a year before
7 | Our minister was instructed, there fore, "a
! lose no time in expressing to those gov
ernments the deepregret with which the
I President had witnessed this inattention
5 | 10 thciu claims of the United States, and
! | in demanding their prompt and satisfac-
r tory adjustment. Unless this demand
+ shall be complied with at an early day, il
e | will only remain for this government
to adopt such other meaures as may be
, necessary, in order 10 obtain for itself
+ | that Justice which il has invain attempt
p eu 70 secure uI pcacelul means rom the
r governments of Nicaragua andCosta Ri
+ ca. While it has shown, and will con
f tinue to show. the most sincere regard for
the rights and honor Of these republics
+, it cannot permit this regard to be met by
4 an utter neglect, on their part. of what i.
1 due to the government and citizens of the
, United States.
! Against New Granada we have long
:. standing causes Of complaint, arising ou
Of the unsatisfed claims Of our citizen,
4 upon that republic; and to these have
! been more recently added the outrage
= committed upon our citizens at Panam,
! in April 1856. A treaty for the adjust
r ment of these difficulties, was concluded
by the Secretary Of State and the minister
Of New Granada, in September, 1857
which contained just and acceptable pro
! visions for that purpose. This treaty wa
e transmitted to BogOta. and was ratified By
= the government of New Granada, but Will
> certain amendments. II was not, however
: returned to this city until after the clos,
7 Of the last session Of the Senate ltwil
Z be Immediately transmitted to that body
: for their advice and consent; and should
: this be obtained it. will remove all on