Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-25


Fsroirl. Intrfgues in Central America.
late number Of the Londoa zsuss oontaina
most srtraoraiaary documents Says Che Phila5elphis
arous being no less than an iaisEooeanic canal /
grant, with en- ofbeial declaration expended from
Mora and Martinez, Of the 50 called (
Republics Of Costa Riea and Niesragia, to Mons.
Belly, the French diplomatic agent and SPECTATOR
Of louis Napoleon.
L seems that This cunning negotiator has made
contract with the governments Of Costa Rioa and
Nicaragua, fer The construction, by party Of
French capitalists, Of an insroceanic canal via the
river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua; to have az
exclusive privilege for ninety nine yesrs, the work
to be begun in two years and finished in six II pos
sibls; with a graBt Of ell public lands for the
breadth Of one League along the canal and river
ships Of the Canal Company to pass free Of tolls,
but others to pay ten per cent on merchandise ana
twelve dollars per passenger the neutrality OF the
canal to be guaranteed by France, Great Britain
and the United States, on the basis Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty but the French government have the
right to keep two ships Of war stationed on the canal
or on Lake Nicaragua for the entire duration Of the
work. Appended to the oontraet is declaration
signed BY Rivas, Martinez and Mora, declaring that
Central America is threatened by invasion Of
Ribusters under the official patronage Of The United
States. and that the American Minister in Aioara-
qua boasts publicly Of peremptoriy proposing, as
an ultimalum, the ratification Of the Gass Arsarri
treaty. or an invssion ofGbusters under the Amer
can flag and placing the Independence Of Nicaragua
and Costa Riea under the guaranty Of France
England and Sardinia.
The Herald says, whatever may be the diplomacy
Ct Mons. Belly, tits evident that he has taken the
best means to ensure success But will our govern
rent permit this nefarious plot to be contaminated!
I Not while James Buchanan is President and Lewis
Cass is Secretary Of State. The Herald adds that
/ the grant itself is most extraordinary document
Il not only oveTthrows completely the whole Mon
roe doctrine, but sets entirely aside the position
! assumed by Mr. Buchanan snd General Cass, that
The petty republics Of the American lsthmus shall
not lay onerOus taxes upon the commerce Of the
world through the authority merely Of their geo
graphical position. Not only are the French men,
of-war to be placed on the river San Juan and Lake
Nicaragua for the term of ninety nine years, but a
tax Of ten per cent on all merchsndise and twelve
dollars Der passenger beside canal tolls laid ol
the privilege of transit. Measures are to be inme
diatelv taken to induce the governments Of France
Great Britain and the United States to guarantees
the neutrality Of the canal on the basis of the
Clavton-BulWer treaty; but as soon as any one Of
these Powers assents to such guarantee it will b'
considered sufficient 10 allow the passage Of suol
ships of war as Nicaragua aud Costa Rioa may
consent TO-
But the extraordinary character Of the grant Is
far surpassed by that Of the appended declaration
Of Presidents Rivas, Martinez and Mora. All the
past acts of the United States government against
the flibusters-the proclamatOns of the President,
instructions to 1arshals Collectors Of Customs and
Naval Commanders all the sets Of Davis, Pauldng,
and Chatsrd. and all the diplomatic assurances Of
Gen. Cass, ere flung back in our faces, and the
world is solemnly assured that the American govern
ment really has the 6lbusters under its patronage
as the means of taking possession Of Central Amer
lea and it is oicislly stated under the signatures
of two Presidents de factO, and one ex-President,
that 81 all the Official agents Of the United States
have been the accOmpliess and auxilaries Of the
ipvadsrs.D and the two Republics Of Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua are placed L" under the guarantee of the
three Powers who have caused the independence
and nationality Of the Ottoman Empire to be res
peoted-namely, France, England, and Sardinia
This document, if it be what it really puTPOrts tC
be, is the most solemn and gratuitOus insult even
given to nation and we call upon the vern-
ment, the moment it receives official assurance that
such declaration has been made by the Presidents
of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, to send their pass
ports Immediately to SsnOres Molina and Yrisarri
and to ask from Mons. ssrtiges categorical an
| swer whether the Government Of France authorizes
these post prandia proceedings of Mons. Belly? AND
if the President has not the power to take immedi
ate action in the premises let him call Congress to
gether at once, to pass the measures necessary t.
secure an immediate recognition Of our rights upoE
the entire American Isthmus. With England pro
tecting the Honduras route, France in possession
Nicaragua, New Granada ready to sell the Panam1
line to European capitalists, and Mexico aiming FOL
European protectorate over its Territory, includ
ing Tehuantepec, we shall find ourselves driver
from the American Isthmus, our communication
with our Pacific empire opt of, and our prestige al
nation gone.