Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-12-11

erpnnent. viii appenr by the papers herewith
Communicated from the state department -
TIE principle objection seems to have bcen
10 the provision authorizing the u s. TO em-
ploy force TO keep the route open. IN case
Nicnagna should fail TO perform her duty 10
this respect From The feebleuess Of that re-
public its frequent changes Of government.
its constant internal dissensious. this had be-
come a most important stipulation. aud one
essentially necessary not only for the security
Of the route but Tor the safety OF American
citizens passing aud repassing 10 aud from
our Pacific possessions Were such silpu-'
latiou embraced in treaty between the y. ).
aud Ncaragua. the knowledge OF this Tact
would OF itself most probably prevent hostile
parties from committing aggression on the
ronte aud render our actual interference Tor
its protection necessary. s ...
The executive government OF this country,
In its interconrse with foreign nations, Is lm
ted 10 the employment OF diplomacy alone -
When this fails, Il can proceed 10 further It
cannot egitimately resnrt to force. without
tho direct authority Of Congress, except IN
resisting pnd rcpelling hostile attacks 1t
wonld have no authority TO enter the terrific
ries Of Nicaragua, even to prevent the de-
struclion Of the transit and Protect the lives
aud properly Of our own citizens on their
passage. II Is tfue that On a saldon encr-
geacy of this eharaeier the president woaId
d.rcct airy armed force in the vicinity 70 march
TO their relief, but in doing this he would act
upon his own Responsibility iaa.ifH1aiHI
Under these circumstances earnestly re-
commend TO Congress the passage Of an act
authorizing the president, under such res,ric.
tions asthey may deem proper, to employ the
land and naval forces Of the United States in
preventing the transit from being obstrHcied
OF closed bv Iawles violence and in protecting
the lives and property Of American citizens
travelling thereupOn, requiring at the same time
that these forces shall be withdrawn the mo-
ment the danger shall have passed away
Without such provision, our citizens will be
constantly exposed to interruption 10 their
progress, and to luwless violence.
A similar necessity exists for the passage
of such an act. for the protection of the
Panama and Tehuantepec routes. In refer
ence TO the Panama rote, the United States,
by their existing treaty with New Granada,
expressly guarantee the neutrality of the 18TH
mus. with the view that the free transit from
the one TO the other sea may not be interrupt
ed or embarrassed 10 any future time while
the treaty exists" na.n !, ss.s, ~
In regard tOthe Tehauntepec route, which
has been recently opened under the most fa-
vorahle auspices, our treaty with Mexico of
the 30th December 1853. secures 10 the citi-
gems Of the United States a right OF transit
ever il for their persons aud merchandise, aud
stipulates that neither government shall "in-
terpOse any obstacle" thereto. II also con-
cedes to the United States the fright to trails-
port across the isthmns, in closed bags the
mails Of the United States rot intended for
distribution along the line Of the commagica-
tion; also the effects Of the United States
government and its citizens which may
be intended for transit aud not for distribu-
tiOn on the isthmus. free custom house or
other charges by the Mexican government"
These treaty stipulutOns with New Grana-
da and Mexico, in addition to the considera-
ions applicable to the Nicaragua route, seem
to require legislation for the purpose OF carry
ing them iutO effect.
The injuries which have been inflicted upon
our citizens in Costa Rica and Nicargua du-
ring the last two or three years. have received
the prompt attention Of this government
Some of these injuries were of the most az
gravaied character. The transaction at Vir.
Bay in April, 1856, when company of 1n-
armed Americans. who were in no way con-
nected with any helgerant conduct or party,
were fred upon by the trDops of Costa Rica,
aud Numbers of them killed aud wounded. was
brought 10 the knowledge OF Congress by my
predecessor soon after its occurrence, and was
also presented TO the government Of Costa
Rica, for that iismediute investigation and re-
dress 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
.charoofar tbat 'tha frtuco..Iino .t Niroiu Raw
Al the time, however when our present min
lister TO Nicaragua was appointed, in Decem-
ber, 1857. no redress had been Obtaincd for
any of these wrongs and no reply even had
been received TO the demands which had been
made by this government upon that of Costa
Rica, more than wear before. Our minister
was Instructed therefore, TO lose no time in
expressing 10 those governments the deep re-
gFet with which the president had witnessed
this inatteniinn TO tlie just claims of the u.
s., and in demanding their prompt and saiis-
factory adjustment. Unless this demand shall
be complied with at an early day, il will only
remain for this government To adopt such
-other measures as may be necessary in order
TO obtain for itself that Justice which IL has
in,vain attempted to secure by peaceful means,
from the governments of Nicaragua aud Costa
Rica While il has shown and will conlinue
TO show. the most sincere regard Tor the rights
and honor Of these republics. IL canh0t per
nit this regard 10 be met by an utter neglect,
on their part. OF what l. due TO the govern
ment aud citizens Of the U. g.. e3H't'hf
Against New Granada we have long stand ;
ing cadSeS Of complaint, arising ont of the
unsatisied claims Of our citizens npOu that
republic; aud To these have been more recent
" added the .outrages committed upon our
citizens NJ Panama in April 1875. A treaty
for the alilstment OF these difficulties, was
concluded by the secretary of stale and the
minister of New Granada, in September, l857, 4,
which contained Just and acceptable provi-
sons for that purpose. This treaty was trans
mitted TO Bogota, aud was ratified by the
government Of New Granada but with Ger
tain amendments 1t was not. however re-
turned to this city until after the close Of the
last session of the Senate 1t will be imme-
diately yiransuitted toahat body Tor their ad,
vice and consent; and should this he obtained,
il will remove al our existing causes of COM
pi,siut against New Granada on tue subject of
claims.
Questions have arisen between the two
governments as to the right Of New Granada
10 levy tonnage duty upon the vessels of
the u S. in It's ports of The istbmus aud to
levy passenger tax npOn our citizens arriv-
ing in that country. whether with a design to
remain there or 10 pass from ocean TO ocean
by the transit route, and also a tax upon the