The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-12-16

Nicaraugua should fail to perform her
duty an this respect. From the feeble-I
ness ofthatrepublic, its frequent changes
ces of government, and its constant
internal dissentions, this had become a
most important stipulation, and one
essentially necessary not only for the
security of the route, but for the safety
of American citizens passing and re-
passing to and from our Pacific posses
sionsy w ere such q stipulation en-
braced in treaty between the United
States and Nicaragua, the knowledge
of this fact would Of itself most proba-
bly prevent hostile parties from COM
hitting aggressions ON the route, and
render our actual interference for its
protection unnecessary. Goifuii3slca|
The executive government of this
country, in its intercourse with foreign
nations, is limited to the employment
of diplomacy alone. When this falls,
it can proceed no further. 1t cannot,
legitimately, resort to force, without
the. direct authority of Congress, ex-
cept in resisting and repelling hostile
attacks. 1t would have no authority
to enter the territories of Nicaraugua,
even to prevent the destruction of the
transit, and protect the lives and pro-
perty of our own citizens on their pas
sage. Its true that on sudden emer-
gency of this character the President
would direct any armed forced in the
vicinity to march to their relief, but in
doing this he would act upon his own
responsibility. ev a3.
Under these circumstances, l earn
estly recommend to Congress the pas
sage of an act authorizing the Presi-
dent, under such restrictions as they
may deem proper, to employ the land
and naval forces of the United States
in preventing the transit from being
DISTRACTED or closed by lawless violence,
and in protecting the lives and property
of American citizens travelling there
upon, requiring at the same time, that
these forces shall be withdrawn the
moment the danger shall have passed
away. Without such provision, our
citizens will be constantly exposed to
interruption in their progress, and to
lawless violence.
A similar necessity exists for the
passage of such an act for the protec-
ton of the Panama and Tehuantepec
routes. 81 E5Uw tEZl e. re'zs35 Oh
In reference to the Panama route,
the United States, by their existing
treaty with New Granada, expressly
guarantee the neutrality of the 18TH
mus, /" with the view that the free tran
sit from the one to the other sea may
not be interrupted or embarrassed in
any future time while the treaty exists"
In regard to the Tehuantepec route, which hes
been recently opened under the most favorable
auspices our treaty with Mexico of the 30th Dec,
1889 secures to the citizens of the United States
right of transit over it for their persons and mer
chandize, and STIMULATES that neither party shall
'interpose anv obstacle thereto. 1t also comedies
to the United States the ght to transport
the Isthmus, in closed bags the mails OF the U. 5.
not intended for distribution along the line of the
communication Also the effects of the United
States government and its citizens which may be
intended for transit and not for distribution on the
Isthmus free of Custom House or other charges by
| the Mexican government.
| The treaty stipulations with New Granada and
Mexico, in addition to the considerations applica-
BILE to the Nicaragua route, seem TO require legis-
|
| The injuries which have been inflicted upon our
citizens in Costa RIGA and Ncaraugua during the
last two or three years, have received the prompt
attention of the government. Some of these III
iurics were of the most aggravated character The
transaction at Virgin Bay in April, 1850, when a
company of unarmed Americans who were in no
way connected with any belgerent conduct or
party were fired upon by the troops of Costa RIGA,
and numbers of them killed and wounded, was
brought to the knowledge of Congress by my pre-
decessor, soon after its occurrence, and was also
presented to the government OF Costa Rlca, for
that immediate investigation and redress which the
nature of the case demanded. similfr course
was pursued with reference to other outrages in
| these countries, some of which were hardly less
aggravating in their character than the transac-
tions at Virgin Bay.
/ At the time, however, when our present Minister
to Nicaragua was appointed, in December, 1857 mo
redress had been obtained for any OF these wrongs,
| and no reply even had been received to the de-
mands which had been made by this government
upon that of Costa Rica, more than year before.
Our minister was instructed, therefore to lose no
| time in expressing TO those governments the deep
rearet with which the President has witnessed this
nattenton to the just claims of the United States
| and in demanding their prompt and satisfactory
adjustment. Unless this demand shall be complied
with at an early day. it will only remain for this
| government to adopt such other measures as may
be necessary in order to obtain for itself that JUS
tice which it has in vain attempted to secure by
peaceful means, from the governments of Nicara-
qua 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
permit this regardto be met by an utter neglect, on
their part of what is due to the government and
citizens of the United States. .tii'...t
| Against New Granada We have long standing
causes of complaint arising out of the unsatistied
claims of our citizens upon that Republic; and to
| these have been more recently added the outrages
committed upon our citizens at Panama in April,
1856. A treaty for the adjustment Of these diff
culties was concluded by the Secretary of State
and the Minister of New Granada, in September,
| 1851, which contained Just and acceptable provi-
sions for that purpose This treaty was transmitted
to Bogota, and ratified by the government of New
| Granada but with certain amendments. 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 that body for their
advice and consent; and should this be obtained,
it win remove all our existing causes of complaint
against New Granada on the subject of claims
| Questions have arisen between the two govern
ments as to the right of New Granada, to levy a
tonnage duty upon the vessels of the United States
in its ports of the Isthmus, and to levy passenger
tax upon citizens arriving in that country,
whether with design to remain there or to pass
from ocean to ocean by the transit route, and also
a tax upon the mails of the United States trans
ported over the Panama railroad. The govern
ment of New Granada has been informed that the
United States would consider the collection of
either of these taxes as an act OF 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 dues-
sincere desire to adjust them in a satisfactory
manner. A negotiation for that purpose has al
ready been commenced No effort has recently
been made to collect these taxes, nor is any aii-
tcipated under present circumstances. With the
empire of Brazil our reatione are OF the most friend
1 oft no two frip