The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-16

| The executive government of this coun
try, In its intercourse with foreign nations
is limited 10 the employment Of diplomac,
alone. When this fails, il can proceed n,
further. II cannot legitimately resort 4
force, without the direct authority of Con
gress except Ia resisting and repclling hos
tile attacks. Ii would have NO authority /,
enter tho territories OF Nicaragua. even (,
prevent the destruction of the transit. an,
to protect the lives and property of our owl
citizens on their passage, II is true that oi
a sudden emergency of this character, til,
President would direct an armed force In
the vicinity a. march to their relief, but il
doing this he would act on his own respon
sibility,
ruR TRANSIT ROUTES, Sc.
Under these circumstances | would earn
cstly recommend Ia Congress the. passage o
an act authorizing the President, under
such restrictions IA 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 lawlcss vic
lence, and in protecting the lives and prop
etty of American citizens travelling there
upon, reqelring at the same time that these
| forces shall be withdrawn at the moment
the danger shall have passed away. with
out such provision, our citizens Will be
| constantly exposed "a interruption In their
| progress, and a. lawless violence
A similar necessity exists for the passage
Of such an act. for the protection Of the
| Panama and Tehuantepec routes,
| In reference 10 the Panama route, the
| United States by their existing treaty with
New Granada. expressly guarantees the
| neutrality of the lSthmus, with the view
| that the free transit from the one to the
other sea may not he interrupted or embar-
rassed in any future time while the treaty
| exists
| Ia regard Ia the Teh,antepec route, which
has been recently opened under the most
favorable auspices, our treaty with Mexico,
Of the 30th December, 1863, secures TO the
citizens Of the United States a right of
transit over IL for their persons and mercl,
andise, and stpulatcs that neither govern.
Incnt shall 'inierrosc any obstacle thereto
| II also conceds "a the United States ''the
right to transport across tho lsthn,s, In
closed bags, the mails OF the United States,
not Intended for distribution along the Hue
OF the communication; also the effects Of
tho United States Government and il citi-
acns which may he intended for transit, and
Custom House OF other charges by the Mex.
lean govefnmcntt'
These treaty stipulations with New Ora.
NADIA and Mexico, In addition Co the consid
erations applicable 10 the Nicaragua route,
seem ~ require legislation ioI the purpose
Of carrying them into effect
The Injuries which have been inflicted
| upon our citizens In Costa Rica and Nicara-
qua during the last two of three years. have
received the prompt attention of this gov
eminent Some Of these injuries were Of
the most aggravated character. The trans.
actions at Virgin Bay ia April 1896, when a
company Of unariped Americans, who were
In no way connected with any belligercnt
conduct or party, were fired upon 10y tho
troops of costa Iiica, and numbers Of them
killed and wounded, was brought Ia She
knowledge Of Congress by my predecessor
ston after It's occurrence, and was also pre-
scnted 10 the government of Costa Rica tor
that immediate investigation and redress
which the nature Of the case demanded A
similar course war pursued with reference to
other outragcs Ia these Countries, some Of
which were hardly less aggravated Ia their
character than thc transaction nj Virgin
Bay. Al the time, however, when our pres
cnt Minister Ia Nicaragua was appointed.
in December, 1851, no redress had been oh.
tanned for any If these wrongs, and no re
ply even had been received Ia the demands
which had been made hy this government
upon that Of Costa ItiCa, more than u year
before Our Minister was instructed there.
iore, 10 lose no time In expressing ~ those
governments the deep regret with which the
President had witnessed this inattcntion ~
the lust claims Of the United States and in
demanding their prompt and satisfactory nd.
ltstmcbt Unless this demand shall be
complied with at an early day, IL will only
remain for this government Ia adopt such
other measures ~ may be necessary, In or
der for IL 10 obtain for itself that justice
which IL has IN vain attempted 10 secure by
peaceful means, from the governments II
Nicaragua and Costa llica, While II las
shown, and will continue tO show, tho most
sincere regard for the rights and honor ~
these republics. it cannot permit this regard
10 he met by an utter neglect, on their part,
u what il due 10 the government and citi.
uns Of the United States
Against New Granada We havs long
standing causes for complaint, arising out Of
the unsatisfled claims Of our citizens against
that Republic; and 10 these have been more
recently added the outrages committed up.
on our citizeDs at Panama, Ia April, 1856.
A treaty for the adjustment II these diii
cultbs. was concluded by the secretary Of
State and the Minister vi New Granada. In
September, 1851, which contained just aud
acceptable provisions for that purgo@n. This
treaty xas transmitted ~ logots. and was
ratified by the government u New Granada
bat with certain amendments. IL was not,
however. returned u this city until after
tie clone II the last sessiOD Of the Senate.
It will bc Immediately transmitted To that
BODY fpr their advice and consent
should this h. obtained. IL will remove
all our existing cause III complaint against
New Granada on the subject vi claims.
lnestions have arisen between the two
governments ~ ~ the right u New Gfeua-
~. h, levy . tonnage dnty upon the vessels
ID the United States ia il ports ii the 18TH
mus, asd " levy passenger tar upon our
ciiiDns arriving In that country, whether
with design ~ remain there ~ pas~
from ocean ~ Dcean by the traDsit route,
and also tax upon the mails u the United
States Transported over the Panama rail.
rovi The Government u New Granada