Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-17
L.,rTTER FROM NEW YORK.
Correspondence of the Richmond AnlI'r's.!
SrH Yoyr. pSSelnbcr IS, lS3s.

NEwiYorr, Dese'uber Is, ISIS
We have had stirring news from nearly u
quarters Of the globe to como to a n "'li'''
the past two days. From tho Pacinc coaS
reaching from California to Chill on the Allan
tic side from Central and South America, an'
from all parts Of Europe.
That however, which has excited most into
rest. has come to us from the harbor Of St
Juan del Nicaragua.
The boarding of the Washington by British
officers unatoncd for, may be considered u sc
rious affair, and will in any event afford Il pc:
on which many n fiery politician can hang 4;
speech.
Unfortunately, however, for the immediate
war PARTY, it would seem that the British Minis
ter Sir WIN. Gore Ouscley had already rendered
an apology for this ill-adviscd Act. In TN
event are we to disregard honorable apologize
and 20 to war? In such a proceeding wonl;
we carry the good opinion Of the world W.T.
us:
A letter from Panama dated the t:h instant
closes with the following paragraph:
Tn. Roanoke returned TO A>r.nxa!! or the afternoon o
the Cd: they Jeff Gr.y,own on The lS' Of the month. Gh.'
r~ec.irinp an ap"io1v f'ch' h'T GoFe nn-eifv dnf ~
cara,iH Of n. ynl" o1' TO. "re "hsaNa2 ~ "''a's1r
II the vaiorous With H. family; l.. sal TO h. Gri:e Ill vii!
Central American fever.
Admitting this statement TO bc true. do thc
hot-hcadS still contend for war:
An these difficulties have grown ~ ;ro!a the
impcrfcct.ons of one Of the NEST unfortunate
treaties ever maic by the United States, ;hu
OF the Clavton. Bulwcr nil .ir; made more coin
plicatcd by the war over the Nic"raslin roitc'
by ambitious and no; ovcr-Scrupulcls ~citlIti!-
OF the Unitci States. whose influence. IN part,
was exercised in the formation o. SAL treaty.
As we anticipate woaid likely be the case,
the Washington filled TO make 6 eonncXion
with the Hermann. and the passengers. aS YOU
will have seen. have been subjected to great
horlshipS. which, under the circumstances
they have submitted To with great f'r'itnht. -
The f,ilure o. the Hermann to touch at 81. Juan
del $ ,r for the WaSh'ng'ons p"s:ns'r -. Is
severely condemned; and III pubic min is
no, without suspicion. that unflr means were
cnploycd BY the agents of the Panama Rail
rad COMPANY and the Pacific Mil Stel'nSlhp
Company, TO induce her chief o.i;erS to 8
direct from Panama to %'liiornia.
This same Intriguing influence sent cxasgcra-
ted reports TO Nicaragua. stating that they were
about being invaded ny eco fill .buSter>. These
rcports were said to have been spread among
the natives, br Webster and Spencer. secret
agents Of yanderbilt's, residing i'll Nicaragua.
which led them at first 20 oppose Capt. Chiid :
passing IN in the Maria.
The stake this party is PLAYING for Is the b"-
nus Of $4,000 per mcath. Efforts Will be made
70 tho last. 10 keep the route closed, even ii 1t
can be effected in no other way than by the ~
te-vention OF the English and French and the
occurrence o. war itself. And no doubt tney
succeeded in greatly alarming Sir Wm. Gore
Ousiey, by their false and exaggerated stores.
which caused him, in IN excited and unguarded
momcnt, to authorize the boarding the Wash
inCton, of which rash act he soon rencntcd and
apologised for.
Had our government an understanding with
Sir Gore OuSlev. o. not, before he went 10 Nj
caragua? Was it agreed that ho,h governments
should be at liberty 20 arrest Fi?iibu>tefs: 1t
so. how was il TO DC doncg Is there any gov
in Nicaragua. or not? She seems 10
be regarded as possessing an Organized govern
mcnt in orc sense. and is yet treated by us and
by England as though she had no government.
She has two ministers in this country, each dis.
putting the authority Of the other; vet VIC claim
that she has no government, and so does Eng
land; because the latter, it IS said. has placed
the Musouito Coast under her prottrfort'c. II
she has 4 government. what right had Commo-
dorc Paulding 10 invade her soil. and to seize
AMERICANS vino mad landed in hcr borders
What right had England TO board q friendly
vessel in her waters. and 70 chase another YES
sci in the Colorado river: lIow ar do our rcu.
traiity laws extend beyond the jurisdiction Of
the United States: Do they cross the borders
of other States: Il seems 20 Us, that. unless
England can show that she has acquired the
RICH, hy treaty IRON Nicaragua. and by agree
mcnt. or treaty with Us. tia, she has no right
to arrest FiiiibusterS. when once they have
landed, or coiae within the jurisdiction Of vi.
caracua. Suppose a British cruiser to capture
The Susan" and make prisoners of her men.
what disposition would she make Of them:
She would not dare 10 hang them rs pirates.
She would likely propose 10 give them UP 70
one Of our vessels Of wal. But suppnSe such
vessel should decline 10 receive them. what
then: Would she land them at 2 rort in the
United States. or at a foreign port. on = naroic
Of honor: The case may arise. and excite the
ieepc>, interest throughout the country.
By the movements indicated on the part OF
the allies. they are ci!her lon; on az honorable
or dishonorablc course ,o~ardS oar Southern
neighhors. through vhoe, terri: RIGS uninier-
ruptcd rights Of way are more im"oiiant 10 Us
than TO any other people unG"r the sun, and
which we must Maintain 4, 81! hazards, be it
by war or otherwise.
There il one mode, however. in which all
th;se complications with Central and South
America and with Mexico can he nut right and
permanently at rest, provided the allies are
actuated by honorable views. and that is. tn
call an lntcrna,io nal Convention. to which the
United States, France. England, and Spain
shall senl representatives. at which fair and
LIBERAL mea :ures can be discussed in 4 friendly
spirit, and definite settled. ASthe questions
to be discussed would be those in which Russia
POSSESSES m interest. she would not, ofcoursc.
be expected to participate.
lst. The basis of negotiations might he nrrang
eiby award ne 10 the United Safes the pro:rc.
torate Of Mexico. or a large share Of il.
I'd. The sale Of Cuba TO the United States,
By which the slave trade wonld he abolished
and one source Of international squabbleS pat
to rest.
Sd, Spain TO be guaranteed. besides rcceiv-
ing purchase money! a rerennc in some FORM
and in amount eQuivaler; to that she now re-
ceives from the Island OF Cuba.
9TH, All the inter.occanic routes. including
Panama. Nicaragua, Honduras and Tehauntc-
pee to be kept permanently open to the people
of all nations.
Some might object to inc last proposition
under the plea that it would be forming en-
tangling alliances. Du' was not our treaty
with Granada in favor oi.he mutual protection
of transit over the Pan;jna Rail Road. an en-
tangling alliance:
The Clayton Bulwer Treaty was a miserable
entangling alliance. In other words it has
proved exceedingly entanslins, without settling
or accomplishing anythins useful whatcror.
and ought to be abrogascd. But before Con
gress annuls it, let them authorize the Prcsi-
dent to propose to meet England. France and
Spain in Convention, at Washington, or else
where. and if We cannot, in that convention Sc
-. A. 4 ~ -.,o-,tt.,.. e ,,- ,,y',. mn ri,