Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-11

obtaining justice. In such case this remedy of
reprsals is recognized by the law of nations, not
only as just in itself, bat means Of preventing
actual war
Bat there another view Of our relations with Mexi
arising from the unhappy condition = affairs along
onr Southwestern frontier which demands Immediate
action In that remote region, where there but
few white Inhabitants large bands Of hostile and
datory Indians roam promscuously over the NeNlcan
States of Chihuahua and Sonora and adjoining Ter
ritories. The local governments Of these states are
perfectly helpless and kent in a state If constant
| alarm by the Indians. They have the power. II
they possessed the will even to restrain awcss Mexi
cans from passing the border and committing depre
datnns on our remote settlers. state Of anarchy
and violence prevails throughout that distant frontier
The laws lead Letter and life and property are
wholly insecure. For this reason the settlement Of
Arizona is arrested. whilst il of grrat importance
that chain Of inhabitants should extend all along its
southern border, sufficient for their protection
ana that ri the United States mails RAISING TO ana from
Well founded apprehensions are now entertainea
that the In 'ans, and wandering Ne Scans equally law
less, may break up the important stage and postal
communication recently established between our At
iahtc ana Facinc possessions. This nasSs Vet near
10 the Mexican boundary throughout the whole length
Of ATizonia. imagine possible rom ~ Tor
these evils land mode Of restoring law and order
that remote unsettled frontier but for the govern,
ment Of the United States 10 assume Temporary pro
tecnrate the northern portions Of Chihuahua and
: nora. and 10 establish military p SITS within the
same-and this earnestly recommend to Cong ess.
This protection may he withdrawn soon as local
governments shall be established in these Mexic 3
States canable OF performing their duties o. III" United
States restra ming the lawess and preserving peace
along the border
do not doubt that this great measure will he
viewed in a friendly spirit by the governments and
people of chihuahua and Sonora. as i will prove
equally efectua 70 the ection or their citizens
on that remote and lawess frontier as for citizens
of the Unite States.
And in this connection permit to recall your
attention to the condition of Arizona The Popula
ton of that Territory, numbering, as $ alleged.
more than ten tn usand souls. practically with
out government. with III laws and without any regu
lar administration of jus ice MurdeT and other
crimes committed with impunity This state Of
-
peat my recomme ndaton for the establishment Of a
4 Territorial government over Arizona
The political c"uditinn Of The narrow iSthmus of
Central America. through which transi; routes pass
/ between the Atlantic and Pacific ocea' presents
subject Of deep interest 10 all commerrlal nations
II is these trars that large proportion If q
trade and travel between the Eurorean and Asiati'
cor tiuents is destined 10 To the United Sties
| these routes are OF lHcalcul3bie imbort2nce as .
means Of commune atom between their Atlantic an
| Pacific possessions. The latter now extend through
out seventeen degrees nf latitude the Pacific coast
embracing the important state sf California and th'
| -four shing Tsrrft iries Of Oregon ard Washi"gtnn
| AT c"mmHrcial matt ms therefore, have a deco ana
| direct int rest that these commune tons shlll d.
rendered secure from Interruption II an arm Of the
sea. CONNECTING the oceans, penetrate throucl
| Nicaragua an Costa Rca, it cOull not be pr"te'de
t'at ti'se t'ie- "'ull nave 'h' w 10 arr" re
| tard its avigation 10 the injury Of other nations
The transit by lond over this narrow isthmus oc
| cupies nearly the same position II is a highway
in which they themselves have little interest when
compared with the vast interests Of the rest Of the
world. Whilst their rights OF sovereignty ought TO
I've respected, il is the duty of other nations to re-
quire that this important passage shall not be in
terrupted by the civil and revolutionary out
breaks which have so frequently occurred in that
region. The stake is important to be left the
| mercy of rival companies claiming to hold con
hctng contracts with Nicaragua. The commerce
of other nations is not to stand still and await the
adjustment Of such petty controversies. The Gov
erment of the Unit ed States pect no more than
his and they will not he satisfied with less. They
would not, if they could, derive any advaantge
from the Nicaragua transit not common to the rest
OF the world.
IT. neut atty and protection for the common Of
all nations is their only object. They have uhjec-
ton That Ncaragra shall demand ana receive fur
compcns ton from the companies and individuals who
may traverse the route; but they insist that il shall
never hereafter be closed by Arbitrary degree of
that Government If disputes arise between II and
those with whom they may have entered into con
| tracts these must he adjusted by some fair tribunal
provided FOR the purpose and the route must not be-
| closed pending the controversy This i whole
pocy, and cannot fail TO be acceptable to other
tons.
All these dificu'es might he avoided it. consistent
| " with the good faith Of NicaragI1, the OF this
transit could bc thrown open To- general competition
| providing AT the same time for the payment Of rea
snnahe rate I" tie Ncaraguan Government on pas
| sengerS and freight.
In August 1852 the Accessory Transit Company
made is first interoceanir trip over the NcaraEuau
route, and continued IN successful operation. with
great advantage 10 the public until the 18th F.brua
~. 1856, when it closed, and the grant o. t :
company, well as It's charter, were summariy and
arbitrarily revoked by the Government q President
Rivas. Previous to this date, however, IN 1854, Sc
rious disputes concerning IN" settlement uf ther ac
counts had arisen between the company ami the GOV
eminent, threatening the interruption Of the route Al
any moment These the United Stltcs vain en-
deayored to connose IL woud be useless To narratc
the various proceedings which took place between
the parties up till the time when the transit was dis
continued. Suffice it to saw that since Fchy, 1886
il has remained closed greatly e. the prejudice Of ct
izans "f the United States Since that time the com
petition has ceased between the rival routes Of Pana
and Nicaragua, and in consequence thereof an un
Just and unreasonable amount has been "Naccd IRON
citizens for their sSaCe to and fr' IN California
treaty was signei on the 10Th day OF November
1896, by the secretary Of state ana MnStel
of Nicaragua under the stipuatious of which the
and protection of the transit route would have bec'
secured, not oHiy u the United states, but equally
all other nations. How and on what prejcNts tat
treaty has failed to receive the ratification OF the Nc
araguan Government will appear by the papers here
with communicated from the state Department. The
prime obi ction have been Ia the provision
authorizing the Uuited states employ force keel
the route open, case Nicaragua should fail So per
form her duty IN ts resect- From the feeblrncss A"
that Republic, lis frequent changes Of government
and its consttnt internal dssensions, TINS hal become
a most important stipulation, ani one essentially nc
cessary not only for the security OF the route, but
the tfcy Of American citizens passing and rena~sni
| ami from Pacific 'Ssiuns- We're such
stpultton embraced IN the treaty between the IEtoS
States aud Nicaragua, the knowledge Of this fact woul,
Of itself IN - probably prevent hostile parties fr"H
| committing aggressnns on the route and render ou
actual Interference for its protection unnecessary
The Executive Government OF this country, in il
intercourse with foreign nations is limited C. the EN-
pl ym-nt Of diplomacy alone. When this fails IL Cal
proceed further. II cannot legitim4tey resort Il
force without the direct authority Of Congress, ex
cupt IN resisting and repeIiiag hostile ATTACKS II
would have no authority enter territories o
| Nicaragua, even to prevent the destruction OF the
aud protect the lives and property Of
citizens their issag~. 1t Is that sud lea
emergency of this character the President wouid d.
recs any armed force the vicinity o march thei,
relief; hut IN doing thus he would act upon his own
Under these circumstances I earnestly recommend
to Congress- the passage Of act anti oriLinR the
Ore ident, under such restrictions they may deem
proper, TO employ the land and naval forces Of fhs
| United States in preventing The transit from
being obstructed or clos by aw violence and Ia
protec 'ing the lives and property of Amsrc eiii
gems travelling therenpon' recurring al the same tune
that these forces shall be Withdrawn the moment the
danger shall have passed way. Without such pro-
vision citizens viii be constantly exposed t. in
terruPon in their progress and to iaNeSs violence
A similar necessity exist for The passage OF such
act for the protection of the PA7amA and rehu-
antepec routes.
10 reference 10 the Panama route. .he United
States. ny their ex sting treaty with Few Granada,
expressly guaranty the neutrality OF tae Isihmus
with the view that the free transit from the
the other may mt be interrupted or embarrassed
in any future time wh'l- this treat, esists"
| In regard 10 tbs r-hnsntepec route, which has
been recently opened under the most favorable
pieces treaty With Mexico Of the 18th necember
l>as secures to the ctI-ns Of the United states a
right Of transit over IL Tor their persons aud mer-
chzndise, ard stipulstes that neither 20 c nmrnt
shall .interpos- any obstacle" thereto d also con
cedes 10 the United states the right 10 transport
the Isthmus, in c ss-d bags, the mails Of the
United stA.es Intended for distribution along he
line OF the communication also the esects Of the
Unit-d states Government End its eitizsEs which
be intended Tor transit, ami not for distribution on
the Isthmus, free OF custom house other charges
| by the Mexican Go ernment"
The,e treaty siipulations with New GrAnadA and
Mexiso, In addition 10 the considerations applicable
| 70 the Nicaragua route seem 20 require l. satiOn
for the purpose OF Carrying them into eject
TIE injuries which have been inn ctel upon cit
liens Ia Costa RicA and Nesraguz. during the last
two o three years, have received the prompt Aiten
ton OF this COVE nmrnt. some OF these Injuries
Of the mast aggravated ehAracfer-F The trans
acton NiEE aAy ia APEli. 1850 ~hsn = eom.,sny
OF una med Americans. wh ~ere IA no Uay connect
ed with any beiligrrens coaduct or party, G. cd
! upon by the troops of Gotta Rica. aud nutnbe If
them xii eli and wounded. Was Drosght TO the know
ledge of Congress by prvdec ssor sDon after its
occurrence. and sas also prrseHsed u the q yuru-
ment Of Costa Rca Tor that tmm-dizte invest gstou
aud redress Sh ca the nature Of the demanded.
stint pursurd with Reference 10 other
nutrages in these sntries Of winch hard
" les aggravated their char 4cter than The
don at Virgin Bay.
| At the time ho~ever. when our present Minister
| 20 Nicaragua appointed, IN Decemoe-s IS I, no
redress h<d obtained foF any Of these wrongs,
1 l. a - L