White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-30
WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS, THURSDAY DECEMBER 80, 1853

: All these difficulties might be avoided
! il, consistently with the good faith of Nj
caraguI, the use Of this transit could b
J thrown open to the general competition
providing at the same time for the pay
ment of reasonable rate to the Nicara
guam government, on passengers ant
freight.
In August, 1852, the Accessory Tran
sit Company made its first interoceani,
i trip ever the Nicaraguan route, and con
tinued in successful operation, with grea
advantage to the public, until the 1Stl
Of February, 1856, when it was closed
and the grant to this Company, as vel
as its charter, were summarily and arbi
trarily revoked by the government oil
President Rivas. Previous to this date,
however, in 1854, serious disputes con-
corning the settlement of their accounts
had arisen between the Company and the
government, threatening an interruption
Of the route at any moment. These the
United Stetes in vain endeaVored to CON-
pose. 1t would be useless to uarrate the
various proceedings which took place be-
tween the parties, up till the time when
the transit was discontinued. Suffice it
to say that since February, 1856, it has
remained closed, greatly to the prejudice
Of the citizens Of the United States.
Since that time the competition has ceas-
ed between the rival routes of Panama
and Nicaragua, and, in consequence there
OF, an unjust and unreasonable amount
has been exacted from our citizens for
their passage to and from California.
A treaty was signed on the 10th day
of November, 1857, by the Secretary Of
State and Minister at Nicaragua, under
the stipulations of which the use and pro-
lection Of the transit route would have
been secured, not only to the United
States, but equally to all other nations.
How and on what pretext this treaty has
failed to receive the ratification Of the
Nicaraguan government, will appear by
the papers herewith communicated from
the State Department. The principal
objection seems to have been to the pro-
vision authorizing the United States to
employ force to keep the. route open, in
case Nicaragua should fail to perform her
duty in this respect. From the feeble
ness Of tina. republic, its frequent changes
of government, and its constant internal
dissensiOns, this had become a most i'm
portant stipulation, and one essentially
necessary not only for the security of the
route, but for the safety of American cit
liens passing and repaSsing to and from
our Pacific possessions. Were such a
stipulation embraced in treaty between
the United States and Nicaragua, the
knowledge of this fact would of itself,
most probably, prevent hostile parties
from committing aggreSsions on the route,
and render our actual interference for Its
protection unnecessary.
The executive government of this coun-
try, in its intercourse with foreign ma
tions, is limited TO the employment of d.
plomacy alone. When this fails, it can
proceed no farther. 1t cannot legitimate
ly resort to force, without the authority
of Congress, except in resisting and re-
polling hostile attacks. 1t would have
no authority to enter the territory of Nj
caragua, even to prevent the destruction
Of the transit, and protect the lives and
property of our own citizens on their pas
sage. 1t is true, that on a sudden emer-
gency Of this character, the President
would direct any armed force in the vi
cinity to march to their relief; but in
doing this, he would act upon his own
responsibility.
Under these circumstances, l earnestly
recommend to Congress, the passage Of
an act authorizing the President, under
such restrictions as they may deem prop
err, to employ the land and naval forces
of the United States, in preventing the
transit from being obstructed or closed by
lawless violence, and in protecting the
lives and property of American citizens,
travelling thereupon, requiring at the
same time that these forces shall be with
drawn the moment the danger shall have
passed away. Without such a provis-
ion, our citizens will be constantly expo
sed to interruption in their progress, and
to lawless. violence.
A similar necessity exists for the pas
sage of such an act, for the protection of
the Panama and Tehuantepec routes.
In reference to the Panama route, the
United States, by their existing treaty
with New Granada, expressly guarantee
the neutrality of the Isthmus, with the
view that the free transit from the one to
the other sea may not be interrupted or
embarrassed in any future time while this
treaty exists"
In regard to the Tehuantepec route.
which has been recently opened under the
most favorable auspices, our treaty with
Mexico Of Both December, 1858, secures
to the citizens of the United States, the
right of transit over it for their persons
and merchandise, and stipulstes that nei-
Their government shall ''interpose any OBJ
stacle" thereto. It also comedies to the
United States, the Fright to transport
across the Isthmus, in closed bags, the
mails Of the United States not intended
for distribution along the line Of the COM
munication; also, the effects of the Uni
ted 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"
These treaty stipulations with New
Granada and Mexico, in addition to the
considerations applicable to the Nicara-
guam route, seem to require legislation for