Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-12-21

this fails, 1t can proceed no further. 1t cannot
/ legitimajely resort TO force without the direct
authority Of Congress except in resisting and
repelling hostile attacks. 1t would have no
authority to enter the territories of Nicaragua
even to prevent the destruction of the transit,
and protect the lives and property of our own
/ citizens Oh their passage. 1t Is true that on a
sudden emergency of this character the Presi-
+ dent would direct any armed force in The viein
! lily TO march TO their relief but in doing this he
would act upon his own responsibility.
! THE TRANSIT ROUTE.
+ Under these circumstances earnestly recon-
mend to Congress the passage of an net author
+ ling the President, under such restrictions as
/ they may deem proper. TO employ the land and
naval forces of the United States in preventing y
i the transit from being obstructed or closed bv
lawless violence. and In protecting the lives and
property of American citizens travelling there
upon, requiring st the time that these
forces shall be Withdrawn the moment the dan
ger shall have passed away. Without such a
provision, citizens viii be constantly ex-
posed to interruption in their progress and to
lawiess violence.
a similar necessity exists for the passage of
such an act for the protection of the Panama
and Tehuantepec routes.
In reference TO the Panama route, the United
States 10y their existing treaty with New Gran
ada, expressly guarantee The neutrality of the
Isthmus, with the view that the free transit
g from the one to the other may not be in
terrupted or embarrassed in any future time
" while tins treaty exists.
In regard to the Tehuanterec route. which
has been recently opened under the most favor
able auspicies, our treaty with Mexico of the
30fh December, 1858, secures 10 the citizens of
the United States 4 right of transit over il for
their persons and merchandise, and stipulates
/ that neither Government shall " interpose any
obstacle" " thereto. 1t also comedies to the Uni
ted States the "rIght to transport across the
" Isthnus, inclosed tags. the mails of the United
- States not intended for distribution along The
" line of the communication also the effects of
d" the Jnited States Government and It's citizens
/" which NAV be intended for transit. and not for
" distribution on the Isthmus tiee of custom
:. house or other charges by tie Mexican Gov
" eminent"
These treaty stIpulations with New Granada
and Mexico, III addition to the considerations
applicable To the Nicaragua route, seem TO
qrire Legislation for the purpose of carrying
them into effect.
The injuries which have been inflicted uron
our citizens IN Costa Bica and icaragua during
the last two or three years have received the
prompt attention of the Government. Some of
these injuries of the most aggravated char
acter The transaction at Virgin Bay in April,
1856, when Il company of uuarmed Americans,
who We're i'll way connected with any belh-
gerent cunduct or party, were fired upon by the
troops of Costa Rica. and numbers of them kill
ed and wounded was brought to Tie knowledge
Of ougress by my predecessor soon after its
occurrence. and was also presented to the Gov
eminent of Costa Bica. for that immediate in
vrStIgaiIon and redress which the nature of the
case demanded. \ similar course was pursued
with reference to other outrages in these coun-
tries. some of which were hardly less aggrava-
TED in their character than tic transaction at
Virgin Bay. AT tie time. however, when our
present Minister TO Nicaragua was appointed,
IN December, 1881, 10 redress had been obtain
ed for any OF these wrongs. and no reply even
had been received to the demands which had
been made by this Government upon that uf
Costa Eica. more than a wear before. Our Min
lister was instructed therefore. to lose 10 time
iu expressing to those Governments the deep
regret with which tie President had witnessed
thls inattentIuu TO the Just claims of the United
States. and III den andiug tleIr prompt and sat
lStactrrN adjustment. Unless this demand shall
lie COMPLIED with at early day. 1t will only
remain for this Government to adopt such other
measures as NAV be necessary, in order to OBJ
tain for itself that juctice which II has III vain
attempted to secure by peaceful means from the
Governments Of Nicaragua aI4 Costa Rica.-
Nhile ii has shown, and viii continue to show,
the most sjucere regard for the rights and honor
OF these Republics It cannot Kermit This regard
10 be net 10y an utter neglect, on their art cf
" hat Is due TO the Government and citizens of
tie United States.
Against New Granada we have long-standing
causes Of complaint, arising out of The unsatIs.
fed claims OF our citizens upon that Republic ;
and to these have been more recently added the
outrages committed upon our citizens at Fana-
ma in \ pril. 1856 a treaty for he adjustment
Of these difficulties was concluded by the Sec
retarv Of State aud tie Minister of \ New Gran
ada, in September 1857, which contained just
and acceptable provisions for that purI ose--
This Il eaty was transmitted TO Eogots, and was
ratified by the Government of New Granada,
but with certain amendments. 1t was not, how
ever. 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 he obtain
ed it viii remove all our existing causes Of com
plant against New Granada on the subject of
claims.
Questions have arisen between the two gov
ernmcnts as to the right Of New Granada to levy
a touace duty upon the vessels Of the United
States in IL ports on the lsthmus, and TO levy
7 a Tasser ger tax upon our citizens arriving III
! jlat country, whether With design 10 remain
there or to pass from ocean to ocean by the
transit route, and also upon the mails of
the UnIteu States. At the same time, We are
prepared to discuss these questions in a spirit
Of arnitv and Justice. and with a sincere desire
/ 10 adjust them in q satisfactory mann, 7. a ne
goflation for that purpose has already been com
nenced No. effort has recently been made TO
collect these taxes nor is any anticir rated under
/ present circumstances.
BRAZIL.
With the empire of Brazil our relations are of
the nest friendly character. The predictions
If tie two countries, and especially those of an
agricultural nature. such rs TO invite exten-
sive mutual exchanges. large quantity Of
/ American -four is consumed in Brazil, whist
more han treble the amount of BRAZILIAN coffee
7 is consumed in the United States hist this
\ II the case. u heavy duty has been levied, until
+ verv recently. upon tie importation of AmeTi
can -four IN Brazil. / gratlhed, However, 10
+ he able 10 inform you that in September last It
was reduced from Sl.52 20 about 49 cents Per
barrel and the duties other articles OF our
production have been dImisLed IN nearly the
same proportion.
4 regret to state that tie government of Bra
I'll still continues TO levy an export duty OF ! l
per cent on coffee, uotW itls'audIrg this article
/ Is admitted tree from duty in the United States
f This i a heavy charge uFon the consumers OF
coffee IN our country as We purchase half of the
surplus crop Of that article raised in brazil
Our Minister under InslructloDs will relterate