The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-12-17


February, 1886, IT has remained closed, greatly
TO the predjudce Of citizens of the United States.
Since that tine the competition has ceased be-
tween the rival routes OF Panama and NIcara-
qua, and 10 consequence thereof, an unjust
and UNI easonable amount has been exacted from
onr citizens for THAR passage to and from California
A treaty was signed on the 10th OF Novem-
Der, 1857, by the Secretary OF State and Minis
ter of Nicaragua, under the stpulaiions of
which the use and protection of the transit route
would have been secured, not only to the Uni
ted States, but equally TO all other nations. -
How and on wha; prelext this treaty has failed
10 receive the ratification OF The Nicaragnan
government, will appear by the papers here
with communicated from the State Department.
The principal objection seems TO have been
to the provision authorising the United States
10 employ force 10 keep the route open, if
Nicaragua should fail to perform her duty in
| this respect: From the teebleness Of that re-
public. its frequent changes of government, and
I IFS constant internal dlssensions, tins had be-
come most important stipulation, aud one
| essentially necessary moi only Tor the security
! of the route, but for the safety of American cii-
zens passing and FepassIng to aud from our Pdci-
! fc possessions Were such a stipulation
! embraced in a 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 Tor lis protection
/ unnecessary.
! The executive government OF this country,
! IN its intercourse with foreign nations, is llml-
| ted to the employment of diplomacy alone
/ When this fails, it can proceed DO further. 1t
cannot legitimateiy 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 NlcaTa-
qua, even to prevent the destruction OF The tram
sit, and protect the lives and property ofour own
citizens on their passage. 1t Is true that on
sudden emergency Of this character, the Presl-
deaf would direct any armed force IN the vicinl-
ty TO march 10 their relief, but IN doing thus
| be would act upon his own responsibility.
Under these circumstances, | earnestly re-
commend 10 Congress the passage OF an act
authorizing the President, under such .restrlc-
tions as they may deem proper, to employ the
/ land and naval forces Of the United States in
preventing the transit from being obstructed
OF closed BY lawe5s violence, and in protecting
the lives and property of American Citizens
travelling thereupon, requiring at the same time
these forces shall be Withdrawn the mo-
ment thedanger shall have passed away. With
out such a provision, our citizens will be
constantly exposed to interruption IN their pro
greSs, and 10 awleSs violence.
A similar necessity exists for the passage Of
such an act, for the protection of the Panama
and Tehuantepec routes. In refeTcnce to the
Panama route, the United States, BY their exiS-
ting treatywith New Granada. expressly guaran-
lee the neutrality Of the lshmuS, ''with the
of hi frna ha no. n tho
other sea may not be interrupted or en-
barrassed in any future time while this tea exists.
regard TO the Tehuantepec route, which has
been recently opened under themoSt favorable
auspices, our treaty with Mexico Of the 30th
December, 1853, secures to the citizens OF the
United States right of transit over IT for their
neeT saa Stp9aiss 9h9 o55a aat
Gle" thereto. II also comedies 10 the United
States the 'right to transport across the Ishruus
in closed bags, the mails of the United States
not intended for distribution along the line of
the communication also, the effects Of the Uni
ted States government and IFS citizens which
may be intended f3r transit and not for distribu-
ton 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
require legislation for thr purpJse of Carrying
them into effect.
The injuries which have been inflicted upon
our citizens in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, du-
ing the last two or three years, have received
the prompt attention OF this government. Some Of
these injuries were Of the most aggravated
character. The transaction at Virgin Bay
in April, 1886, when a company Of unarmed
i AmFriCanS who were in M Wav connected
With any beligerent conduct or party, were
fred upon by The troops of COSTA Rica, aud num-
bers Of them killed and Wounded, was brought
to the knowledge OF Congress by my predeces
Sor soon after lis occurrence, and was also
| presented to the government of Costa Rica, for
that immediate investigation ard redress which
the nature of the case demanded. A similar
course was pursued with reference 10 other out
! RACES IN these countries, some Of which were
hardly less aggravated in their character than
the transaction at Virgin Bay. At the time,
| however, when our present minister 10 Nicara-
! qua was appointed, in December, 1857, no re-
dress had been obtained for any Of these wrongs,
and no reply even bad been received TO the
demands which had been made by this govern
ment upon that of Costa Rica more than year
before. Oar minister was instructed, therefore,
| to lose no time in expressing 10 those govern
mrnts the deep regret with which the President
witnessed this inattention TO the Just claims OF
the United states, and in demanding their
prompt and satisfactory adjustment. Unless
this demand shall be complied with at all early
day, it only remains for this government to a
dopt such pther measures as may be necessary,
in order TO obtain for itself that Justice which ii
has IN vain attempted TO secure by peaceful
f-Dr1,