The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-12-17

ceedngs vyhitsh took ptoee betweep the mar
ties. nm ls,ll The time wben the transit IVA.
discontinued. Suffice Il to say that. since
February. 1886. n has remnioed closed.
greatly 10 the nssiudice Of citizsns Of tbs
(Jnjted States. Since Tint tims The CONNIE
t;,iop has censed between ,she risat,routes of
Panama and Mica, agua, ana, In conscoueuce
thereof, mn unjust and unreaso, a ble ,inoi5nt,
has been exncted fro,s, ouv oitikeps for tbelr
passage TO and~from California.
A treaty WIS signed on the 18th day. Of
November, 1857, by the Secretary Of State
and ministers of Nicaragua, under the stipu.
lations of which the use and protection of
the transit route would. have been secured.
not only TO the United States. but equally Is
all other nationss How aud on what pre-
texts this treaty ha. failed TO receive the
ratification of The Nicarneuan government,
will appear by the papers herewith commu,
nicated from the State Department. The
principal objection seems 10 have been,s to
the provision authorizing the United States
to employ force 10 keep the route open, case
Nicaragua should fail to perform her duty In
this respect. From the feebleness 81 that
republic, its fre1nent changes of government.
and its constant internal discussions, this
had become II most important stipulation,
and one essentially necessary not only for
the security Of the route, but for the safety
OF American citizens passing and repassing
to and from our Pacific possessions. Were
such stipulation embraced In treaty be-
tween the United States and Nicaragua, the
knowledge of this fact would of itself most
probably prevent hostile parties from CON-
hitting Impressions on the route, ana render
our actual interference for its protection I'M
necessary. &F
The executive government OF this country,
In IT. intercourse with foreign nntions, is
limited to the employment of diplomacy
alone. When this fails, II can proceed no
further. 1t cannot legitimately resor. TO
force, without the direct authority Of Con-
gress, except in resisting and repelling hos
t''e attacks. IL would have no authority to
enter the territories of Nicaragua, even to
prevent the destruction OF the transit, and
protect The lives and property ofour own
citizens on their passage. II is true, that on
sudden emergency OF this character, the
preslient would direct any armed force in
ethe vicinity 10 march TO their relief; but in
doing mus ne would act upon his own re-
sponslohty.
Under these circumstances, earnestly
recommend to Congress, the passage of an
net au'horlzing the fresident, under such
restrictions as 'hey may deem proper, to en-
pl"y 'ne lana ana naval forces OF the United
states IN preventing the transit from being
oos'rnc'ea or closed by lawless violence, and
IN protecting The lives and property of Ameri-
can e'tzens travelling therenpon, requiring
at .he same time That these forces shall be
"''hu,awh me moment the danger shall have
pissed away without such provision,
our c'''zehs WIN De constantly exposed to
interruption III their progress, and to awless
violence:
similar necessity exists Tor the passage
0, sucn an ac'' Tor me protection OF the Pa
mama ana iehhuntepec routes.
r, ~ re,efence 10 inc Panama route, the
~ S"'.eu o'"'es' ny 'he'r existing treaty with
VIEW "rnnada; expressly guarantee the neu
u"'sy u, l'f isthn"s, with me view that
'"e ''ee ',""s'' from the one 10 the other sea
may no' oe interrupted or embarrassed IN
""Y 'u'"re ,'.he whi,e ,h'S treaty 'x'sts.
!" 'eS"'" !" Tue 'e"o"n'epec route ~h'ch
r' 's oee" 'e'e.'y "peneu uhuer Tue most
"a nusP'ces' our treaty win Mex'co OF
'"e oo,n orremoe'' 1908 secures 10 the cltl-
Ie"S o. sne Ohited states a right OF transit
over !. Inr 'helr persons and merchandise,
anu s',Pula'es 'ha' he'lner government snail
"'erpose my 9os'ae'e thereto. ~ also
comedies 7t''e United States the fright to
Transport across ths lsthmus' in closed bags,
s ,na"s .. tue oh''eo states NOT intended
'or distribution "'ong the lIne OF the eommn-
".e""on, "'so' me effects o'lhe onhed STATES
go a"u 10 c','~e"s w"'cn ".ny oe M
'" ,h'. W. I.,t l,a"s'' snu ho' lor distribution