Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-12-16
COUNTY OHIO THURSDAY DECEMBER

resume ClplOuldtC rtlatlOus lndt government
and it.was, therefore, deemed proper to sanction
his withdrawal of the legation from the city Of
Mexico.
Abundant cause now undoubtedly exists, for q
resort to hostilities against the government still
holding possession of the capital. Should they
succeed in subduing the constitutional forces, all
reasonable hope will then have expired of peace
ful settlement of our difficulties.
On the other hand, should the constitutional
party prevail, and their authority be established
over the republic, there is reason to hope that
they will be animated by less unffiendly spirit,
and may grant that redress to American citizens
which justice requires, far as they may possess
the means. But for this expectation, should at
once have recommended to Congress to grant the
necessary power to the President, to take posses
sion of sufficient portion of the remote and n-
settled territory of Mexico, to be held in pledge
until our injuries shall be redressed and our Just
demands be satisfied. Wehave ALREADY exhaustd
every milder means of obtaining justice. In such
a case, this remedy of reprisals is recognized by
the law of nations not only as Just in itself, but
as means of preventing actual war.
But there is another view of our relations with
Mexico, arising from the unhappy condition of
affairs along our southwestern frontier, which de-
mands immediate action. In that remote region,
where there are but few white inhabitants, large
miscuously over the Mexican States of chihuahua
and Sonora, and our adjoining Territories. The
local governments of these States are perfectly
helpless and are kept in state of constant alarm
by the Indians. They have not the power, if they
possessed the will, even to restrain lawless Mexi-
cans from passing the border and committing dep
relations on our remote settlers. A state of an
archy and violence prevails throughout that dis
tant frontier. The laws are dead letter. and
life and property are wholly insecure. For this
reason the settlement of Arizona is arrested,
whilst it is of great importance that chain of in
habitants should extend all along its southern
border, sufficient for their own protection and that
of the United States mail passing to and from
California. Well-founded apprehensions are now
entertained, that the Indians, and wandering Mex
leans equally lawless, may break up the important
stage and postal communication recently estab-
lished between our Atlantic and Pacific possessions
This passes very near to the Mexican boundary,
throughout the whole length of Arizona. / can
imagine no possible remedy for these evils. and no
mode of restoring law and order on that remote
and unsettled frontier, but for the government of
the United States to assume a temporary protect
crate over the northern portions of Chihuahua
and Sonora, and to establish military posts within
the same-and this l earnestly recommend to
Congress. This protection may be withdrawn, as
soon as local governments shall be established in
these Mexican States, capable ofperforming their
duties to the United States, restraining the awless
and preserving peace along the border.
do not doubt that this measure will be viewed
in friendly spirit by the governments and people
of Chihuahua and Sonora, as it will prove equally
effectual for the protection of their citizens on
that remote and lawless frontier, as for citizens
of the United States. .- a
And in this comexion, permit me to recall your
Oft IN 10 of Ari1 Tbo
laton of that Territory, numbering, as is alleged,
more than ten thousand souls, are practically with
out government, without laws, and without any
regular administration of Justice. Murder and
other crimes are committed with impunity. This
state of things calls loudly for redress; and /,
repeat my Recommendation for the es-
tablishment of territorial government over
Arizona
The political condition of the narrow isthmus of
Central America through which transit routes pass
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, presents
subject ofdeepinterestt to all commercial nations
1t is over these transits that large proportion of
the trade and travel between the European and
Asatic continents, is destined to pass. To the
United States these routes are of incalculabe i'm
portance, as means of communicating between
their Atlantic and Pacific possessions. The latter
now extend throughout seventeen degrees of lati-
tude on the Pacific coast embracing the important
State of California and the fourishing Territories
of Oregon and Washington. All commercial
nations, therefore, have deep and direct interest,"
that these communications shall rendered secure
from interruption. fan arm of the sea, connect
ing the two oceans, penetruted through Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, it could not be pretended that
these States would have the right to arrest or re-
tard its navigation, to the injury of other nations
The transit by land over this narrow isthmus, oc-
cupies nearly the same position. 1t is highway
in which they themselves have little interest, when
with theyast interest of the rest of the
world. Whilst their rights of sovereignty ought
to be respected, it is the duty of other nations to
require, that this important passage shall not be
by the civil wars and revolutionary
which have so frequently occurred in
that region. The stake is too important, to be
left at the mercy of rival companies, claiming to
hold conflicting contracts with Nicaragua. The
of other nations is not stand still and
await the adjustment of such petty controversies
The.government of the United States expect no
more than this, and they will not be satisfied with
less. They would not, if they could, derive any
from the Nicaragua transit, not COM
mon to the rest of the world. Its neutrality and
protection, for the common use of all nations, is
their only object. They have no objection that
Nicaragua shall demand and receive fair COM
from the companies and individuals who
never hereafter be closed, by an ordinary decree
Of that government. If disputes arise between
it and those with whom they may have entered
into contracts, these must be adjustedby some fair
tribunal provided for the purpose, and the route
must not be closed pending the controversy. This
IS our whole policy, andit cannot fail to be accept
able to other nations.
All these difficulties might be avoided, if, CON
stently with the good faith of Nicaragua, the use
IF this transit could be thrown open to general
providing at the same time for the
payment of a reasonable rate to the Nicaraguan
government, on passengers and freight.
In August, 1852, the Accessory Transit Com |
,any made its first interoceanic trip over the Mica
aqua route and continued in successful operation,
With great advantage to thepublic until the 18th |
February, 1856, when it was closed and the grant
o this company, as well as its character, were |
and arbitrarily revoked by the govern |
nent of Tresident Rivas. Previous to this date, |
however, in 1854, serious disputes concerning the |
settlement of their accounts had arisen between |
he company and the government, threatening the |
Interruption of the route at any moment. These |
he United States in vain endeavored to compose. |
t would be useless to narrate the various pro- |
,eedings which took place between the parties, up
ill the time when the transit was discontinued. |
Suffice it to say that, since February 1856, it has
emaned closed, greatly to the prejudice of citizens
# the United States. Since that time the compe- 7
ition has ceased between the rival routes of Pana
na and Nicaragua, and, in consequence thereof, |
IN unjust and unreasonable amount has been ex-
cted from our citizens for the passage to and from
A treaty was signed on the 10th day of Noyen-
'er, 1857, by the Secretary of State and minister
# Nicaragua, under the stipulations of which the
se and protection of the transit route would have