Daily national Democrat., 1858-11-05
aaiIu yEattoual Democrat,
Amer,cnn Citlrens Abroad.

davis Express find the following extract
f.or, the Instructions of General Cass to our
Nicaraguan and Costa Riean Minister;
.xrprcAN CITIZENS MUST AND SHALL BE PRO
TECTED ABROAD.
,,Tbn limited States believe it to be their
dutv-and they mean to execute ito watch
over the persons and property of their citi-
cons visiting foreign countries, and to inter.
1ene for their protection when such action is
justified by existing circumstances and by the
law of nations. Wherever their citizens may
90 through the habitable globe, when they
Encounter injustice they may appeal to the
Government of their country, and the APP
neal will be examined into, with view to
suob action on their behalf as it may be prop.
er to take 1t is impossible to define in ad
vonce and with precision those cases in which
the national power may be exerted for their
relief or to what extent relief shall be afford
ed circumstances as they may arise must
nrescribe the rule of action. In countries
where well defined and established laws are
in oneration, and where their administration
;s committed to able and independent Judges,
cases will rarely occur where such interven-
tion will be necessary. But these elements
of confidence and security are not every
whore found and where that is unfortunate.
lr the ease the United States are called upon
10 he more vigilant in watching over their
citizens. and to interpose efficiently for their
protection. when they are subjected to tor
tlIous proceedings by the direct action of the
Government, or by its indisposition, or ina
bility to discharge its duties"
One would be led to conclude from the
above language that our Government was the
most constant guardian of the rights of its
citizens, and the most prompt to redress their
wrongs, of any government upon the face of
the whole earth. "The United States believe
it to be their duty-and they mean to exc.
cute ito watch over the persons and prop
erty of their citizens visiting foreign coun-
tries, and to intervene for their protection
when such action is justified by existing cir
cumstanees and by the law of nations Now
this is the theory of our Government Upon
the subject, as laid down by General Cass
but what is the practice? How is this doe
trine carried out? BY a brief examination
into the history of affairs for few years past
We shall find thut the language quoted, like
much of a similar kind heretofore used in Civ
ing instructions to our Ministers to foreign
governments, smere bombast, 1t is parade
of high-soundng, inflated words, either not
intended to be acted up to afterwards, or
which cone idea" President finds himself
unable to carry into effect while, Atlas like, he
stands with the world of Lecompton fraud
upon his shoulders.
wonld ask how has the policy prescribed
in these instructions been pursued and the
duty of the Government been performed to
wards the robbed and murdered of the Pana-
ma Riot of 1856? The instructions declare
that "whcrever our citizens may go through
the habitable globe, when they encounter
injustice, they may appeal to the Govern
ment of their country, and the appeal will
be examined into with view to such action
on their behalf, as it may be proper to take
In 1856 number of the citizens of the Uni
ted States-their wives and children, with
the consent of the Government of New Gren-
ada-were travelling public thoroughfare of
that State, from one portion of the United
States TO another. While in the quiet and
peaceable exercise of this privilege, they were
set upon without just provocation by citizens
and residents of New Grenada, some twenty
four of them murdered in cold blood while
making no resistance, but instead thereof,
were holding up their hands to God, and
praying for mercy of their butchers: their
wives and children were wounded and abused,
and S20O,oo0 worth of their property de-
stroyed or forcibly taken from their persons
on the spot. These are the bleeding facts
still fresh in the memories of many living suf-
ferers in California, who were present and
witnessed the horrible tragedy, among whom
are the writer of this article, his wife and
child What did the government do? Did
it send war vessel there and demand imme
date and ample satisfaction at the mouth of
loaded cannon? Did it pour forth volcano
of shot upon the Infamous and polluted city
of Panama as Jackson would have done? By
no means 1t did what it is now doing with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica 1t fitted out
Minister or Commissioner to go down to New
Grenada to blHster and negotiate-to parley
and threaten and make noise In this in
stance, the government mad the good fortune
to choose an excellent Commissioner. He
examined into the matter and reported that
our government and her citizens had been
outraged beyond endurance. Our govern
mentfelt that it must now do something ac.
cordingly, plan of settlement was agreed
upon between the United States and the New
Grenadian Minister by which our govern
ment was to make good the individual losses
10 the sufferers as far as possible, and was to
be fully Unidentified by New Grenada there.
iOr We were alse to be guaranteed against
hature injuries ola similar character, This
was all well enough, but what was the final
fesultf When the Treaty was sent to New
Nrenada for ratification by that government,
Nspurned the arrangement and spat upon it.
ana here the matter has ever since rested.
~ hlle hold in my hands the written pro-
mise oil 0ames Buchanan, under his own
hanu' that the whole affair would be settled
last winter, the blood of American citizens
s'iL cries from the ground at Panama for ius-
uee upon their murderers While many Of
'"e wounded and robbed in that riot are Ian
gushing In wantin California, and whilst our
wise ana Just offers of settlement are being
Spurned by New Grenada, our government
uiesS OF the persons and pr operty Of her