Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-29

vi
suppose gentlemenswill not trust his subordnates,
either officers in. the Army or Navy, to do the same
thing But the question is whether Paulding had
right to do what he did in the absence of any act
Of Congress- think everybody will agree, upon
moments reflection that that is proposition which
is not debatable; and hence. in this report, main
tain that he had authority, under the laws II" ma
tions or under the Constitution and laws of the Uni
ted States, for that act
But, Mr.. Speaker, suppose the resolution which
offered in the last Congress- and which have just
read had been adopted and carried out; what might
have been the effectP The President might have
occupied the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow neck of
territory two or three hundred miles in extent which
would have been of vast advantage to us, II being
that narrow isthmus over which the world may find
the best connection between the Atlantic and Pacific.
OF course, we should have done as We did in the
case of California; we should have allowed some
balance to New Granada, and paid them whatever
amount they were willing to take. Gentlemen may
smile; but see it stated in the papers that the At
torney General of New Grenada, who controls that
country, is actually asking that it shall all be
nexed to the United States for nothing
But, sir, another purpose which had very much
at heart, was to open this Nicaragua line Walker,
you will recolect, was then in power. and remained
in power about a year. Now, if we had ope, ed that
plies could have reached W iiliam Walker, and have
no doubt that he would have sustained himself in
that country. He overthr"wn it will be re
membered, by the combined efforts of the Central
American States, of Commodore Vanderbilt and OF
the British influence against him, and by all the aid
the Secretary of State could give in cutting off sup.
plies and ultimately the capture OF his ships and
men by Davis one of our naval officers.
say therefore, that it is very obvious to my mind
that if my resolution had been adopted and carried
out and communication had thus been opened with
him, he would have been sustained, and have no
L. L. ,I,,l l,attar ctop,
than they now have there.
Even now, it would be of vast advantage to this
country to have that line opened 1t has been
closed for more than two years. and the gentleman
from California Mr.. McKibbin] tells me that the
State of California loses at least million and halt
Of dollars year by of the stopPage OF that
line. They charge thirty three per cent higher to
go by the Panama route than they would by this
line. It has been stated in misrepresentation
correctly or not do not know-that the Panama
company is paying $40, 600 month, or $3.50. 900 a
year, to keep the Nicaragua line closed. Well, if
they are getting 81, 500 900 by it, they afford to
pay $3.50 1000, and make very handsome p oft out
of it, By reason Of the monopoly they thus enjoy.
may say, in this connection. Mr.. Speaker that
see that proclamation was issued in New York. on
the 22d of April last, by Mr. Yri~sarri, and previ-
Gus dispatch, of December 80, 1857, in which he
announces that il any citizen of the United States
goes to Nicaragua attempts to pass through 1t to
California, as we have right to do under the orig
inal treaty. he will be treated as an enemy, aud
stopped if he does not go by certain line. to wit
the Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company.
doubt, sir, if there is thing in treaty reeua
tions to Justify that. l hold that it is the right Of
every American citizen, we being at peace with
Nicaragua to go that country in any ship he thinks
proper to take. But. if this be true, submit to
gentlemen upon all sides whether monopoly like
this is to be tolerated. True, the company is New
York one, but do the people Of New York Themselves
wish to be at their mercy? Suppose the British
Government were to provide that nobody should 2"
to Great Britain unless he went there in the Cunard
line Of steamers as to give them a monopoly and
would not every New Yorker. and much more the
people of Boston, Philadelphia and other cities
complain Of such a regulation?
see that in another publication, lately made, it
Is said that any man who goes to the country with
out permit from the Minister, from his consul
at New York. will be treated as an enemy. l hold
sir, that have right to exercise influence up
on that country to secure the right of way to our
Pacific possessions; and trust that the treaty ina
king power of the United States will not allow any
regulation to he made bv which we to lose that
right. A gentleman mir. Bingham my right
asks me if there is any danger of our losing it,
Why. that company claims to have the sole right to
carry passengers there. Suppose they do not carry
any, as they have not carried them for two years
have already said that they getting $40 0f'0 a
month to keep stopped for the benefit Of the Pam
anna company. That is the allegation But suppose
it is not true. ask the gentleman from Obi" if he,
an American citizen willing to deprive the pen
pie of this country Of the right 60 California
unless they go in particular line of ships? Why,
there not more than five hundred thousand peo-
pie in that country-m"stly Indians and negroes
And are we to allow them to block up our way to
our Pacific possessions. unless choose to submit
to an enormous monopoly of that sort?
! conclude what have to about Commodore
Pauding ny simply declaring that the effects of that
act OF his have been very unfortunate to u.s. 1t has
been calculated to d British interests and no,
American interests in that quarter, and has been
properly appreciated in England. and at Havana
All the letters see from Central America say that
instead of getting credit among the people by that
act, are in, perhaps, worse reputation there than
we were previously because they supposed we were
compelled, BY Great Britain, to arrest Walker.
This brings me to the consideration OF the rela
tons existing between Great Britain and ourselves
regard to Central America, as affected by the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty.
Mr. Speaker there has been struggle going on
between the United States and Great Britain fol
some years. in regard to this Central American
country 1t commenced with the acquisition of Cal
ifornia. and the gold discoveries there. Before that
time Great Britain had been exerting her influence
without interruption from US; but soon she
saw that the United States, by the passing of he,
citizens to California, would have advantages in a,,G
would probably acquire that country. she made
proposition to us through Sir Henry Bulwer, which
our Administration, exhibiting. as hold, great i'm
becility. adopted. think We were crcumvented II
it; and it is that proposition which now desir,
this House to consider, and which-if gentleme,
will examine i'll believe every this foo
will in his conscience pronou to have been gsea
blunder.
The ostensibie object Of the Cayton-Bulwer trea
ty was to provide for opening the route to Califor
mia but unfortunately that part Of it has not beef
executed. That would have been advantageous -
Its great feature objectionable is the first article
which provides that neither Great Britain nor tn
United States shall ever occupy, colonze fortify,
assume or exercise, any jurisdiction over Contra
America, or any portion Of it, either directly or in