The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1858-12-09

ton between their Atlantic aud Pacific pos
sessions. The latter now extend Throughout
seventeen degrees OF latitude on the Pacific
coast. embracing the important State of Cal
ifornia and the tlourishing Territories of Or
egon and Washington. All commercial ma
tons. therefore, have deep and direct int
rest, that these communications shall be rem
dered secure from interruption. If an arm
of The sea connecting the two oceans, pene
trated through Nicaragua and Costa Rics, il
could not be pretended that these States
would have the right to arrest or retard its
navigation. to the injury Of other nations
The transit by land over this narrow isthmus
occupies nearly the same position. 1t is
highway IN which they themselves have liule
interes', when compared with The vast inter
ests Of the rest OF the world. Whilst then
rights OF sovereignty ought to be respected
1t IS the duty of other nations TO require, that
this important passage shall not be Interrupt
ted, By the civil wars. and revolutionary out
breaks, which have so frequently occurred in
in this region. The stake IS zoo important to
be left to rival companies, claiming 20 hold
conflicting contracts with Nicaragua. The
commerce Of other nations is not to stand
still and await the adjustment Of such petty
controversies. The government OF the Z nj
ted States expects no than this and
lleV VIII not DC SatSUFu Win less. L eE
would not, il they could, derive any adyan-
tage from the Nicaragua transit, not common
to the rest Of the world It's neutrality and
protection for the common use Of all nations,
IS their only object. They have no objection
that Nicaragua shall demand and receive a
fair compensation from the companies and in
dlyiduals who may traverse the route; but
they insist that it shall never hereafter be
closed by an arbitrary decree of that govern
ment Ii disputes arise between it and those
with whom they have entered into contracts,
til .se must be adjusted by some fair tribunal
provided for the purpose aud the route must
not be closed pending the controversy. This
is our whole policy and it cannot fail to be
acceptable to other nations.
All these difficulties might be avoided, If,
consistently with the good faith of Nicara-
qua. the use Of this transit could be thrown
open to the general competition; providing
at the same time for the payment Of rea,
eonable rate to the Nicaraguan government,
on passengers and freight.
In August, 1852, the Accessory Transit
Company made its first interoceanie trip over
the Nicsraguan route, and continued IN sue
cesstul operation, with great advantage to
the public, until the 18th February, 1856,
when it was closed, and the grant to this
COMPANY as well as It's charter, were sum
marily and arbitrarily revoked by the gov
ernmcut Of President Rivas Previous to
this date however, in 1851. serious disputes
concerning the settlement of their accounts
had arisen between the company and the
government. threatening the interruption of
the route at any moment These the nted
States in,vain endeavorcd to compromise 1t
would be useless to narrate the various pro-
ceedings which took place between the par
ill ba yyb ba
discontinued. Suffice it to say that since
February 1S56, it has remained closed.
greatly TO the prejudice of citizens of the
United States. Since that time the compe-
ti.ion has ceased between the rival routes Of
Panama and Nicaragua, and, IN consequence
thereof, an unjust and unreasonable amount
has been exacted from citizens tor their
passage to and from California.
A treaty was signed on the 10th day of
Nov cmber. 1887 by the Secretary of State
aud Minister Of Nicaragua, under the +
stipulstons Of which the use and protection
OF the transit route would have been secured
not only to the United States. but equally to
all other nations. How anI on VIVA, pretext
this treaty has failed to receive the rattle ttiou
of the Nlcaraguan government, wall appear
BY the papers herewith communicated from
the State Department. The principal objec-
thorizing the United States to employ force
TO keep the route open. in case Nicaragua
should fail to perform her duty in this respect.
From the feobleness OF that republic, its FREE
quent change of government and its con- /
slant internal disscntions, this had become a |
most important stipulation and one essential
" necessary not only for the security OF the
route, but for the safety OF American citizens /
passing or repasSing TO and from our Pacific /
possessions. Were such a stipulation an. /
braced il a treaty between tho United Safes
and Nicaragua. the knowledge of this fact
would of itself most probably prevent hostile .
parties from committing agsressions on the .
route and render our actual Interference for
its protection unnecessary.
The executive government of this country
in it's intercourse with foreign nations, IS
limited to the employment of diplomacy alone. .
When this fails. it can proceed no further
II cannot lcgitimately resort TO force wlthe ut
the direct authority Of Congress, except in
repelGng and resisting hostile attacks. Ii
woud have no authority to enter the terri
tory of Nicaragua. even to prevent the des
truc,ion Of the transit. and protect the lives
AMI property OF our own citizens on their
passage 1t is true, that on 3 sudden emer-
gency of this character. the President would
direct an armed force in the vicinity to march
to their relief; but in dol this, he would
act upon his own responsibility.
Under these circumstances, earnestly re-
commend to Congress, the passage OF an act
authorizing the President. under such re-
strictious as they may deem proper, to en-
plov lhe lall and naval forces Of the United
States il preventing the transit from being
Distracted or closed by lawless violence. and
in projecting the lives and property of Amer
lean citizens travelling thereupon. requiring
at Tile same time thai those forces shall be
Withdrawn the moment the danger shall have
passed away. Without such q provision, our
citizens will be constantly exposed to inter-
ruption and 10 lawless violence IN their pro-
gresS-
4 similar necessity exists for the passage
of such an act for the protection of The Pan
anna and Teh antepec routes.