Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-12-25

ceased between the rival routes of Panama
aud Nicaragua, and, in consequence thereof,
an unjust and unreasonable amount has been
exacted from our citizens for their passage
to and from California.
A treaty was signed on the 10th day of
November, 1857, 10y the Secretary of State
and Minister of Nicaragua, under the stip-
ulatlons of which the use and projections
of the transit route would have been sccu-
red, not only to the United States, but
equally to all other nations How and on
what prcteXts this treaty has failed to re-
cclvc the ratification OF the Nicaragua gov
crnmcnt will appear by the papers here
with communicated from the State Depart
mcnt. The principal objection seems to
have been, to the provision authorizing the
United States to employ force to keep the
route open, i'll case Nicaragua should fail
to perform her duty in this respect From
the tccblencsS of that republic, its frequent
changes OF government, and its constant in
tcrnal d;sscnsions, this had become most
important stipulation, and one essentially
necessary not only for the security of the
route, but for the safety of American citi-
zcns passing and re- passing to and from our
Pacific possessions. Were such stipula-
tlon embraced in treaty between the Uni
ted States and Nicaragua, the knowledge
of this fact would of itself most probably
prevent hostile parties from committing az
SrcsSlons OH the route, and render our ac-
tual interference for its protection unucc-
Csary.
The executive government of this coun-
try, IN its intercourse with foreign uations,
is limited to the enjoyment of diplomacy
alone. When this falls it can proceed no
further. 1t cannot lcgitimatcy resort to
force, without the direct authority of Con
grcss, except in resisting and rcpelling hos
tile attacks, ltwould have no authority
to enter the territories of Nicaragua. even
to prevent the destruction of the transit
and protect the lives and property of our
own citizens on their passage 1t is true,
that on sudden emergency of this char,
actcr, the President would direct any ar
med force i'll the vicinity to march to their
relief but in doing this, he would act
upon his own responsibility.
| Under these circumstances, | earnestly
recommend to Congress the passage of an
act authorizing the President, under such
restrictions as they may deem proper, to
employ the land and naval forces of the
United States in preventing the transit from
being DISTRACTED or closed by lawlcss vio-
lencc, and in protecting the lives and prop
crty OF American citizens travelling there
upon, requiring ut the same time that these
forces shall be withdrawn the moment the
danger shall have passed away. Without
such provision, our citizens will be con-
stantly exposed to interruption in their pro-
grcss, and to lawcss violence.
y similar necessity exists for the passage
OF such an act, for the protection of the
Panama and Tchuantcpcc routes
In reference to the Panama route, the
United States, by their existing treaty with
New Grenada, expressly guarantees the
neutrality OF the lsthmus, "with the view
that thc free transit from the one to the
othcrsea may not be interrupted or embur-
rasscd in any future time, while this trea-
ty exists. -
In regard the Tchuantcpcc route, which
has been recently opened under the most
favorable auspices, our treaty with Mexico,
of the 3Oth December 1888, secures to the
citizens OF the United States a right of
transit over it for their persons and mcr-
chandisc, and stipulatcs that neither GOV
ernmct shall interposc any obstacle there
to. 1t also comedies to the United States
the fright to transport across the lsthmus,
in closed bags, the mails of the United
States, not intended for distribution along
the line OF the communication also, the
effects of Tic United States Government,
andits citizcns, Which may be intended for
transit, and not for distribution on the 18th
mus, free of custom house or other charges
of the McXionp, (,nynrnmout -
These treaty stipulations with New Grcn-
ada aud Mexico, in addition to the consid-
crations applicable to the Nicaragua route,
sccns to require Legislation for the purpose
of carrying them into effect
The injuries which have been inflicted
upon our citizens in Costa Itica and Near
aqua, during thc last two or three years,
have received the promp%attenton of this
government. Some of these injuries were
OF the most aggravated character The
transaction as Virgin Buy, in April, 1856,
when company of uuurmed Americans,
| who were IN no way connected with any
bcligercnt conduct or party, were fired upon
by the troops of Costa Rca, and numbers
of them killed and wounded, was brought
to the knowledge of Congress by my pre-
docessor, soon after it's occurrence, and was
| also presented to tho government of Costa
Rica, for that immediate investigation and
redress which the nature of the oase de-
mandcd. A similar course was pursued
with reference to other outragcs in these
countries, some of which were hardly less