Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

6OvERNMENr-Since the advent Of the advices
from Nicaragua, announcing the ratification by
| that Government of the Ouseley treaty, We
have refrained from essaying comments on the
state of the relations of the United States with
Martinez because unable to become satisfied
with reference to the views and plans in the
matter of the Administration here We have
at length obtained the insight into them that
enables us to feel assured that as soon as the
orders that went out by yesterdays steamer
can assemble the Gulf squadron at San Juan
del Norte, and all of the United States Pacific
squadron within reach, at San Juan del Sur
the Nicaragua problem will be solved in trice
We are now satisfied that General Lamar is in.
structed, in the dispatches which Consul Run
nells bears to him, to demand the instant res
toration Of the property of the American Transit
company, If not restored ere he arrives out
That, however, was done on the day after it
was seized, though when the instructions were
prepared, there was no official or indeed other
information Of the fact here. General Lamar
has also been instructed to demand instant rep
aration and indemnity for any pecuniary dam
age the American Transit Company may have
sustained from the seizure and if that damage
be not satisfied, the two fleets will act according
to his orders in and upon the three or four
Nicaraguan cities or towns San Juan del
Norte. Realejo, San Juan del Sur, and one or
two other less important points on the Pacific
coast, within the reach of the squadron's guns
We are further satisfied that General Lamar
has also been instructed to inform Martinez
that the United States deny the right of Mica
ragua to make the Belly contract without hay
ing forfeited that of the American Transit Com
pany previously made, according to the manner
and mode of its forfeiture as embraced in its
own provisions; and that they 1.-THE United
States) design enforcing the claim of that com
pany for ample and prompt satisfaction of what
ever it may lose by Martinez assumption of
authority to annul its contract with Nicaragua
1t IS worthy Of note that up to this moment
Nicaragua has never dared to proceed to annul
that contract 60 noprine. To Dust tina; COM
pany of its rights, Nicaragua sales.--future passed
an act throwing tho transit open to all the
world-authorizing any and every body to carry
passengers over it. On the very day after, the
newspaper organ of the Nicaraguan Government
explained the folly of such legislation by call
ing attention to the fact that if everybody could
use the transit route without toll, no one would
build the bridges and wharves, dam the rapids
and deepen the channel of the river. all Of
which arc necessary TO the convenient use of
the route. days after the appearance ofthat
! article, the legislature ratified the contract
previously made between Belly and Martinez
Tin his individual character,) transferring to
Belly the canal rights and privileges previously
accorded to the American company.
The dispatch of Secretary Cass of the 18th of
August last, Gf we remember the date correct
ly) distinctly notified Nicaragua that this Gov
| eminent would protect the rights of the Amer
lean company, and would permit no annuIment
of them without ample indemni6cation, except
in accordance with the provisions of the con-
tract, or by due decree of courts of law, of the
justice OF which this Government must be sat
isiea. The knowledge of this purpose enter
tanned here, doubtless superinduced the farce
of pretending for three days to throw the tran
sit route open to the world ere essaying to
transfer the light to use it wholly into the
keeping of Belly.
| Again, we are satisfied that the authorities
here know well that Belly's scheme is backed
by no European government, being a private
! speculation of his Own-a colonization and pas
senger-carrying scheme.
Within forty-eight hours we have ever7 rea-
son to believe, the English and New Granadian
Governments have been notified through their
representatives. here, that the United States
anticipate speedy hostilities with Nicaragua as
the result Of the latter's probable refusal to
comply with the demands sent (by Mr.. Run
nels) to her through Gen. Lamar All the dis
possible additional feet in our Atlantic coast
four or five first class war steamers-that can
speedily be put in commission, have certainly
been ordered to be at once prepared for SER
vice. We judge their destination to be San
Juan del Norte
law Of 1885 authorizes the Government 70
accord, at any time the amount of the ocean
letter earriage to any vesselscarrying the United
States mails upon the high seas and we have
/ every reason to believe that such a contract
will at once be made by this Government with
the American Transit Company, if they will
proceed promptly to run the route. The fact
that they will be transporting the mails of the
United States cannot fail to open the ewes of
Martinez, Belly Co., to the utter folly of at.
tempts on their part to modest them in passing
between the two Nicaraguan ports, with strong
American fleets in each