The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-30


rejected, and the Nicaraguan Legislature has
adjourned till next January. For nearly year
the one man power will rule in Nicaragua, and
that power is in the hands of President Tomas
Martinez, whose deadly hostility TO this cono,4y
and to every American interest is well known.
Ever since the advent of poor Perce's admins
tration our representative in Central America
has been cipher, or something worse, and our
policy compound of ignorance and folly. The
results are seen and felt to-day. Our ships OF
war lie in the Nicarasuan ports, but are no more
needed than if they were so many oyster smacks;
our Minister is in the country, but he can DO
thing and the government is forced to rely
TO info nation of what is being done upon the
enterprise # independent journals. The diplo-
matte re orls which it receives from there and
nearly every other Spanish American country are
beneath even contemp..
Political considerations have led the govern
ment to delay the protection it should have
granted to American interests in the Nicaragua
Transit. Contracts entered into in good faith
have been abandoned to the most faithless
violation. The vast aud growing interests of our
Pacific empire, involved in the Transit. have
been permitted to languish through inaction;
and the American name and American honor
have been sunk to the most degraded position in
the estimation of the Central American govern
ments. Not single claim of our citizens has
has been returned to even one of the communica-
tons of our government. Not a sign of a dispo-
sitiop 10 deal justly by us has been shown. On
all sides d. ceit and dissimul lron have been
found Every promise tas turned to ashes in
our grasp. Congress has refused to confer upon
the President ths authority he -hould possess
In this state of things but one course is
honoraby open to our government. The policy
80 ably laid down in General Cass note to Gen.
Lamar must be at once carried out. The lust
rights of the American Transit owners should be
at once protected by our government, now that
protection is denied them by that of Nicaragua
Let those owners be called to Washington, and
informed that they can proceed to open their
route and establish their transit across Mica
ragua, according to the terms of their con-
tract with that republic, under the thorough
protection Of the United States Let Gen.
Lamar be at once called home, and the
commanders of our naval forces in the Carib.
bean Sea and Pacific Ocean b, distracted I to de-
fend the interests of the American Transit owners
at all hazards. And let General Jerez receive
his passports and go home until such time as he
or some one else shall be sent to Washington by
his government to apologize for the past and to
give proper security for future good behavior.
To this it may be objected, that the Nicaragua
Transit Company has not the means for imme-
dately opening the route. That is true And had
the same dilly .dallying policy and neglect been
evinced towards the Panama and Tehuantepec
Transit companies that has been exhibited towards
that of Nicaragua, neither would they have found
the means to open their routes. But let the 90
vernment pursue the upright course to the latter
that should be pursued, and there will be an
abundance of honest men, not stock jobbing
steamboat commodores who will step forward
with all the money that is needed, and open the
route in sixty days. In view of the past neglect
that has been poured so bountifally upon them,
they are now entitled to this protection and
should have it. The crisis is imminent. Will
the government act?