The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-29


though not without great deal Of pickering,
swearing, trading and bush fighting, the for
mer alternative. Let them beware of the dan
gers of delay. One more such shock as the
party organization received ct Charleston will
paralyze 1t altogether.
Claims u Oar Citixens On Peru-Actaon
~ the Government.
We learn that the governmenthas sent orders
to the steam frigate Wyoming to proceed at
once to Lima and sustain our Minister, Mr.. Clay,
in the demands to be made on the government
Of Peru for the settlement Of several claims
presented by American citizens against that
republic.
In delaying action until the present time
on these claims, in view of the dilatory
and upjustifsble course pursued BY the
Peruvian government, Mr.. Buchanan has
exhibited forbearanoe that has approached
closely to the limit where that quality ceases to
be virtue. At the same time Pera has pur-
sued an upjustifable and INDIGENOUS course.
II is generally known that before Mr.. Osma, the
late Peruvian Minister at Washington, left that
cits, he took legal counsel there as to the best
method of defeating the American claimants,
and was advised that as Congress was not dis
posed to support Mr.. Buchanan's administration,
Peru need fear no effective demand on the part
of this government, the executive having au-
thority only to make diplomatic or paper de
maDds
This was reported by Senor Osma to his
"A hat Of nnta
Clay obtained information of the fact, and
communicated it to the Department Of State,
and the present Peruvian Minister at Washing
ton has found the greatest difficulty in bis mis-
sion to explain away this indecorous proceed
ing. But, though wishing to explain matters
the Peruvian government has shown no dispo
sition to do justice, but has rather sought, by
every subterfuge, TO create delay in the settle
ment of claims which 1t knows it must admit,
| If brought to the point.
The principal claims are those of the owners
of the ships Georgiana and LIZZIE Thompson,
| upjustihably condscated by Peru, in 1858, and
which are now used as transport ships by that
| government that of the owners of the whale
ship Vim. Lee for damages and expenses in
Cured through frivolous and upjustidable de-
tention for long time by the Peruvian autho-
rities at Tumbes those of Edmund Ssrtori and
DR.. Easton, for outrages committed by Presi-
cent Castillo In 1858 and 1854 respectively,
ard several minor claims Of an equally just
character. In addition to these, there is the
settlement made in 1852, between Mr..
Everett, while Secretary Of State, and
Senior Osma, then Peruvian Minister
at Washington, of the Lobos Island question
and claims. The sipulsuons of this agreement
have been evaded by numerous subterfuges on
the mart of Peru which have voidad both the
spirit and letter OF the arrangement, and IN con-
sequence claim Is now made on our govern
ment by the parties, and special committee
| Of the Senate has reported favorably thereon.
1t is time that the United States government
took such stand towards that Of Peru as will
secure justice To our citizens, and preserve the
dignity Of the American name abroad.
Peru proposes to submit some Of these claims
to an arbiter, which Is the worst principle that
can be adopted for the settlement Of the claims
Of citizens against o government, or OF one
government against another, inasmuch as IL
always results either In rejection Of the claims
entirely, or, where the case Is too fragrant to
admit Of this, splitting Of the difference
which is seldom satisfactory 10 either party
The President should demand at once, in view
Of the uDjnstihable course Peru has pursued
that O joint commission shall be appointed
to ascertain the facts and award q decision 10
every case pending between the two countries
II Peru lie right we have no disposition te
coerce her upjustly; II she is wrong she should
be compelled to do justice to those Of our citi
gems whose rights she has violated, and whose
enterprises, and perhaps whose fortunes, sh'
| has ruined,