New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-26
DIR RELATIONS WITH pERC.

tbe Peruvian Republic, is q shameful abuse 81
nouer in th. United States toward our smaller
.;.,ers Of the Southern Continent The weak
ard wronged party appeals to public opin
ion. TO the prsss, to the nnprejadiced and dis-
interested American people III pamphlet en-
| titled I" The Question between the United States
and Peru" in which the case 10 stated without
passion. and with great clearness, on the ground
Of international law. This pamphlet contains tho
whole correspondence between the Peruvian Score
tarr Of Foreign Affairs, the Peruvian ministers Of
Washington, our Department OF State, ana our
Minister in Lima, and renders it possible to form
n correct Judgment as to the real merits OF ms
controversy; and these documents amply show
what Door sopbistry was continually used snd at
tempted TO be enforced upon the Peruvian he
pubic BY our State Department and BY its ON
cial agent at Lima.
In 1867, armed bands of malcontent Peruvian,
headed by Gen. yivanco obtained, for a short
time. possession of O few districts. and among
them of the seaport Iquique, in the vicinity o.
Pavilion de- Plea and Playa do L0bos, places
where qunno could be obtained, but which wera
not opened to trade. The regular Government
of the Peruvian Republic, the only one recognized
BY our Governments, and to which Mr. Clay Was
accredited, declared the insurgents to be pirates
and warned all nations and Individuals against
making negotiations with them-any contracts,
loans, or purchases Of guano. In word, all tbs
official warnings and conditions were resorted 70
which are recognized in such cases BY oil con-
sttuted Governments, aud which are respected by
the citizens of foreign nations who MAINTAIN WIN
them terms of official and international comfy.
But Notwithstanding this, some spectators found
it convenient and profitable to buy loads OF guano
from the insurgents though it is well known aU
over the commercial world that the sale and ex-
port of puane are made under special contracts,
approved by the Peruvian Congress, with several
specified mercantile houses. The masters of the
Georgisna and Lizzie Thompson, two American
sb;os. chartered their vessels and received their
clearances in a port held by the insurgents, but
where no American Consul or Consular Agent
resided. These acts were, OF course, illegal and
tie carQoes of these vessels were cOntraband OF
war They violated not only the neutrality they
were bound TO observe but they set at defiance
the special laws of the Peruvian Republic
by loading gllsno in places where that trade Is
prohibited TO foreign vessels. On Jan. "a, 1853.
they were both captured BY tie national war
steamer Tumbes, and for this legal capture snd
confiscation the Government of the United States
demands heavy indemnity.
This demand is based upon the fact that tbs
United States Government claims to recognize
the Peruvian insurgents under Yiganco, not "a
insu Int hall aota
legal validity. On this principle sale of Fort
MouItrie to Louis Napoleon by the reyolutionists
of South Carolina, supposing them to get tempo
rary possession of it, would be q perfectly legi-
mate transaction which the Government Of the
United States would have no legal right to resist
and set aside BY force But the other hand
Mr.. Buchanan may recollect that his prede-
cessOr during the Crmean war, warned Amsr-
can shipmasters carrying provisions for tbs
Allies to the Black Sea that violation on their
part of the laws of neutrality must be done at
their own risk and peril. The belligerents in
that case were recognized nations engaged in &C
tual war. The insurgents under Vivanco are
merely insurgents, and any violation, therefore, by
foreign vessels of the warnings and regulations
issued by the regular and recognized Government
should at least carry with them an equal an
thOrity with those accorded in the times of tho
Crimean war.
With right and equity on its side, but feeling
the struggle to be one of pot of clay against 4
vessel of iron, the Peruvian Government has Of
fered to submit the question to umpires to be 50.
lected by the Government of the United States.
For Peru it is not SO much question Of q
couple Of hundred thousand dollars AZ one of alb
solute independent sovereignty, since she must be.
come mere cipher, if such violations Of her laws
are to be- legitimated. But our Government in.
sistS that the indemnity must be FIRST paid in
full, after which the question Of right may bs
submitted TO umpres. This is resisted BY the
Peruvian Government, and the resistance has
been followed BY the interruption OF diplomatic
relations.
1t should not be forgotten that the masters
OF the two captured and confscated vessels
were fully cognizant of the illegality and danger
OF their action in landing in ports not open 70
the guano trade, and in dealing with authori-
ties not recognized by the lawful, constituted
government OF Peru, then on terms of comfy with
the United States. Thus the captain Of the bark
Georgiana was warned by Alsop & Camp. his
consignees in Valparaiso, of the risk Of loading
guano in this way, and he was advised not to
accept charter; and the Captain OF the I.izzio
Thompson was equally well aware Of the position
IN which he was placing himself
1t is well known how watchful aud uncompro-