The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-12

burn and his family, and remove them from
situation which was represented to be sndangsr.
"a ~ faction and foreign war. The Brazilian
commander Of the allied invading forces refused
permission to the Wasp to pass through the
blsckading forces, and that vessel returned to its
accustomed anchorage. RemOnstrsncs having
been 1ads against this refusal, it vas promptly
ovsrrulsd. AID the Wasp thsrsupon resumed her
and conveyed them to q safe and convenient Sea-
pert In the meantime an excited controversy
had arisen between the president Of Paraguay
and the late United States minister, which it il
undsrsto~d grew out of his proceedings in giving
IN ssylum in the United States legation 70 al
Legged enemies Of the republic The question of
the right to give IN asylum il one always diff
nsult to determine, and often productive Of
great embarrassment. In states we'll organized
and established foreign powers refuse either to
soncede o. exercise that right, except 8 to per.
sons actually belonging to the diplomats service
On the other hand, all such powers insist upon
b exereinng the right Of asylum in states where
the hw Of nations 10 net fnlly acknowledged, re-
c:Pected and obeyed. The president of Paraguay
u understood to have opposed to Mr. Washburn's
proceedings the injurious and very improbable
charge Of personal completely in instruction
and treason. The correspondence, however, has
not yet reached the United States. Mr.. Wash.
burn, in connection with this controversy, repre-.
SCENTS that two United States citizens, attached
= the legation, were arbitrarily seized at his
side, when having the capital of Paraguay, com.
mitted to prison, aad there subjected to torture,
for the purpose OF procuring confessions of their
OWE crininslity. and testimony to support the
Presidents allegations against the United States
minister.
Mr.. MeAahon, the newly appointed minister
70 Paraguay, having reached the La Plata, has
besa instructed to proceed, without delay, to
Asuncioa, there to investigate the whole subject
The rear admiral commanding the United States
South Atlantic squadron has been directed to
attend the new minister, with a proper naval
force, to sustain such Iust demands as the ecea-
sioa may require, and to vndicats the rights of
tho United States citizens referred TO- and of any
others who may DO exposed to danger in the
theatre Of war
With these exceptions, friendly relations have
been maintained between the United States and
Brazil and Paraguay.
Our relations during the past year with Boil
via, Ecuador, Peru, and Chill, have become espsc-
tally friendly and cordial. Spain, and the re-
publics OF Pers, Bolivis, and Ecuador, have
ten Of the United States for terminating the war
nPon the south Pacific csast. Chilli has not
hAAlly declared upon the question. In the
meantime, the conflict has practically exhausted
itself, since NO bslligersnt or hostile movsmsa
has been made BY either party during the last
two years, and there are No indications Of pres
ent purpose 70 resume hostilities on either side.
Great Britain aad France have cordially second.
ID oar propnsitioa of mediation. and do net
forego the hsps that it soon may be accepted BY
oil tho bslligersnts and lead to secure establsh-
ment 81 peace and friendly relations between the
Spanish American republics of the Pacific and
Spain,-a result which would Be attended with
common benefits to the belliger.nts, and much
sAys.tags 70 all commercial natisns.
communicate fer the consideration Of cen
gfess . correspondents which shows that the Boz
Hviau republic has established the extremely
liberal principle aid are receiving int its citizen
ship any citizen Of the United States, or of any
other Of the American republics, upon the sim
pie condition Of voluntary registry.
Tbs correspoadence herewith submitted will
b found painfully rsplete with accounts Of the
ruin and wrstchednssa produced by recent earth
quakes OF unparalleled severity in the republics
OF Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The diplomatic
agents and naval officers Of the United States
Vho we're present in those countries at the time
a these disasssrs furnished all the relief in their
power to the sufferers, and were promptly re-
wardsd with touching acknowledgement BY the
congress- Of Peru. An appeal to the charity Of
our fellow-eitissns has been answered by much
ibsrality.
In this connection, submit an appeal which
has besn made by the Swiss republic, whose gov
eminent and institutions are kindred to eur
own, in behalf Of its inhabitants who are suffer.
ing extreme dsstitltion produced by recent dc.
vastating inundatisns
Our relations with Mexico during the year
have been marked by an increasing growth Of
mutual confidence. The Mexican government
has net yet acted upon the three treaties negsti-
ated here last SUMNER for establishing the rights
Of naturalized citizens upon liberal and just
basis; for regulating consular powers; and for
the adjustment Of mutual claims
All commercial nations, ~ we'll a. all friends
Of republican institutions, have occasion to 70.
gret the frequent local disturbances which occur
in some OF the constituent states of Colombia
Nothing has occurred, however, to affect the her.
mony and cordial friendship which have for sew
sral years existed between that youthful and Wig.
orous republic and our own.
Negotiations are pending with view to the
survey and construction of ship canal across the
isthmus of Dsrien, under the auspices of the Uni.
ted States hope to be able to submit the re-
suits of that negotiation to the senate during its
present session.
The very liberal treaty which was entered int
last year BY the United States and Nicaragua
has been ratified by the latter republic.
Costa Rica, with the earnsstnsss of sincerely
friendly neighbor, solicits reciprocity of
trade; which commend to the consideration of
congress.
The convention created by treaty between the
United States and Venezuela, in July, 1865, for
the mutual adjustment of claims, has been held,
and its decisions have been received at the de-
partment of state.
The heretofore recognized government of the
United States of Venezuela has been subverted,