Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-18


effected under the new arrangements for
ocean mail steamship service which went
into effect on that date. The attention Of
4 Congress is invited to the practical sugges-
tions and recommendations made 10 hls re-
port by the Postmaster General
No important question has occurred dur
! ing the last year in our accustomed cordial
and friendly intercourse with Costa Riez,
/ Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador,
France, Austria, Belgium Switzerland,
/ Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark,
Sweden and Norway, Greece, Turkey
/ Persia India Liberia, Morocco, Tripqii
/ Tunis Museat Siam, Borneo, aud Mada-
/ gascar.
! Cordial relations have also been maintained
with the Argentine and Oriental Republics.
The expressed wish of Congress that our
national good offices might be rendered to
those Republics, and also to Brazil and Para
quay, for bringing to aa end the calamltous
4 war which has so long been raging IN the
| Valley of the La Plata, has been assiduously
complied with and kindly acknowledged hy
al the beilIgereuts. THAT important nees1-
tiation, however. has thus far been without
result
/ Charles A. Washburne, late United States
Minister to Paraguay, having resigned, and
| being desirous of returning to the United
States, the Rear Admiral commanding the
South American squadron, was early direct
| ed TO send ship OF war to Asuncion, the
capital of Paraguay, to receive Mr.. Wash
burne and his family, and remove them from
a situation which was represented to be en-
| dangered by faction and foreign war. The
J Brazilian commander Of the allied invading
forces refused admission to the Wasp to pass
| through the blockading forces, and that
vessel returned to Its accustomed anchorage
/ Remonstranee having been made against this
refusal, 1t was promptly oyerruied, and the
/ Wasp therefore resumed her eTrand, received
| Mr.. Washburne and family, and conveyed
them to a safe and convenient seaport In
the meantime an excited controversy has
! arisen between the President of Paraguay
| and the late United States Minister, which it
| is understood grew out of his proceedings in
/ giving asylum in the United States legation
to alleged enemies Of that Republic. The
question of the right to give asylum is one
| always difficult, and often productive OF great
| embarrassment In States well organized
and established, foreign Powers refuse to
concede or exercise the right, except as to
persons actually belonging to the diplomatic
| service On the other hand, all such Powers
insist upon exercising the right OF asylum IN
States where the law of nations Is not fully
acknowledged, respected and obeyed
The President of Paraguay isunderstood to
have opposed to Mr.. Washburne's 6 proceed
ings the injurious and very probable charge
Of occasional completely in ins1rrection ana
treason. The correspondence, however, has
not yet reached the United States.
Mr.. Washburne, in connection with TINS
controversy, represents that tHo United
States citizens attached to the legation. were
arbitrarily seized at his side, when leaving
the capital of Paragua, committed to prison,
and there subjected to torture for the pnr-
pose of procuring confessions of their own
eriminality, and testimony to support the
Presidents allegations against the United
States Minister. Mr. M Mahon, the newly
appointed Minister to Paraguay having reach
ed the La Plata, has been instructed TO pre-
ceed without delay to Asuncion, there to IN
vestigate the whole subject. The Rear Ad-
lniral commanding the United States. South
Atlantic Squadron has been directed 10 at
tend the new Minister with proper naval
forea m snstain eaeh Just demands as the oc-
casion may require and to yindicate the
rights Of the United States citizens referred
to, and Of any others who may be 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 Bo-
liyia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile, have become
especially friendly and cordial. Spain and
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have expressed their willingness to accept the
mediation of the United States for ternina-
ting the war upon the South Pacific coast.
Chilli has not finally declared upon the ques-
ton In the meantime the conflict has prac-
ticaly exhausted itself, since no beligerent
or hostile movement has been made by either
party during the last two years, and there are
no indications of present purpose 20 resume
hostiiities on either side Great Britain and
France have cordially seconded our PROPOSE
ton OF mediation, and do not forego the
hope that it may soon be accepted by all the
belligerents, and lead TO q secure establish
ment of peace and friendly relations between
the Spanish American Republics of the Psci-
&c and Spain-a result which would be at
tended with common benefits to the belliger-
ents aad much advantage to all commercial
nations.
| communicate, for the consideration of
Congress, a correspondence which shows that
the Bolivian Republic has established the ex-
tremely liberal principle of receiving into its
citizenship any citizen of the United States,
or of any other of the American Republics,
upon the simple condition of volunteer reg
istry.
The correspondence herewith submitted
will be found painfully replete with accounts
of the ruin and wretchedness produced by re-
cent earthquakes of unparalleled severity, in
the Republics of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.
The diplomatic agents and naval officers of
the United States who were present in those
countries at the time of those disasters, fur
nished all the relief in their power to the suf
ferers, and were promptly rewarded with
grateful and touching acknowledgements by
the Congress Of Peru. An appeal to the
charity of our fellow citizens has been an
swered by much liberality. In this connec-
ton I submit an appeal which has been made
by the Swiss Republic, whose government
and institutions are kindred to our own, in
behalf Of its inhabitants, who are suffering
extreme destitution produced by recent de-
yastating inundations.
Our relations with Mexico during the year
have been marked by an increasing growth Of
mutual confidence. The Mexican Govern
J ment has not yet acted upon the three
treaties celebrated here last summer for es-
f tebhshiug the rights of nsturalized citizens
! upon liberal and just basis, for regulating
2 consular powers, and for the adjustment of
mutual claims.
. All commercial nations, as well as friends
of Republican institutions, have occasion TO
regret the frequent local disturbances which
occur in some ofthe constituent States of
8 Columbia. Nothing has occurred, however,
to affect the harmony and cordial friendship
which have for several years existed between
that youthful and vigorous Republic and our
own.
4Ne6OtidtAOha alS pShulDB Win Q "" "
the survey and construction of ship canal
, across the Isthmus of Darien, under the
{ auspices Of the United States. hope TO be
, able to submit the result of that negotiation
2 to the Senate during its present session.
j The very liberal treaty which was entered
into last year BY the United States and Mica
( rauga has been ratified by the latter Repnb-
: lic
1 Costa Rica, with the earnestness of a sin
! cerely friendly neighbor, solicits reciprocity
of trade, which commend to the cougidera-
ton of Congress.
The convention created by treaty between
the United States and Venezuela in july,
1865, for the mutual adjustment of claims,
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