Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-10

Gngtamala, honduras, San phlV"uvi, .'"nVV,
Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, tho Neither
lands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Rome,
Greece, Turkey, Persia, Egypt siberia, MO-
rocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Muscat, siam, borneo
and Madagascar Cordial relations have also
been maintained with the Argentine and
Oriental Republics.
The EXPRESSED will Of Congress that our
national good Offices might be rendered TO
those Republics, and also to Brazil ana far-
aguay. for bringing 10 an end the ealamitous
war which has 70 long been raging. IN me
valley of the la Plata. has been assiduously
comnliod With and kindly acknowledged by
all the bcllgcrcnts, and that important ne
gotiation has thus far been without result.
Charles A. Washburn, late U. :. Minister
70 Paraguay, having resigned and being de-
sirous to return 10 the United States, the
Rear Admiral commanding the South ATTAIN
tic squadron was early directed to send
shin of war To ASCENSION, the capital Of Par
assay. to relieve Mr.. Washburn and his
family, and remove them from situation
which was represented to be endangered by
faction and foreign war.
The Brazilian commander Of the allied In
vading forces refused permission ~ the Wasp
10 pass through the blockading forces, and
that vessel returned 10 its accustomed an
ohorage. RESPONSIVENESS having boon made
against this refusal, it was promptly over
ruled, aud the Wasp therefore resumed her
errand, received Mr. Washburn and bis fam
ily. and conveyed thom to a safe and conyen.
lent seaport. In the mean time an excited
controversy had begun between the Presi-
dent of Paraguay and the late United States
Minister, which it is understood grew out Oi
his giving an asylum in the United States
Legation to alleged enemies Of that Rcpub-
lie, the question being Of the right to give
asylum in the United States Legation to al
legged enemies Of that republic.
The question Of the right to give asylum Is
one always diiicult and often productive OF
great embarrassment The States well or
ganized and established. foreign powers re-
fuse either to concede OF exercise that right,
except as 70 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 oboycd
Tho President Of Paraguay is understood
to have opposed to Mr.. Wasburn's proceed
ings the injurious and very improbable
charge Of personal completely in the insur-
rcction and treason. Tho Correspondence,
however, has not yet reached the United
States Mr.. Nashburn, in connection with
this controversy, represents that two United
States citizens, attached 10 the legation. were
arbitrarily seized at his side when leaving
the capital Of Paraguay, and committed 70
prison and there subjected to tortuo, for the
purpose Of procuring professions Of their
own criminality, and testimony 70 support
the Presidents allegations against the
United States minister Mr.. Mcmahon, the
newly appointed minister to Paraguay, hay-
ing reached tho LaPlate, has been instructed
without delay to 20 to Ascension, there to
investigate the whole subject. The Rear
Admiral commanding the I. 5. South At
lantic Squadron has been directed to attend
the new minister with proper naval force
to sustain such just demands as the occasion
may require, and to vindioate the rights Of
the United States citizens referred to, aud
Of any others who may be exposed to danger
to the theatre Of war. With these sxcep-
tions, friendly relations have been entertained
between the United States and Brazil and
Paraguay.
Oar relations during the past year with
Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chill have be-
come especially friendly and cordial Spain
and the Republicans Of Bolivia and Ecuador
have expressed their willingness TO accept
the mediation Of the United States for ter
minatiag the war upon the South Pacific
coast
Chii has not finally decided upon the
question. In the meantime the conflict has
practically exhausted ITSELF since no bellig-
erent or hostile movement has been made BY
either party during the last two years, and
there are no indications OF present pur-
pose to resume hostiltics on either side.
Great Britain and France have cordially
seconded our proposition Of mediation and
do not iorego the hope that 1t may soon 10
accepted by all the belligerents, ami lead to
secure establishment, OF peace and friendly
relations between the Spanish American Re
public Of the Pacific and Spain, result
which would be attended with common ben
eft to the belligerents and much advantage
to all commercial nations communicate
for the consideration Of Congress a CORES
pondencc which shows that the Bolivian Re-
public has established the extremely liberal
principle OF receiving into its citizenship any
citizin OF the United States or Of any Of the
American Republics, upon the simple con-
dtion of voluntary registry.
The correspondence herewith submitted
VIII Sc ivuHu pdinluil Ieplcte Win accounts
Of ruin and wretohedness produced by recent
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 10 those
countries at the time OF those disasters, fur
nished all the relief In their power TO the
sufferers, and were promptly rewarded with
grateful and touching acknowledgements BY
Congress.
An appeal to the charity of our fellow
citizens was then answered by much liberali-
ty. In this connection submit an appeal =.
which has been made by the Swiss Republic
whose government and institution are kin
dred to our own, in behalf Of it's inhabitants
who are suffering extreme restitution pro.
duced by recent devastating inundations
Our relations with Mexico during the
year have been marked by increasing growth
Of confidence. The Mexican government has
not yet acted upon the three treaties ratified
here last summer for establishing the rights
Of naturalized citizens upon liberal and
r.. ~