The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-12-25
r0L. 64.---WHOLE No. 5,474.

Charles \. Washburn, late United
States Minister TO Paraguay, having
resigned, and being desirous To return
to the United States, the Rear Admir-
al commanding the South Atlantic
Squadron was early directed to send a
ship-of-war to Asuncion, the capital of
Paraguay, 10 receive Mr.. Washburn
and his family, and remove them fIom
situation which was represented to
be endangered by faction and foreign
war. The Brazilian commander of the
allied invading forces refused permis-
sion to the WASP" to pass through
the blockading forces, and that vessel
returned TO its accustomed anchorage.
Remonstrance having been made a
gainst this refusal, it was promptly
overruled, and the .''Wasp" therefore
resumed her errand, received Mr..
Warshburn and his family, and CON
veyed them to a safe and convenient
seaport. In the meantime an excited
controversy had arisen between the
President of Paraguay and the late
United States Minister, which If is un-
derstOod grew out Of his proceedings
in giving asylum in the United States
legation to alleged enemies of that Re
give asylum is one always difficult.
and often productive of great embar-
Tassment. In States well organized
and established, foreign powers refuse
either to cOncede or exercise that right,
except as to persons actually beiOng-
ing to the diplomatic service. On the
other hand, all such powers insist upon
the right Of asylum in
States where the law of nations is not
fully acknowledged, respected and o.
beyed. The President of Paraguay is
understood to have been opposed TO Mr..
Washburn's proceedings on the injuri-
Gus and improbable charge of personal
in inSurrection and treason.
The correspondence, however, has not
yet reached the United States. Mr..
Washburn, in connection with this
represents that two Unit
ed States citizens attached to the lega-
ton were arbitrarily seized at his side,
when leaving the capital of Paraguay,
committed to prison, and there sub
jected to torture for the purpose of pro-
curing confessions of their own crimi-
nality, and testimony to support the
Presidents allegations against the T.
nited States Minister. Mr.. McMahon,
the newly appointed Minister to Para
quay, having reached the La Plata,
has been instructed to proceed without
delay to Asuncion, there to investi-
gate the whole subject. The Rear Adj
miral commanding the United States
South Atlantic squadron has been di-
rected to attend the new minister with
a proper naval force to sustain such
just demands as the occasion may re-
quire, and to vindicate 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 T.
nited States and Brazil and Paraguay.
Our relations during the past year
with Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and
Chill, have became especially friendly
and cordial. Spain and the Republics
of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador have eX-
pressed their willingness to accept the
of the United States for
terminating the war upon the South
Pacific coast. Chilli has not finally
declared upon the subject. In the
the conflict has practically
itself, since no belligerent
or hostile movement has been made
by either party during the last two
years, and there are no indication of q
present purpose to renew hostilities Oh
either side. Great Britain and France
have cordially seconded our proposition
of mediation, and DO not fOrego the
hope that it may soon be accepted by
all the belligerents, and lead to a Sc
cure establishment of peace and friend
Iy relations between the Spanish A.
mcrican Republics Of the Paciac and
Spain-a result which would be atten-
ded with benefits to the belligerentS
and much advantage to all CONNER
cial nations. l communicate, for the
Of Congress, a cOrreSpOn-
denCe which shows that the Bolivian
Republic has established the extremely
liberal principle Of receiving into its
any citizen of the United
States, or Of any other OF the American
upon the simple coalition
Of voluntary registry. The c0.Ie,pon-
denCe herewith submitted Will be found
repIete with accounts of the
ruin and Wretchedness produced by re-
cent earthquakes, Of unparalleled Sc
verify, in thg republics of Peru, ETA
dor, aud Bolivia. The diplomatic a.
gents and naval officers of the United
states who were present in those coun-
tries at the time of those disasters furn-
ishcd all the relief in their power TO
the sufferers, and were promptly er-
Wardcd with grateful and touching ne
Peru. An appeal to the charity of our
has been answered by
much liherality. In this connection |
Il,
by the Swiss Republic, whose govern
ment and institutionsa are kindred toour
own, in behalf of its inhabitants, who
are suffering extreme deStitutiou pro-
duced by recent devastating inunda-
tiOnS.
Our relations with Mexico during Tie
wear have been marked by an increas-
ing growth of mutual confidence. The
Mexican Government has not vet act
ed upon the three treaties celebrated
here last simmer for establishing the
rights of naturaliZed citizens upon a
liberal and just basis, for regulating
powers, and for the adjust
ment of mutual claims.
All commercial nations, as well as all
friends of republican institutions, have
occasion to regret the frequent local
which occur in some of
the constituent States of Columbia.
Nothing has occurred, however,to af-
feet the harmony and cordial friend
ship which have for several years ex-
listed between that youthful and vigor-
Gus republic and our own. Negotia
tions are pending with view to the
survey and construction of slip
canal across the Isthmus of Darien, un-
der the auspices of the United States.
| hope to be able to submit the results
of that negotiation to the Senate dur
its present session. s'rhe very liberal
treaty which was entered into last year
by the United States and Nicaragua
has been ratified by the latter repub-
lie. Costa Rica, with an earnestness of
a sincerely friendly neighbor, solicits