The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-12

powers insist upon exercising the
right of asylum in States where the
law of nations is not fully acknow
lodged, respected and obeyed. The
President of Paraguay is understood
to have opposed to Mr.. Washburn's
proceedings the injurious and very
improbable charge of personal com
plicity in insurrection and treason.
The correspondence, however, has
not yet reached the United States.
Mr.. Washburn, in connection with
this controversy, represents that two
United States citizens, attached to
the legation, were arbitrarily seized
Mt his side when leaving the capital
OF Paraguay, committed to prison,
and there subjected to torture, for
the purpose of procuring confessions
OF their own criminality, and testi-
mony to support the Presidents
allegation against the United States
Minister. Mr.. McMahon, the newly
appointed Minister to Paraguay,
having reached the La Platte, has
been instructed to proceed, without
delay, to Asuncion, aud there to in
vestigate the whole subject. The
Rear Admiral commanding the
United States South Atlantic Suuad-
ron, has been directed to attend The
new minister with a proper naval
force, to sustain such just demands as
the occasion may require, 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 mainta med between the United
States and B, Ill and Paraguay,
Our relations during the past year
with Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and
Chill. have become especially friendly
and cordial. Spain and the Repub-
lies of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador
have expressed their Willingness to
accept the mediation of the United
States for terminating the war upon
the South Pacific coast. Chilli has
not finally declared upon the oues-
tion. In the meantime, the conflict
has practically exhausted itself, since
no belligerent or hostile movement
has been made by either party during
the last two years, and there are no
indications of present purpose to
resume hostilities on either side.
Great Britain and France have
cordially seconded the 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
friendly relations between the Spa
nish-American Republics of the Pa
cific and Spain-a result which would
be attended with common benefits
to the belligerents, and much ad-
vantage to all commercial nations.
1 communicate for the considera-
ton of Congress correspondence
which shows that the Bolivian Re-
public has established the extremely
liberal principle of receiving into its
citizenship any citizen of the United
States, or of any other OF the Ameri-
can Republics, upon the simple con
dition of voluntary registry.
The correspondence herewith sub
mitted will be found painfully replete
with accounts of the ruin and wretch
edness produced by recent earth
quakes OF unparalleled severity in
cru, GquuuOT anu DOilVlu. Inc
diplomatic agents and naval officers
of tho United States, who were pre-
sent i'll those republics at the time
Of those disasters, furnished all the
relief in their power to the sufferers,
and were promptly rewarded with
grateful Acknowledgements of the
Congress of Peru. An appeal to the
charity of our fellow-citizens has
been answered by much Hberality.
In this connection, I submit an ap-
peal which has been made by the
Swiss Republic, whose Government
and institutions aro kindred to our
own, in behalf of its inhabitants who
are suffering extreme destitution,
produced by recent devastating inun-
dations.
Our relations with Mexico during
the year have been marked by an in
creased growth of mutual confidence.
The Mexican Government has not
yet acted upon the three treaties cele-
brated here last summer FOR estab-
fishing the rights of native citizens
upon a liberal and just basis, for re-
gulating consular powers, and for
the adjustment of mutual claims.
All commercial nations, as we'll as
the friends of republican institu-
tions, have occasion to regret the
frauuapt local Iiofnrlo poae xx,LsoI