The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-10

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to the United States, the Rear Admit
raj commanding the South Atlantic
| Squadron was directed to send ship
OF war to AsuncioD, the Capital of
Paraguay, to receive Mr.. Washburn
and his family and remove them from
a 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, and the vessel returned
! to its accustomed anchorage. Re.
monstrance having been made against
this refusal, 10 was promptly over
ruled, and the Wasp, therefore, re-
sumed her errand, received Mr..
| Washburn and family, and con-
veyed them to safe and convenient
seaport. In the meantime an ex-
cited controversy had arisen between
the President of Paraguay and the
late United States Minister. which, it
is understood, grew out of his pro-
ceediDgs In giving asylum in the
United States Legation, to the alleged
enemies Of that republic. The ques-
ton OF the right TO give asylum is one
always difficult, and often productive
| of great embarrassment IN States well
| organized and established. The for
eign power refused the order to con-
cede or exercise that right, except as
| to persons actually belonging to the
| diplomatic service. On the other
hand, all such powers insist upon ex-
ercising the right of asylum in States
where the law of nations is
not fully acknowledged. respected
and obeyed. The President Of Para
quay is understood to have applied to
Mr.. Washburn's proceedings the in
| furious aud very improbable charge
Of personal complication with insur-
rection and treason. The correspond
ence, however, has not yet reached
the United States. Mr.. Washburn,
10 connection with this controversy,
represents that two United States
citizens, attached to the Legation,
were arbitrarily seized at his side,
when leaving the Capital Of Paraguay,
committed to prison, and there sub
mitted to torture for the purpose of
procuring confessions of their own
criminality, and testimony to support
the present allegations against the
u. S. Minister.
Mr.. Mcmahon, the newly appoint
ed Minister TO Paraguay, says he has
reached the La Platte, and has been
instructed to proceed without delay
to Ascension, 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
| 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 ex-
| posed to danger in the theatre
! of war. With these exceptions friend
| ly relations have been maintained be-
! tween the United States and Brazil
/ and Paraguay. Our relations during
the past year with Bolivia, Ecuador,
Peru and Chill have become espec-
tally friendly and cordial. Spain and
the Republics Of Peru, Bolivia and
| Ecuador have expressed their will
| inguess to accept the mediation Of the
| United States for terminating the war
upon the South Pacific coast. Chill
has not finally declared upon the
question. La the meantime the con
| hict has practically exhausted itself,
| since no belligerent or hostile move
ment has been made by either party
| during the last two years, and there
are no indications Of purpose to re-
sumo hostilities on either side. Great
| Britain and France have cordially
i seconded our proposition of media
] ton, and / do not forego the hope
that it may soon be accepted by all
the belligerents, aud lead to a secure
i establishment of peace and friendly
relations between the Spanish Ameri-
can Republics Of the Pacific and
| Spain, a result which would be at
| tended with common benefits TO the
belligerents, and much advantage to
all commercial nations. l communi-
!. cate for the consideration of Congress
a correspondence which shows that
tile Bolivian Republic has established
the extremely liberal principle of re-
ceiving into its citizenship any citizen
of the United States, or Of any other
Of the American Republics, upon the
simple condition OF voluntary re-
gistry. The correspondence is here
with submitted, and will be found
painfully replete with accounts of the
ruin and indebtedness produced by
the recent earthquakes of unparalleled
severity, in the Republics Of Peru,
Eucador, and Bolivia. The diplo-
matte agency and naval officers of the
these countries at the time Of these
disasters, furnished all the relief in
their power to the sufferers, and were
touching aeknowledments by the Con-
nG 10 ha
charity of our fellow,citizens has
been answered with much liberality
In this connection l submit an appeal
which has been made by the Swiss
Republic, whose government and in \
stitutions are kindred to our own, in
behalf of its Inhabitants, who are
suffering extreme restitution, pro-
duced by recent inu ndations.
Our relations with Mexico during
the year have been marked by an in
creasing growth of mutual confidence.
The Mexican Government has not
yet acted upon the treaties negotiated
here last Summer for establishing the
rights Of naturalized citizens upon a
liberal and just basis for regulating
consular powers and for the adjust |
ment of mutual claims. All cOmmer-
clal nations, as well IS friends to re-
publican institutions, have occasion to
regret the frequent local Disturbances
which occur in some of the cOnstitu-
ent States of Columb ia. Nothing has
occurred, however, to affect the har-
mony and cordial friendship which /
have for several years existed be-
tween that youthful and vigorous
republic and our own. Negotiations
are pending with view to the survey |
aud construction of ship canal across
the lsthmus Of Darien, under the