The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-15

and foreign war. The Brazilian com
mander Of the Allied invading forces
refused permission to the Wasp to pass
through the blockading forces, and that
vessel returned to its accustomed anchor
age. Remonstrance having been made
against this refusal; it was promptly
overruled, and the Wasp therefore re-
sumed her errand, received Mr.. Wash
burne and his family, and conveyed
them to safe and convenient seaport.
In the meantime an excited controversy
had 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 the al
legged 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 either to concede or ex-
ercise that fight, 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 ma
tons is not fully acknowledged reS2ect-
ed and obeyed. The President OF Par
aguay is understood to have been oppo
sed to Mr.. Washburne's proceedings on
the injurious and very improbable charge
of personal completely in insurrection
and treason. The correspondence, how
ever, has not yet reached the United
States. Mr.. Washburne, in 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 subjected to torture for the pur-
pose of procuring confessions Of their
own criminality and testimony to sup
port the Presidents allegations against
the United States Minister.
Mr.. McMahon, the newly appointed
Minister to Paraguay, says that ne has
reached the La Plata He has been in
structed to proceed without delay to As
. cunsion 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 occa-
sion may require, and to vindicate the
rights of the United States citizens re-
fered 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 Uni
ted States, Brazil and Paraguay. Ou1
relations during the past year with Boil
;, via, Ecuador, Peru and Chill have be-
come especially friendly and cordial
Spain and the Republics of Peru, Boil
via and Ecuador have. expressed theiI
=. willingness to accept the meditation OF
, the United States for terminating the
: war upon the South Pacific coast. Chill
has not finally declared upon the ques
ton. In the meantime the conflict has
p practically exhausted itself since no bel
= ligerent or hostile movement has beer
! made by either party during the last two
E years, and there are no indications OF
: present purpose to resume hostilities OF
: either side. Great Britain and France
have cordially seconded our proposition
of mediation and l do not forego th'
:, hope that it may soon be accepted b.
the belligerents and lead to secure es
. tablishment of peace and friendly rela
tions between the Spanish American he
!, publics of the Pacific and Spain, resul
: which would lie attended with common
= benefit to the belligerents and much ad
. vantage to all the commercial nations.
= communicate for the consideration o
- Congress correspondence which show
:, - that the Bolivian Republic has establish
~ :, ed the extremely liberal principle of re
= ceiving into its citizenship any citizel
- of the United States or of any other Q
II the American Republics, upon the simple cond
- ton of voluntary registry. The correspondence
IS herewith submitted will be found painfully n
!e plete with accounts of the ruin and wretchec
o. ness produced by recent earthquakes OF unpal
z aleled severity in the Republics of Peru, Ecus
W. dor and Bolivia The diplomatic agents an
IT naval officers of the United States who WEI
present in those countries at the time of the di
asters, furnished all the relief in their powe
to the sufferers and were promptly rewarde
T. with grateful and touching acknowledgment
D by the Congress of Peru. An appeal to tn
aI charity of our fellow citizens has been answe
- ed by much iberslity. In this connection
,' submit an appeal which has been made by II
q, Swiss Republic whose government and lnstltl
x tions are kindred to our own, in behalf OF i
1r inhabitants who are suffering from e1treT
=, destitution produced by recent inundations.-
ro1,+;o,s 18th Noxioo dnrincr the wear hay
= been marked by an increasing growth of mi
IL tual confidence The Mexican government h;
m not yet acted upon the treaties negotiated hel
s last summer for establishing the rights of ma
- uralized citizens upon liberal and Just basi
'i' for regulating consular powers and for the al
he iustlnent of mutual claims. All commercl
g. nations. as well as ell friendsof Republican il
ne stitutions have occasion to regret the frequel
~, local disturbances which occur in some of Il
:: constituent States of Columbia. Nothing h
10 occurred, however, to affect the harmony al
l,- cordial friendship which have for several yea
is existed between that youthful and vigoro
he Republic and our own
oo Negotiations are pending with view to Il
" :, survey and construction of a ship canal aero
IT. the Isthmus of Darien, under the auspices
IS tho United States. hope to be able to subm
eh the results of that negotiation to the Senate
I'd ring its present session.
- The very liberal treaty which was enter
W into last year by the United States and Nicar
MT ugua, has been ratified by the latter Republi
= Costa Rica, with the earnestness of sincere
it. friendly neighbor, solcits reciprocity Of trad
h which I commend to the consideration of Co
= :. gress. The convention created by the treat
" between the United States and Venezuela,
er July, 1865, for the mutual adjustment OF claim
e. and its decisions have been received at the ID
of partment of State The heretofore recognize
n Governmental the United States of Fenezue
III having been subverted and provisional goverl
he ment instituted under circumstances whic
lie promise durability, it has been formally reco
#. nized have been reluctantly obliged to as
or explanation and satisfaction for national ini1
ries committed by the President of Hayti. II
ls' political and social condition of the Republi
an of Hayti and st Domingo, are very unsatisfa
or tory and painful The abolition of slavcr
nt which has been carried into effect throughol
~, the island of st. Domingo, and the entire We
"a, y, Indies, except the Spanish Islands of Cuba an
al Porto Rico has been followed by profour
de popular conviction Of the rightfulness of repu
ii lican institutions and an intense desire to S
cure them. The attempt, however, to establis
d. MI