The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-06
COLOMBIA.

The Troubles ON the Isthmus-Gloomy Condi-
tion Of AHairs-Ri0t Between United States
Sailors and Jamaica Negroes-A Sailor
Killed.
The vexed tax question Is at length settled, at
least for the present year. The merchants held out
and refused to pay cent more than they paid last
year. which was exorbitant enough, and the gov
eminent, after first bullying and then pleading pow
erty finally concluded 1t wiser to back down than
to push matters to CRISIS and accepted the prop0-
ston to receive $780, 600 instead OF the 100000 at
nrst demanded by the Legislature. OF course If the
latter had any showing Of justice on their side they
would have held out for the last dollar. The gov
ernment 1t seems. intends, however to enforce the
full tax on the Aspinwall merchants who are not
quite so strong as here, but quite resoute. They
viii refuse pay and their goods win probably be
SOLD at auction next Monday. The United States
Consul at that port is acting in the matter and has
lawyer on hand to make the necessary protests.
The Legislature has at length passed some laws
relative to the disposition of dead bodies. Article
provides that no bodies shall be Inferred until
twelve hours after death but shall not be kept unin-
TERED longer than thirty hours except In cases OF
Spe 70 have nsuests IN su which viii
be something new In Panama, as hitherto no nvestl-
ration has ever been made into the cause OF death,
NO matter under what circumstances 1t occurred.
fear however the law will prove failure as when
man is dead the authorities do not want the bother
Of finding the cause seeing that would not bring
The thieving Governor and soldiers have at
ea nre esen neorv eyepyhna that could be
stolen In that unlucky department. There being
nothing left TO steal peace Is at length restored for
the present.
In Panama we still support national and State
army with which to keep up our combined pride and
poverty. Rusty muskets and half starved, lazy SOL
iers are all we can show return for forced loans
and exorbitant taxation. Heaven only knows what
or take care Of ourselves, and none Of the worlds
pO0rhOuses appear DESTROYS OF taking charge OF
such set Of paupers Some people tax stu q ask.
clamor for q separation from the national govern
ment, SO that the state may get the railroad sub
sidy Of $25000o which 1t has been SO unJustly de-
prved OF. One thing Is evident, the State u Inn
povershed now and Its resources so wasted that u
cannot possibly raise the means OF supporting itself
another year. even II we have peace, which we
VIII not; SO the sooner change occurs the better
Anything will be preferable to It's present misery
In the harbor OF Aspinwall last week:--Steamers
Penobscot, Lieutenant Commander Eastman; Yantic,
Commander Abbott; Nipsic, Lieutenant Commander
Selfrdge; Tallapo0sa, Master McRtchie. The United
States steamer Tuscarora, from Cailao, arrived at
The penobscot sailed from Aspinwan on the 27th
for Cuba. The Tallapoosa is ready 70 sail for the
States.
on the evening Of the ed inst. serious row
occurred between some sailors from the United States
ship Iallapoosa and Q number OF Jamaica negroes
enness on the part OF the sailors, VINO should have
been kept on board their ship instead OF getting
liberty In such place In the evening.
The Tallapoosa was lying alongside Of the Railroad
Company's wharf taking In coal, and after work
some fifteen or twenty OF the men went on shore
on liberty and got drunk and disorderly, when an
attack was soon after made upon them by about
200 Jamaica negroes, who made free use OF stones
and bottles and who succeeded IN killing one OF the
sailors by pounding his skull In with champagne
bottle. The murdered man had nothing whatever
to do with the row, and was perfectly sober and en-
deavoiing to get ON board the vessel when he was
attacked and brutally killed.
We had a very fine eclipse OF the moon last night
(the 27th ut) which commenced about eight O'Clock.
About hall the moons disc was covered. The night
was beautifully clear and the eclipse was seen to
great advantage.