PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS. 179 people, to whom full powers shall be delegated for the appointment of such subordinate officers, (except the Council hereinafter named), and the establishment of such offices and wholesome laws and regulations as shall appear to him best adapted for, and the carrying of such laws and regulations into effect, the same to be done with the advice and consent of the Council. 2d. Resolved, That a Council, to be composed of five persons, be chosen by the people, whose duty it shall be to consult with and advise the Governor upon all matters connected with the public interest, and the consent of a majority of whom shall be necessary to the appointment of any officer, and the enactment of any law or regulation. 3d. Resolved, That the deliberative meetings of the Governor and Council shall be open to the public, unless in the opinion of the Governor the public good should otherwise demand. 4th. Resolved, That the Council be empowered by the people to draft a Constitution, which, after receiving the sanction of the Governor, shall be submitted to them for their adoption by ballot. 5th. Resolved, That the Provisional Government now established shall continue in power until such time as it may seem fit and expedient to the people to meet, and elect a permanent one under the new Constitution. 6th. Resolved, That no Taxes shall be levied on the citizens of San Juan or Greytown and its Territory, without the consent of a majority of the citizens, being owners of Real Estate or personal property to the amount of two hundred and fifty dollars, excepting such inhabitants as have been residents six months and upward. 7th. Resolved, That all foreign vessels (excepting Mail Steamers), entering the harbor, shall pay the same port charges as formerly levied in this port, from and after the first day of October next. 8th. Resolved, That the former printed Constitution of Greytown, or San Juan del Norte, shall be adopted as a basis to govern the action of the Government. 9th. Resolved, That nothing in the foregoing articles shall be construed as depriving the people of their rights to assemble together and discuss matters relative to the public good, and to instruct the Governor and Council upon any subject affecting the same. We observe a freedom to be admired in the spirit of these Resolutions; the Provisional Government subscribed to the former Constitution, which was modeled after that of the United States, with few exceptions of trifling character. The Inaugural Proclamation of Governor Kinney is high-toned, succinct, and views the bombardment, the poverty following said piratical action, and difficulties with the Transit Company, properly and ably. Schools and churches were erected and opened. Physicians, attorneys, merchants, land agents, and OFFICERS UNDER KINNEY'S ADMINISTRATION. 181 others flocked to support the new administration, and Governor Kinney's assumption of power was brilliant, though unfortunately brief. A printing-press was properly located, and a paper called "The Central American" was published, the first number of which was issued September 15th, 1855. Editors, W. H. Young and F. Lewellyn. The officers of the Government were Henry L. Kinney, Civil and Military Governor; W. S. Thayer, Secretary of the Government; J. R. Swift, Captain of the Port and Collector; S. T. Haly, Chief Judicial Magistrate; W. H. Young, Attorney-General; F. Salter, Post Master and Recorder of Deeds; S. H. Shock, Provost-Marshal; Thomas S. Codd, Deputy Provost-Marshal; John Jackson, Surveyor; B. Wark, Constable; Thomas Cody, A. M. C. Wood, Benjamin Mooney, Walter Sutherland, and Samuel Shepherd, Jr., Members of the Council, of which the first-named was President. The English Government refused to acknowledge the new party in power, but consented, provided a re-election be had, which should give no offense. Gov. Kinney resigned, and other matters pressing upon the tapis, obscured the position of affairs upon this coast for the subsequent period. Illy provided with the means of sustenance, betrayed by the Association with whom he had covenanted, Col. Kinney in vain looked for the reinforcements and provisions which were to have been forwarded by the organization in New York and Philadelphia. Sick, poor, a stranger in a strange land, having spent his means in the establishment of his Colony, one by one hopes fled, and his men went to the interior to join another cause, whose course was marked by blood-stained battle-fields, and the silent hearths of deserted and spoliated homes. Had Col. Kinney desired to lead any revolutionary organization, his opportunities for so doing have certainly not been. isolated. Overtures were made him by the Nicaraguans through their then Provisional Chief, Don Patricia Rivas, by whom he was urged to visit the City of Granada. Had he desired to grasp the reins of Government, ere Gen. Walker had been tempted to do so, Kinney would have occupied the position of Commander-in-chief, by the unanimous consent of the nation. Costa Rica also sent deputies to confer with him, entreating him and his followers to settle in its province, but he was wedded to his tract on the Mosquito coast. He had sought it for a particular and distinct purpose, and the improvements everywhere visible were endorsements of his high integrity. His subsequent visit to Granada, and his expulsion thence at Gen. Walker's instance, reflects but little credit upon the latter, whose boast to hang Col. Kinney proved an empty one. Col. Kinney, after enduring many hardships, it is rumored, has sold his Grant to the Mormons for two million dollars, receiving an instalment of one tenth of the purchasemoney. CHAPTER XIX. INHABITANTS OF THE MOSQUITO COAST-THEIR WEALTH-CLIMATE-INTRODUO-TION OF RELIGION-THEIR OWN BELIEF-BURIAL OF THEIR DEAD-PRODUCTS OF THE AND COAST-TURTLE-BIRDS-FISH-ANIMALS-VINES-TREES WOODS-RIVERS-EXPLORATION OF INDIAN RIVER BY THE GOLDEN CLUB FORESTS-BLACK RIVER-GOLD A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY-MAGNIFICENT THE natives of the Mosquito shore, like savages of other countries, are distinguished for their apathy; fruits furnish them with sustenance, chief among which, are the banana and plantain, and these are extremely nourishing. The wild boar, deer, birds, and the fish, all of which are abundant, supply their few necessities. Their wealth consists in a canoe and its accessories; and protected by mountains and morasses, with no accumulated wealth to tempt the pirate or the adventurer, they are exposed to no incursions from without. A |