NICARAGUAN AND PARAGUAYAN TROUBLES The two great commercial nations, Great Britain and the United States, were natural rivals for Central American influence. Both wanted to construct an isthmian canal. The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty seemed to settle all differences, but it was not long before England's tactics showed she did not propose to be bound by it. One of the incidents of the friction occurred in Greytown, Nicaragua. This place stood at the mouth of the San Juan River, a necessary element to any canal projects of the time, and by British advice had renounced all political connections and declared itself a sovereignty. Our Consul there having been insulted, an American war vessel bombarded the town. For a fuller description of the incident, see the President's account on page 2814. Later a fleet of nineteen vessels was sent to Paraguay to obtain reparation from that republic for insults and injuries to the Government and to individual citizens. Needless to say, this Armada accomplished its purpose. The history of our diplomacy is told in the series of articles covering our treaty relations; in this case refer to the articles "Nicaragua "; " Nicaragua, Treaties with"; "Paraguay"; "Paraguay, Treaties with"; "Great Britain "; and "Great Britain, Treaties with." The story of the isthmian canal is told in the article entitled "Panama Canal." All of the articles are in the Encyclo pedic Index. ''copies of the correspondence between the minister of the United States at London and any authorities of the British Government in relation to a postal arrangement between the two countries." MARCH 27, 1848. JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 3, 1848. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I communicate to Congress, for their information, a copy of a dispatch, with the accompanying documents, received at the Department of State from the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Paris, giving official information of the overthrow of the French Monarchy, and the establishment in its stead of a “provisional government based on republican principles." This great event occurred suddenly, and was accomplished almost without bloodshed. The world has seldom witnessed a more interesting or sublime spectacle than the peaceful rising of the French people, resolved to secure for themselves enlarged liberty, and to assert, in the majesty of their strength, the great truth that in this enlightened age man is capable of governing himself. The prompt recognition of the new Government by the representative of the United States at the French Court meets my full and unqualified approbation, and he has been authorized in a suitable manner to make known this fact to the constituted authorities of the French Republic. Called upon to act upon a sudden emergency, which could not have been anticipated by his instructions, he judged rightly of the feelings and sentiments of his Government and of his countrymen, when, in advance of the diplomatic representatives of other countries, he was the frst to recognize, so far as it was in his power, the free Government established by the French people. The policy of the United States has ever been that of nonintervention in the domestic affairs of other countries, leaving to each to establish the form of government of its own choice. While this wise policy will be maintained toward France, now suddenly transformed from a monarchy into a republic, all our sympathies are naturally enlisted on the side of a great people who, imitating our example, have resolved to be free. That such sympathy should exist on the part of the people of the United States with the friends of free government in every part of the world, and especially in France, is not remarkable. We can never forget that France was our early friend in our eventful Revolution, and generously aided us in shaking off a foreign yoke and becoming a free and independent people. We have enjoyed the blessings of our system of weli regulated selfgovernment for near three-fourths of a century, and can properly appreciate its value. Our ardent and sincere congratulations are extended to the patriotic people of France upon their noble and thus far successful efforts to found for their future government liberal institutions similar to our own. It is not doubted that under the benign influence of free institutions the enlightened statesmen of republican France will find it to be for her true interests and permanent glory to cultivate with the United States the most liberal principles of international intercourse and commercial reciprocity, whereby the happiness and prosperity of both nations will be promoted. To the Senate of the United States: JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 7, 1848. In answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 29th of March, 1848, I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of War, with the accompanying documents, containing the information called for, relative to the services of Captain McClellan's company of Florida volunteers in the year 1840. To the Senate of the United States: JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 7, 1848. I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of War, transmit、 ting a copy of the proceedings of the general court-martial in the case of Lieutenant-Colonel Frémont, called for by a resolution of the Senate of the 29th February, 1848. To the Senate of the United States: JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 10, 1848. I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of State, together with a copy of the correspondence between the Secretary of State and "the Brazilian chargé d'affaires at Washington," called for by the resolution of the Senate of the 28th of March, 1848. To the Senate of the United States: JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 13, 1848. In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 28th of March, 1848, I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of War, transmitting a report of the head of the Ordnance Bureau, with the accompanying papers, relative to "the repeating firearms invented by Samuel Colt." Such is the favorable opinion entertained of the value of this arm, particularly for a mounted corps, that the Secretary of War, as will be seen by his report, has contracted with Mr. Colt for 2,000 of his pistols. He has offered to contract for an additional number at liberal prices, but the inventor is unwilling to furnish them at the prices offered. The invention for the construction of these arms being patented, the United States can not manufacture them at the Government armories without a previous purchase of the right so to do. The right to use his patent by the United States the inventor is unwilling to dispose of at a price deemed reasonable. JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 25, 1848. To the House of Representatives of the United States: I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of War, with accompanying documents, submitted by him as embracing the papers and the correspondence* between the Secretary of War and Major-General Scott, called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 17th instant. JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, April 29, 1848. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I submit for the consideration of Congress several communications received at the Department of State from Mr. Justo Sierra, commissioner of Yucatan, and also a communication from the Governor of that State, representing the condition of extreme suffering to which their country has been reduced by an insurrection of the Indians within its limits, and asking the aid of the United States. These communications present a case of human suffering and misery which can not fail to excite the sympathies of all civilized nations. From these and other sources of information it appears that the Indians of Yucatan are waging a war of extermination against the white race. *his civil war they spare neither age nor sex, but put to death, indiscriminately, all who fall within their power. The inhabitants, panic stricken and destitute of arms, are flying before their savage pursuers toward the coast, and their expulsion from their country or their extermination would seem to be inevitable unless they can obtain assistance from abroad. In this condition they have, through their constituted authorities, implored the aid of this Government to save them from destruction, offering in case this should be granted to transfer the "dominion and sovereignty of the peninsula" to the United States. Similar appeals for aid and protection have been made to the Spanish and the English Governments. Whilst it is not my purpose to recommend the adoption of any meas ure with a view to the acquisition of the "dominion and sovereignty" * Relating to the conduct of the war in Mexico and the recall of General Scott from the command of the Army. |