Doc. No. 75. 



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determined to extend the protection of this government to every such 

 communication, whether hy canal or raihoad; inviting, also, that of all 

 other nations desiring to enjoy the rights of passage, without which a 

 heavy expense might be entailed upon the United States in maintaining 

 a sufficient naval and military force for that purpose. 



In submitting this report, which is made in obedience to the directions 

 of the President, I have endeavored briefly to explain the policy of the 

 late lamented Chief Magistrate, whose instructions, in reference to the 

 interesting subjects embraced in the resolution of the House, it was my 

 pleasure not less than my duty to obey ; and with a Yiew to greater accu- 

 racy, I have often, in this commuiiication, used the language employed 

 bv him in a paper relaring to the same subject. 



JOHN M. CLAYTON. 



Department of State, Juli/ 18, 1850. 



[Translation.] 



Mr. Buitrago to the Secretary of State. 



Government House, 



Leoji, November 12, 1847. 



Since the glorious emancipation of your beautiful section of the Ameri- 

 can continent and the establishment of your admirable political system 

 were displayed in all their splendor before the whole world, not only have 

 your States rapidly arisen to an eminent degree of prosperity, but they 

 have also by their wise doctrines and their heroic example influenced the 

 independence of the Spanish American portions of the new world, as 

 well as the forms of government adopted by them. 



North America (the United States) appearing as a sovereign nation at 

 the head of the continent, showed the people of the other portions that 

 the great divisions made by nature, for the occupation of the various fami- 

 lies of the human race, are at the same time the only legitimate bounda- 

 ries of their rights and the sacred asylum of their political existence; and 

 the institutions of the immortal Washington cast their vivifying hghtover 

 the unfortunate countries which formerly belonged to Spain. Placed at 

 the head of its majestic march, the excellent President who now directs 

 the government of your republic is the natural protector of all the States 

 of the contment and the centre of the hopes of the Am.erican cause; and 

 with these sure foundations of fraternal confidence, the supreme govern- 

 ment of the State of Nicaragua, in Central America, doubts not that its 

 representations will be received on a subject which presses seriously in its 

 vital rights, threatens its independence and its institutions, and affects 

 the interests of all America. This subject is the occupation of the port 

 01 San Juan de Nicaragua by Great Britain, as the protector of the pre- 

 tc nded King of the savage tribe called the Mosquitos. 



Your enlightened government well knows, this wandering tribe, in- 

 duced by the suggestions of certain British subjects to consider itself as 

 the proprietor of a territory separate from those of Nicaragua and Hon- 



