395
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAi>ARTE LAMAR
opinion,. would effectually assure the well-being, security, prosperity, and independence of this country. Most Excellent Sir Your Obedient Servant [MIRABEAU B. LAMAR 1 To His Excellency Juan Rafael l\fora President of the Republic of Costa Rica. San Jose.
No. 2699. LAMAR TO JUAN RAFAEL MORA
Punta Arenas 21st Nov. 1858.
~{y DEAR Sm, I have just received Your Excellency's note of the 17th. inst. ex- pressing your good desires for my safe arrival at :Managua and speedy return to San Jose; and I hasten to respond to it, while the heart is yet warm and before the cordial sentiments which it awakens shall have time to subside into diplomatic formalities. There is always some- thing pleasing and agreeable, even in the merely external empty civili- ties of life; but your Excellency's note seems to be something more than this; it has all the air and aspect of sincere cordiality; and as such, it cannot fail to form a new link in the chain Friendship. has already twined around my heart for Your Excellency. I only regret that the stern realities of business should obtrude themselves upon me at a moment when the mind is so engrossed with more congenial .matters.- Yet the duties of my position as well as a sincere regard .for Your Excellency, will hardly permit me leave the country without ,!)ffering a few observations upon a subject which has just been brought .t9 my consideration; and if in the performance of the unpleasant task, !~ should speak with too much freedom and frankness, your Excellency :must remember that you are in part to blame for having encouraged me to such a course by your own example. In all our official intercourse, :Your Excellency has spoken with so much simplicity of manner, direct- .ness of purpose and manifest sincerity, that you can scarcely take it a miss if I should do the same.- . A short time before I left San Jose, it was rumored that an Extra Session of Congress was about to be called to take into consideration the ratification of what is termed the Belly contract. On enquiry I was given to understand by various individuals that no such intention existed on the part of the Govermt; and of consequence I departed without dis- cussing the policy of such a measure, being satisfied in my own mind that none such was in contemplation. I have just received intelligence, however, that the Congress is actually about to be convoked; and for the purpose, as supposed, of ratifying said contract. If this be really true; and that body should indeed confirm that contract, I should regard it as almost fatal to all hopes of establishing between our countries the good relations which I consider so esential to the great cause of peace, progress and prosperity. Not that the United States have any objection to Nicaragua intersecting the country with as many canals and rail- roads as her interests may demand. My government is perfectly willing that Mr Belly, or any other foreigner should employ his capital in works .of internal improvement in that or any of the Central American States- provided their enterprises do not conflict with the vested rights of Amer- ican Citizens; but it cannot fail to be obvious to all, that if Costa Rica,
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