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PAPERS OJ<' lVImABEAU BuoNAPARTE LA:01An
facilities. In truth, I do not know any person with the exception of yourself who may be capable of leading these States out of their diffi- culties, and putting them on the road to prosperity and happiness. To whom but Your Excellency have they to turn for salutary advice? Pardon me, Your Excellency if I say that Your Excellency is the person on whom I count principally for whatever good that may result :from the proposed Congress of the Presidents of Central America, I only fear that Your Excellency cannot attend said convention; and if it should so happen, I would consider your absence as a misfortune for the country.- If that Congress will try to establish good relations with the United States and to found some general principles of govern- ment among themselves, then all will be well; but on the contrary, if according to the proclamation of 10 April past, promulgated by Senor President lVIartines,-and under which said Congress is called-its principal object is only to unite these States in a great military Con- federation, and provide for the organization and maintenance of a strong permanent army, indeed all will be bad ;-not only because these States are not in a condition for bearing the expenses of such an establishment; but also because it cannot fail to be a source of political oppression and of discord among themselves.- This last motive seems to be indicated in one of the Articles of the Decree of the last Congress of this Republic concerning this matter. Perhaps I have been mistaken in the interpretation of it.- In view of all these considerations presented I cannot but arrive at the opinion already expressed, that the true policy of this Government is to accept, immediately, the doctrine expressed in the letter of :Mr. Cass, of non-intervention in the affairs and business of Central-America; and afterwards-when Your Excellency may have more time-to ad- dress an energetic, eloquent and patriotic Declaration to all the States of Central-America, marking the course that they should take in the present crisis. A document of such nature, would lead the people to think seriously on their present and future destiny and prepare the States for the wise and judicious methods that should be adopted in the proposed Congress. In this manner Your Excellency will be the benefactor of all Central-America, your name passing to posterity as a light pointing to the heights of glory.- [l\IIRABEAU B. LAMARl P. S. There is a point in this affair which I have not introduced in this discussion, notwithstanding the fact that it is one of the most important-it is this-the fear that the people have that if they should have facilities for American immigration to this country, very soon they would arrive in such numbers that they would be able to overturn the existing order of things and finally convert the nation into an American Republic. I have not discussed this point because it would open a field of arguments an-d investigations too extensive to initiate now; but I am sure that the people of Costa-Rica and Nicaragua have never misunderstood so completely as now this matter; because never can occur such an influx of Americans so alarming to these countries.. Such a thing is impeded by permanent and insuperable obstacles. It is prevented in Nicaragua by the burning climate; and in Costa-Rica by the lack of laborers and the great and exorbitant expenses for open- . ing estates in this country. The United States possess today fertile
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