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sents a more powerful justification of the policy of the American Government. There has been no period since these projects were first set on foot by the Nicaraguan invitation, when they would not prob- ably have been successful, had the laws of the United States against such military enterprises been repealed, or suspended by the Legisla- tive Authority, or been left unenforced by the Executive Authority. The State of Nicaragua owes its political existence, or rather its present rulers owe the power they exercise to the laws of the United States, as executed by this Government; and the return for its fidelity is the undignified denunciation which has been given to the world. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * But, the Presidents of these Republics deal in spe- cific facts, as in more general allegations. They charge that "the Government of the United States has, according to official reports made to that of Costa Rica by its Minister Plenipotenciary at Wash- ington, declared it was utterly powerless .to prevent past attempts by the fillibusters, or to protect the neutrality of Central America, owing to the insufficiency of the laws of the United States on this head." This accusation is wholly without foundation. No such declaration was ever made by the Government of the United States. It would have been an act at once of fatuity and of falsity. As to the difficulties in the enforcement of these laws, they are not denied and have given much trouble to the Government in the efforts it has made to carry them into effect. But that they are powerless, or have proved so, no one, in or out the United States, has the right to assert. The Representatives of the Central American States may be called on as witnesses that in all cases, where ,they have given in- formation to the Government, that military expeditions against that region were about to be undel'taken, measures have been immediately adopted to prevent their success, and to arrest and punish the offend- ers. Sometimes this [sic] efforts have failed, owing to causes not within the control of the Government, and sometimes they have been successful, but at all times the knowledge of the disposition of the Gov- ernment to discharge energetically the duties imposed on it by the laws has operated as a powerful restraint upon these enterprizes, and has crippled the means relied upon for their consummation. To these views, connected with the charge of acknowledged imbecility I have now to add that I have just had an interview with the present Minister Plenipotenciary of Costa Rica in this city, and have been assured by him that no such declaration was ever received by him from this Gov- ernment nor commuticated [sic] to his own. If such a communication was ever made by any one in good faith, it must have been done under some strange misapprehension. I perceive that you also occupy a place in this grave · document and that your "boasts in public" - it is said - as to the course which will be pursued by the United States in the event of the failure of Nicaragua to ratify the recent treaty have been deemed im- portant enough to be introduced into this catalogue of national com- plaints. I have no doubt but that whoever has watched you with a view to listen to, and report your conversation, has grossely misreported you. But the Presidents of Nicaragua and Costa Rica have much to learn in the duties of a just and wise administration, if they consider
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