98
TEXAS STATE LrnnAuY
President and there is, to every appearance, powerful machinations going on to defeat the treaty. I have no idea they will be able to effect this but the prospects of a speedy ratification ham somewhat changed since writing the foregoing - Webster, Vanderbilt's Agent, is among the wire workers. He arrived here yesterday, and immediately notified this government of Costa Rica the two lake Steamers - San Carlos and La Virgen - together with all the rights of Costa Rica on the two river steamers now at San Juan del Norte. He is to pay Costa Rica $90000 for said rnssels; but according to contract Nicarag.ua is to have the refusal of them - that is - she has the right to take them at the same price in prefereuce to Webster, provided she pays the $!)0000 by the 20th. of next month - a thing impossible - \Yebster tells this government that Stebbins and White will uot be able to open this line in two years, if at all - and that 'l a]l(lerhilt will hin<l himself to start the line in three months. He therefore wants this government to declare the Stebbins Contract as forfeited and void, mid to enter into a new one with Vanderbilt. I ha Ye 110 time to comerse with Minister Juarez upon the subject; but I think there is a disposition to favor the proposition - The Min- ister has frequently expressed his disconfidence in the ability of Stebbins and White to carry out their colltract. - a discontidence which has just been strengthened by the application (as I am told) of this com- pany to ha,·e the time 0£ commencing to run until ncx January. Be- sides, the Company have forwarded to the Nicaraguan gm·ernment some legal opinion going to proYe that they hare not as yet forfeited their contract, nor can forfeit it while the w-ater in the San Juan river re- mains to low to admit the large Steamers to pass into the lake. As to the final action of this government in the matter I cnn hnzzard no opinion at present. Upon this subject, as upon many others it is be- wildered, vacillating, and knows not what to do. Irrisarri has written to his government, referring it to some articles in the Union - I have not seem them - and has endeavored to enforce the idea that Nicaragua has nothing to expect but aggression either from the Government of the United States or from the Fili- busters He says there is no remedy, and recommend the adoption of the treaty as the least of two evils, preferring that this country should be filibustered .by our go,ernment than that hy private marauders. I have not seen his correspondence but am well assured that it goes to the ahove purport; and it has produced considerable sensation here, and I believe gave rise to the idea already alluded to, of adjourning the Assembly to amid any action on the treaty at present. The Department will please excuse the loose and desultory character of this communication in consideration of the exceeding haste in which it has been prepared.
I haYc the honor to he with the highest consideration Yours respectfully (Signed) l\Iiraheau B Lamar
Hon
Lewis Cass
Sccrrtarv of State u. s.
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