[XXV-32] Dated June 22, 1850. Chiriquí, Ofic. de la Gobn., in Pinart, Pan. Coll. Doc., MS., no. 84; Chiriquí, Decretos, in Id., MS., no. 89; Chiriquí, Inf. Gen. del Canton, in Id., MS., no. 41.
[XXV-33] The local authorities were paid out of the national treasury. Chiriquí could not tax the inhabitants.
[XXV-34] The vice-consul's release; restoration with all respect and publicity to the consulate of its archives and other effects, together with satisfaction to the British government, and a compensation of £1,000 to Russell. Peña y Peña, Práctica Forense, iii. 375-94; Scarlett's S. Am., ii. 257-9; Mensaje, Presid. N. Gran., 1837.
[XXV-35] British war vessels made a demonstration at Panamá the following year. S. F. Alta Cal., Dec. 1, 1856; S. F. Even. Bulletin, Jan. 2, May 16, 1857.
[XXV-36] They said it was notorious that no passenger arrived at either end of the route without being abused, robbed, or otherwise maltreated; many had been wounded, and not a few murdered; hardly a party passed without their baggage being plundered; women were insulted, and even outraged. No effort had been made by the authorities to ferret out the perpetrators of such crimes. Pan., La Crónica Ofic., March 1, 1854.
[XXV-37] The governor did not fail to mention that in several instances his troops had done valuable service in protecting treasure and recovering stolen property, without claiming or receiving pay.
[XXV-38] Runnels acted with characteristic energy. Without scandal or noise, he captured one by one the banditti that infested the roads, and out of sight and without witnesses, other than his own men, had the criminals hanged and buried. Those of this class that did not fall into the hands of the Isthmus guard made haste to leave the country, which soon was cleared of foreign evil-doers. This object being accomplished, the guard was dissolved, its valuable services being fully appreciated. The governor had no authority for his action, but no fault was found with him. The measure had been one of absolute necessity; 'fué redentora.' Maldonado, Asuntos Polít. Pan., 9. Runnels in after years lived in Nicaragua, and died of consumption in Rivas, July 7, 1882, aged 52. Pan. Star and Herald, July 22, 1882.
[XXV-39] Jefe Superior Justo Arosemena wrote Consul Ward a courteous letter of explanation on the 29th of Sept. Pan., Gaceta del Est., Oct. 3, 1855.
[XXV-40] Ships and passengers had been paying a moderate sum, and when the official's greed was aroused to levy a burdensome tax, formal objection to it was made.
[XXV-41] It added that the policy of demanding such a tax would be detrimental to the interests of the Isthmus. The whole correspondence appears in Pan. Crón. Ofic., March 10, Apr. 10, May 23, 1854; Pan., Gaceta del Est., Nov. 3, 10, 18, 1855; Id., Dec. 11, 1856; S. F. Alta, Sept. 20, 1856; Sac. Union., Sept. 22, 1856; S. F. Bulletin, Sept. 30, 1856; Minister Herran to Sec. Marcy, Dec. 8, 1856, in Pan., Gaceta del Est., March 28, 1857.