Thomas Adamson to Porter, October 10, 1885

Mr. Adamson to Mr. Porter.

Sir: In my No. 179, of September 4, I expressed the belief that the elections for a President of this Republic to succeed Dr. Nuñez would not be held at the time fixed by the constitution, that an attempt to change the constitution would probably be made, &c., and intimated the probability that our Government might again be called upon to protect its interests here.

In my No. 182, of September 15, I noted another sign of the drift of Colombian affairs, as shown by the decree suppressing all newspapers throughout the Republic (from which, however, the Star and Herald of Panama obtained exemption). Since that time various official acts made public justify the opinions heretofore given by me.

In the Panama Daily Star and Herald of October 9 was published an impromptu address delivered by President Nuñez on the occasion of receiving news of the capture of the rebel flotilla, in which he says:

“Gentlemen, the constitution of 1863 no longer exists. Very soon the people Trill give themselves a new one, which will satisfy their true necessities and consult the inclinations of the great majority of the Colombian, people.”

On the 10th of September President Nuñez issued his decree No. 594, as per copy herewith, calling upon the governments of the several States to send delegates to a convention to be held at Bogota on the 11th of November to reform the constitution, and on the same date he issued an address to the people, giving the reasons for demanding said reform. It is believed here that the Government at Bogota has intimated to the civil and military chiefs of the several States the names of those persons who would be acceptable delegates.

The opinion is also generally entertained, that the projected constitution will abolish State sovereignty, and on this point all parties agree that the change is desirable.

It is also supposed that the Presidential term will be extended from two years, as at present, to four or six years, and that the present incumbent will be his own successor. The friends of the national Government; further say that in all probability a narrow zone of this Isthmus, including the railway and projected canal lines, will be declared a federal district, to be governed by an agent of the central Government, assisted by a large military force, and that the seat of government of the State of Panama will be removed to David, in the department of Chiriqui.

These things have had, comparatively speaking, but little effect on the public mind, but within the present week the people of Panama have been startled by the publication of decree No 698, issued at Bogota on the 25th of September, establishing custom-houses on the Isthmus of Panama.

You may infer that this decree caused much feeling here by reading the editorial articles taken from the Weekly Star and Herald of this day, and remembering that said journal is only permitted to be published by the sufferance of the National Government, as stated in my No. 182.

Dr. Pablo Arosemena, who strongly opposes the proposition, was recently president of the State of Panama, and the committee appointed to represent the merchants is composed of men of the highest standing. On the part of both the Panama Railroad and the Interoceanic Canal Company it is claimed that the proposition is in violation of the rights conceded to said corporations.

If the Government persists in the enforcement of the decree it will certainly cause much ill feeling here, for it would touch the pocket of almost every adult male person in the State. As a prominent merchant feelingly remarked to me, “It would add $15 to the cost of a case of brandy.”

I do not deem it within the scope of my duties to discuss the foregoing matter more fully, and therefore respectfully submit what is herein written for your information.

I am, &c.,