In 1832, Andrew Jackson attempted to establish more favorable Diplomatic relations with the short-lived Federal Republic of Central America after President Manuel José Arce was ousted by a rebellion in 1829. Attempts were delayed due to the death of the "distinguished citizen" he had appointed to be ambassador to the Republic.
General Manuel José Arce y Fagoaga was a decorated General and later President who was part of the movement for independence in the Federal Republic of Central America from Spain. Arce first joined the independence in 1811 and spent four years in prison for an uprising in 1814. By 1823 independence was won and the Federal Republic of Central America was established consisting of the present-day Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Arce was initially elected as a member of the executive triumvirate of Central America. In 1825, when presidential elections were held, José Cecilio del Valle a philosopher, lawyer and journalist won the most votes, but the Liberals who controlled Congress argued that Valle had not won the absolute majority and chose Arce as president. Arce eventually turned against the Liberals and dissolved the Assembly leading to a revolt against federal authority in San Salvador. When Honduras and Nicaragua joined the rebellion in 1829, Arce was deposed, and the Honduran Francisco Morazán was proclaimed president in 1830. To appease the Liberals, they moved the capital from Guatemala City to San Salvador, but by 1831 Morazán's power was waning and Republic was heading down the path of disintegration.
President Andrew Jackson saw the expulsion of Manuel José Arce as an opportunity to establish a "favorable disposition toward" the United States, and to that end appointed a "distinguished citizen" to establish diplomatic relations with the administration of Morazán in San Salvador. Jackson made a further attempt to establish diplomatic relations, but the "distinguished citizen" Jackson had appointed for the mission died. Jackson made no name of this individual, nor could I find any documentation about the appointment. It is quite possible, that Jackson had appointed John Murray Forbes, the ambassador to the Government of Buenos Aires to this mission. Forbes passed away in Buenos Aires on June 14, 1831. Whether it was Forbes or someone else, Jackson lamented that the death had "retarded the execution of measures" which he hoped would bring "much advantage to our commerce".
"The Government of Central America has expelled from its territory the party which some time since disturbed its peace. Desirous of fostering a favorable disposition toward us, which has on more than one occasion been evinced by this interesting country, I made a second attempt in this year to establish a diplomatic intercourse with them; but the death of the distinguished citizen whom I had appointed for that purpose has retarded the execution of measures from which I hoped much advantage to our commerce."
The federation of Central America dissolved the Union in 1840 by which time 4 of its 5 members had declared independence.
Jackson also addressed another union of South American countries that had already dissolved. The Republic of Columbia was organized from Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, Venezeuella and some parts of Guyana and Brazil. They adopted a constitution in 1821 and Simón Bolívar became the first Preisdent. Due to instability, the republic collapsed and three separate countries emerged. They were New Granada, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
"The union of the three States which formed the Republic of Colombia has been dissolved, but they all, it is believed, consider themselves as separately bound by the treaty which was made in their federal capacity. The minister accredited to the federation continues in that character near the Government of New Grenada, and hopes were entertained that a new union would be formed between the separate States, at least for the purposes of foreign intercourse. Our minister has been instructed to use his good offices, when ever they shall be desired, to produce the reunion so much to be wished for, the domestic tranquillity of the parties, and the security and facility of foreign commerce."
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Fourth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fourth-annual-message-3 [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019]
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Federal Republic of Central America. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Republic_of_Central_America [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019].
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). John Murray Forbes (diplomat). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murray_Forbes_(diplomat) [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019].
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Manuel José Arce. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Jos%C3%A9_Arce [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019].
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