The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-24

~ WIN ue sSen - vioe " thS PuteseBy VI sne las'
member Of the sentence above quoted that the statement
smacks strongly Of the State Department Now. as TO
the correctness Of this assertion We have examined
into the matter, and nd il wholly 0ittout foundation
and untrue Mr, Hampstead was. indeed. appointed .
consul. but not 10 Mosquito. He was appointed .
consul TO Belize. some two or three hundred miles
north Of the Mosquito coast is the capital OF small
territory called British Honduras. which has been IN pos
session Of the British for nearly two hundred years Inc
possession OF the English, although originally an inuu
son recognised by the Spanish monarchs IN Their
several treaties in all Of which the British government
solemny relinquished all claim OF sovereignty over OF
right OF possession in. the other Spanish provinces
Of Central America and in the third and last irea-
ty, (hat Of 1852 they renqushed al rghf N me Mos
quito territory expressly By naHae Thus MIR caytons
confidential correspondent as II determined to rival the
State Department in the egregiousness OF his blunders
displays the most objectionable ignorance both Of the
geography and history Of that portion Of the continent in
assuming that Belize is in the Mosquito territory The
fact, then, is, that neither Mr.. Polk nor Mr. buchanan
commissioned "eonsM to Mosquito; thus recognising
the territorial and colonial title Of England" It is gross
and nexcusable error, resulting either from degree Of
ignorance which would disgrace schoolboy. an in
enton 10 misepresent the part Of Mr. Clayons COR
respondent. which reflects credit upon either him
the State Department for which he speaks So far the
statements Of this correspondent unfounded and libel
ous upon the late administration.
In the same. extract the writer charges Mr.. Polk and
Mr. Buchanan with neglectng TO resist the encroach-
mens Of the British upon Nicaragua. and that when that
State protested and sought the intervention OF this gov
eminent, Messrs. Polk and Buchanan refused to inter-
ere for that weak republic and countenanced the spoa
ton of her territory"
Now, we do not hesitate TO say that there ID not word
Of truth in the mputaton which Mr. Caytons correspon
dent has made against Messrs Polk and Buchanan We
have not is rue to the secret archives OF the
State Department. as Mr.. Claytons correspondent has,
but from knowledge Of the sentiments and principles
Of those two gentlemen. Zone Of whom, alas sno more
do not hesitate to brand the mputaton as gratutous
and unfounded.
Mr. Clayton, who supplies the material for the manu-
facture OF these gross mpuations upon the memory Of
the late President. and upon tho official conduct OF his
immediate predecessor in the Office Of Secretary Of State
knop what the course Of Mr. Buchanan in relation
to the usurpatons of the British in Central America
He has the archives containing the records Of Mr.
Buchanan's official acts, in his own keeping; and he
knows whether or not the statements OF his confidential
correspondent true false AS we can have no ac-
cess to those archives must depend even upon Mr.
Clayton for correct information upon this subject We
therefore put the following inquiries to him:
Are the statements Of Independent in the Philade
phia North American, in reference to the course of
Messrs Polk and Buchanan, truel Does he correctly
state the history Of the matter, it appears on the
records Of the State Department.
Did Mr. Polk send out diplomatic agent to reside
in Guatemala And was not that agent expressly instruct
ed to obtain all the information in his power with
gard the alleged entertainments of Great Britain upon
the Central American republics under the preext OF her
protectorate over the Mosquito Indians and to
nicate the same, at early aday possible to the State
Department. Was not this information sought for the
express purpose Of enabling the government OF the Uni
ted States to determine what il would pursue in
reference to those encroachmentsi a8gl ssAs Z
Was not the right Of Great Britain to establish herself
the Mosquito coas. expressly denied in the nstruc
tons OF the State Department to that agenti
And not that agent expressly enjoined to Impress
upon those republics the necessity OF culvatng peace
order, and union with each other in order that the gov
Of the United States might be able render to
them efficient assistance in resisting the encroachmens Of
foreign powersl
And win Mr. Clayton dare to say that those instruc-
tons there any. not at the tine, all that pru-
dence would have diciaiedi
We trust Nj. Clayton will answer these questions on
his honor, and publish for his vndication as he did in
the Of the German steamship. all the correspondence
in reference to this matter if any exists in his depart
ment
The British protectorae, il is called, the Mos
quito Indians, has existed century Until recently
il has amounted no more than absurd and rdicu
lous farce, played with those degraded savages out Of
which she designed, we have no doubt ultimately to
forge claim to the country. The project Of ship-ca
nal across Nicaragua, we have doubt precpitascd
her action and stimulated her to press her pretensions
Hence, in 1916, al, 4s, when we were engaged in a
war with Mexico. she began to extend her encroach
ments That the administration Of Mr.. Polk immediate
ly took measures ascertain the extent Of her encroach
ments and claims, in order to determine upon the best
method Of meeting and counteractng them. we con-
denf will appear when the instructions to diplomatic
agent in Central America shall be published. any en-
is That they recognised any FORM the title Of Great
Britain the Mosquitotertoy we beevsto be an arran
whatever may be its source We doubt
il Mr. Clayton will permit such ctions to 60 out TO the
world, except through the medium Of such willing and
facile instruments "Independen Of the Philadelphia
North American. and perhaps the Repubie Of this city
But we have not done with this confidential instrument
Of Mr.. Clayton. Again, he says.
Again. the Union says with equal aectation Of candor
"A hat N had made by