Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04
THE NEW BRITISH TREATY.

Yesterday morning, the Sabbath, was desecrated
by the appearance in the editorial columns of the
" Union" newspaper of most unprincipled attempt
to misrepresent the character of the new Treaty
negotiated between the United States and Great
Britain, with view, if possible, to influence the
Senate to reject it.
We have yet to learn that there is any opposi-
ton whatever in the Senate to this Treaty; or that
there is any danger of the factious spirit disclosed
in the (" Union so far making its way into the
councils Of this country to sacrifice its best in
terests, in connection with foreign Powers, on the
altar of political partisanship.
We have no means of access to the new Treaty
which is not common to all. But we have heard
those who have the means OF knowing its whole
merits declare-and that, too, without distinction of
party-that it is Treaty in the highest degree adj
vantageous to this country, and rejecting high hon.
both the great nations which are parties to it.
The miserable declaration of The Union that this
negotiation has sodus to the British is only worthy
of the sheet which could publish such misrepre-
sentation.
We learn, from gentleman who conyersed with
the Nicaraguan Minister, in this city, that the
Treaty negotiated by Mr.. HIsE-not only without
but in opposition to his instructions from Mr.
BUCHANAN, and negotiated even after he was out Of
office-was never ratified by the Congress of Nj
caragua, whose assent to Treaty is just as necss
sary as that of the Senate of the United States
The Treaty itself was dead letter when it was
brought here by Mr.. Hise, and, from what we have
heard of its contents-nay, from what has been
disclosed of those contents by the Union itself-we
do not believe that single Senator of the United
States can be found who would have voted for it
under any possible circumstances. For it not only
proposed to involve this country in anunnecessary
and entangling alliance with Nicaragln, by guaran-
tying the sovereignty and independence of all Nj
caragua and her territorial claim, romhe Caribbean
sea to the Pacific-thus involving Us inevitably in
war with England without the slightest necessity
for it-but it was predicated on an assumption that
the Congress of the United States would charter a
great Corporation to make Canal, and enjoy pro-
perty and franchises unlimited, outside of the Ter
rtories of the United States and beyond the jurs-
diction of the Government. The scheme was in
this respect just as absurd as wout have been the
proposition to make Corporation 10 construct
Canal in Europe. Such strict corstructonists as
the Editors of the Union profess to be, deny the
right OF Congress, under any circumstances, for
any purpose, to create Corporation within our
own terrtory and we have never heard the most
latitudinarian exposition of the Constitution contend
that Congress could create COOPERATION to make
Bank or Canal in Cochin China, or in Mica
ragua. The scheme of Mr.. Hise, as we have seen
it described in the Union and other kindred prints,
would, besides, have compelled the Government of
the United States to exercise the exclusive owner
ship over the Canal, devolying upon us the duty
and enormous expense Of terrifying and command.
ing it, in order to protect it from the confscalion of
the local Governments, and from the depredatons of
other nations. Our Treaty with Great Britain, on the
contrary according the accounts of it, land which
the Union itself has published avoids the necessity
and the expense of fertilization protection of the
Canal-requiring no naval or military force for that
purpose-by procuring the protection of all nations
which derive the equal right Of passing between
ocean and ocean on that highway of nations.
The principles of the new Treaty are, as we
ed and sustained by the Message of President Polk,
on the 10Th day Of February, ls47, communicating
the Treaty of New Granada TO the Senate for rati-
6cation. In that Treaty protection is guaranteed
to Panama Railroad or Canal and in the Mes
sage referred to, it is expressly declared that all
other nations are to be invited to protect the rail-
road or canal, on the same terms. There is not a
single principle maintained in the negotiation of The
treaty with Great Britain--for making which this
Administration is charged by the Union with
having sold their country TO the Britsh-whch is
not advanced and defended in the Message Of Pre-
sdent Polk, TO which we have referred That
Message met with the unqualified appreciation of
the :" Union" at the time. Nay, more the resolu-
ton of the Senate Of the Sd of March, 1885,
alluded to in that Message, contained the whole
principle upon which the new British Treaty has
been negotiated. That resolution passed the Senate
by unanimous vote, met with the warm appro.
baton Of President JACKSON, who sent Diplo-
matte Agent to Central America and New Granada,
to do the very thing which this Administration has
successfully accomplished, and for which the
" Union" now condemns it!
For the full understanding of this subject we
now republish the Message of President Polk, to
which we specially invite the attention Of our
readers and which, as we shall doubtless here
after have occasion TO call their attention IN IL we