The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-17
From the London Globe, December -.
} The Nicaragua Question.

We have had the pleasure OF anticipating the
Times in the expression of the opinion that "the
American Minister in London spoke the other day
like man of sense and the representative of
sible Government, when he said that no exclusive
advantages sought lin the matter Of effecting
the lsthmian communications between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans] by the Cabinet at Washington;
and although there may be in this country there
is in the United States, set Of men who al
ways ready to take the jealous and disputatious
view of such subjects the grand interests of Eng
land and America in truth perfectly at union"
But cannot agree with the Times in the
ton, which it seems rather hastily To have adopted,
that thebest way of seconding the men Of sense
the other side of the Atlantic, in the struggle they
may have with the men of nonsense, is to affect g
norance and indifference on the points in question.
The Times says:
the passage of the Isthmus the peace Of nations
could be seriously troubled by the question by whom
il is to be made, through whose territories is the
line to pass, by squabble between rival States
in Central America. At present those regions con-
sist of dense forests, pestilent swamps and barely
navigable rivers; the wand Of commerce may
| awaken them to improvement, civilization, and
lfethe contests Of the sword, or even Of the pen,
| can only consign them to prolonged insgnifcance
and desolation. If Lord Palmerston Is still
solved TO regard the Mosquito coast British terri
tory, let us be told, and let know the grounds
on which he rests his claim; but, II those grounds
| are wanting, we decline TO attach an importance
to the Mosquito coast which even the settlement Of
Honduras would hardly deserve"
| We beg 10 observe that whatever importance may
be, or may not be, attached 10 the Mosquito Coast,
il Is impossible TO overrate the importance of the
passage from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific Ocean,
and the consequent importance, provided there is a
fair locus standi whereon 10 place ourselves, Of pre-
cautions against exclusive political and military
possession being taken Of that passage by any sin
| gle Power. The relations in which stand to-
ward the native inhabitants Of the Mosquito Coast
give u.s. we contend, clear right Of intcrposition
their part and own; and that Interpolation
4 is made and maintained with no other object than
ono which is common 10 this country with the
whole civilized world.
The Times says
| "since we produced the article of the Treaty Of
1885, which put an end TO that (the former British)
| protectorate, the whole argument derived from
prescription IL extinguishcd."
| With all due Difference we beg 10 say, that the
| discovery of that treaty not made by the
i TSnes. We had already assigned TO II whatever
weight il can well throw into either scale. But IL
Il be granted that by the terms of that treaty the
old protectoratc discontinued, Il is not less
| tain Il was renewed on the renewed solicitations
Of the Mosquito people, amidst the anarchy which
succeeded Spanish dominion. We had, at all
events, as good a right 10 resume, we originally
had 10 accord IL and the power 10 step into our
shoes being at end, (if Il ever existed neither
| protectorial power nor right was transferred by
Spain 10 any Of the anarcbcal and atomical state.
/ lngs which succeeded the dismembered empire Of
Itufbidc and the still further sub-divided Central
| American Republic.
In order TO contest with any proprety the claim
Of the British government 10 take the ground which
Il does take in this matter IL would be requisite TO
recur 20 the maxim sometimes put forth by Ameri-
can orators-( and lstterly by one American diplo
matist--the somewhat go-abesd gentleman who is
Charge d'Affaires in Nicaragua -professing TO be
| founded ON the Monroe message OF 1924, which
message, however, simply referred TO the depre-
Gated contingency Of interference the part OF the
European "Holy Allies" with the independence OF
| the lately revolutionized Spanish America The
extraordinary extension Of the principle of"Amcr-
lea for the Americans" said 20 have been asserted
al that epoch, which would deny 10 powers possess
| ing large American dominons all interest in Amer
lea, has hitherto been fortified by official
thorty but the somewhat subordinate one Of Mr..
\ Squicrs We suppose the Tines does not mean 10
say ditto TO Mr.. Squcrs-at least quite 10 that cI
| tent
Of England and Europe in this matter-we will not
say against the American Government (for we
hope and believe that its policy is represented by
the language Of its minister in this country)-
1 against exaggerations Of American policy, which
have a real existence, though trust they have
| not, and will not have, an ascendency over the
| good sense Of the American public-have not been
| lighting with mere shadows, is fully proved, not
only by the language Of Mr. Squiers 10 his worthy
| Nicarsguan protsges, but by the report Of COM
mittee Of Congress last session in favor Of rail-
road, rather than canal; the construction Of the
former, according 10 the views OF the committee,
would throw the whole commerce from Europe 10
| the East Indies, China, and the west coast OF this
(the Americsn) continent into American hands"
unless II adopted the alternative OF pursuing The
old route. We pronounce opinion on this an
tcipation; but the exclusive temper IL indicates is
obvious-and not lcss obvious That IL the party,
whose views IL expresses, had things all their
way, they would cndeavor 10 render a canal sub
scrvient 10 exclusively American" interests az
| railroad.
This is farther evidenced by the terms Of the
| contract, negotiated under Mr.. Squiers official
| patronage, between the petty Nicaraguan authori
| ties and an embryo company in the United States,
TO run a canal between the seas, OF dimensions suf
/ fcient for ships Of the largest burden. Upon this
/ point we quote the December number Of the Colo
NAL Bfagarine, which contains article this
| question, also published in pamphlet form, un
der the title Of " Mosquito, Nicaragua, and Costa
| RIGA :"
| "One Of the chief clauses in the contract with
Mr.. White is, that the enterprise shall be possessed
by American citizens, and the majority Of its stock
be held by them. Another, that they shall possess
the exclusive right to inland steam navigation.
Powers likewise accorded for constructing =
ship canal from any one Of their ports on the At
lsntic 10 any one deemed feasible on the Pacific !;
the remarkable part Of this clause being that the
State Of Nicaragua never possessed any port at all
/ on the Atlantic. But this IL nothing when com
pared with the cool hardihood and efYrontery with
which the nations Of tho world are informed thet