Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-03-02

i
than the letters of this series, and perhaps
many other readers are like your friend
! -, DANIEL.
THE NICARAGUA QUESTION. X
We have already entered at considerable
length upoa the views taken BY fhe British
Government, or rather Of Lord Palnerston,
with reference TO the rights Of the State sf
Nicaragua and the independence of the Mo-
squito coast. But though Lord Palmerston
has expressed his opinion on the subject with
great decision, and has distinctly intimatedf
THAI IS Her Majes4's Government must sup
port and maintain the rights OF the King Of
Mosquito to the port of ST. Johns" we have
not arrived at the same clear and peremptcry
conviction on the subject as the Foreign Min-
ister, and we shall be glad to learn by what
additional evidence, and by what reasoning,
he intends to support the position to swhieh
he has pledged the honor of the Governms
ofthis country. Lord Palmerston has so often
exhibited to the world prediction for mac
curate statements and untenabIe arguments,
that we are not disposed to accept his dccis-
ion on a point of this Importance, without
fuller consideration; for the interest he NAV
suppose US to have in the river San Juan de
Nicaragua is immeasu- ably surpassed by the
interest of remaining at peace with the Uni
ted States, by lending our assistance and en-
couragement to the project Of the canal
1t will be remembered that the case nut
forward by Mr. Chatfeld, and adoptedsby
Lord Palmerston, as the basis of the rights
of the Mosquito tribe offndians to the coast
which bears their name, and the river of San
Juan, rested, first, on immemorial posses
sion, and secondly, on the sovereignty sthey
have exercised for at least two centuries, uri-
der the protectOrate of this country. II is
undoubtedly true that these relations had long
existed between the British authorities in f1Ses
West Indies, and the natives of the coast to
which our traders repaired for the purpose Of
cutting dye-woods and mahogany. These
relations gave great umbrage to Spain, and
had, indeed, at one time contributed to act
ual war between the two Crowns. g.s
1t cannot, however, have escaped Lord
Palmerston's notice, for the instrument was
expressly quoted by the Nicaragua Minister)
that in l7S6 treaty was concluded between
Spain and Great Britain, of which the first
article runs as follows: -
.s That subjects Of HIS Brtannic .Mejeav.
and other settlers rhp hare till nou enjosed lie
protection Of England, shall eracuate The
country Of the Mosquitoes, and the continent in
general, and the adjacent isles, without ex-
ception, situated beyond the frontier line of
The territory granted by His Catholic Maj
esty to the English, SC.
That territory was the settlement Of Belize.
Or British Honduras, ceded to this country
BY the third article of the same convention.
1t does appear, therefore, that the evacuation
Of the Mosquito coast by those who had en-
oyed the protection of England, was the
equivalent obtained by Spain for the cession
of Belize; and we hope Lord Palmerston
will inform the world, before this discussion
proceeds farther, in what light he regards
hat treaty, for it is clear that whateverri
spain had on that coast, have passed to the
Central American Republics, and that our
traditional protectorate, L once relnquished,
las not been renewed.
On the Nicaraguan question, therefore,
he Minister is bound to produce far more
;ogent evidence than he has yet adduced for
he necessity and justice of his interlereace:
md whatever reliance he may place on the
Qualities of bluster and assurance, those are
Weapons in which it is not easy to surpass
uch antagonists as the politicians Of the Uni
ed States, when they find it their interest 10
ouse the passions OF prejudices Of their dem
cratic constituents. We foresees therefore,
hat the tone in which Sir Henry Bulwerwilf
inter- upon his duties and this negotiation, IN
Washington, will MT be the same in which
1r. Chatfeld addressed the Hicarsx
and after having advanced
nth extravagant eagerness, certain proposi-
ons, which rest, almost, on. debateable ae-
lority, Lord Palmerston w:ll probably re-
onsider the question. - - $50
1t would be TO the last degree absurd md
IS the ~fs -