Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-04-11


flat-footed, Democratic" $40 40 Administration,
at least SO far as loud and Jealous profession could
make il SO.
The policy oftliis Administration in reference
to other States and Territories in North America,
! is described in the most decided terms in Mr..
Polk's first annual message. The following are
extracts from that document:
"Tbe limited States, sincerely desrous of pre-
serving relations of good understanding with all
nations, cannot in silence permit any European
inter ference on the North American Continent;
and should any such interference be attempted,
will be ready to resist it at any aud all hazafos
1.-The people of the United States cannot view
with indifference attempts of European powers to
interfere with the independent action OF the ma
iions ON this Continent"
I" In the existing circumstances OF the Worlo,
the present is deemed proper occasion 10 rsierate
and reaffrm the principle avowed by Mr. Monroe
and to state my cordial concurrence IN It's WISDOM
and sound policy. The reasserton of this prin-
cpe, especially in reference to North America IS,
at this day, but the promulgation of policy which
no European power should cherish the dlsposltlon
10 resist. Existing rights of every European ma
ton should be respected but it is due alike to
our safety and our interests, that the efficient pro-
lection OF our laws should be extended over our
whole Territorial limits and that it should oe dis
policy, that no future European Colony or Domin-
ion shall, with our consent, be planted or estab
lished on any part Of the North American Cont
nent."
This is all plain enough Here is the policy of
this 50 Democratic" Administration announced to
the world. Mr. Monroe's doctrine is to be main
tained by it against all comers 1t may be inter-
esting TO see what commentary certain facts of
history have to make on this text.
The Union and other journals of the same
kidney have had great deal to say in praise of
the conduct Of Messrs. Polk, Buchanan and their
agents in respect to Nicaragua and the Mosquito
Question and in condemnation Of the course pur-
sued there by the present Administration. We
have even heard in that connection the loud cry OF
alarm that Gen. Taylor and his Cabinet were bent
on betraying to Great Britain the honor and inter-
es,s OF the Republic On this head we say nothing
for the present, but simply propose to show how
the late Democratic Administration cared for
those interests and that honor and as standard
by which to Judge we have introduced the above
quotations 1t is always fair TO measure practice
by profession.
Those who recollect how ptifully, though dis
.
their buster on The Oregon affair, will not expect
that such trial will yield very pleasing results
in the present case, but they will hardly be pre-
pared for the peculiar revelations we about to
lay before them.
The fact we narrate below are drawn from the
official documents which are on file in the Nlcar-
aguan archives. For our acquaintance with them,
we are indebted TO gentleman interested in that
country who has kindly communicated their sub
stance for our columns The statement Is as fol-
lows;
In the month of March. 1917, Christopher
Hampstead, an American citizen then residing at
Belize, was appointed by Mr.. Polk Consul of the
United States for that port. His commission as
such was forwarded by Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. Ban
croft, our Minister in London, with instructions to
present the same TO Lord Palmerston, the British
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and to ask on behalf
of Mr.. Hampstead Her Britannia Majesty's Exc
quatur. BY this act, Mr.. Polk recognized to its
fullest extent the right of sovereignty Belize
and the adjacent Territory to be in Great Britain,
and not in Honduras. In due course OF time, the
royal Exequatur was forwarded from the Calonial
office, in London, to Mr.. Hampstead, in Belize,
and by virtue of that he has discharged the duties
of American Consul at that port.
During the troubles in Yucatan in 1917 and
lze, communicated to Mr.. Buchanan, as secreta
ry of State in several letters, that the British
thorties at Belize were openly rendering assis-
tance to the Indians, and expressed his decided
convictions that the object of such interference
was to establish protectorate over those Indians,
as they had previously succeeded in doing in the
Mosquito Territory. He also strenuously admon-
shed him that. if such an attempt were success
full Great Britain would enjoy sole possession of
the Atlantic Coast from Leon de Nicaragua, to
Cape Coste on the northern extremity of Yucca
tan. it'
In November, 1s47, the British authorities ser-
ously contemplated attacking and capturing the
port Of San Juan De Nicaragua, under the pre-
ence that it of right belonged to the Mosquito
King Senior Builrago was then Secretary ofthe
Republic OF Nicaragua; and, being well aware OF
the designs of the British authorities, he addressed
an official communication to Mr. Buchanan as
Secretary OF State, notifying him of the threatened
invasion of the Territory of Nicaragua by Great
Britain as the ally of Mosquito, and implored the
nterposition of the United States in aiding Nicar-
aqua TO prevent it. This interposition was asked
for. not only on the score of humanity, but from
the fact that the United States had deep interest
at stake in the contemplated inter-oceanc canal,
then occupying the attention of both Eng land and
The United States But the authorities of Nicar-
aqua did not rest here. Within a month after the
above dispatch was transmitted to Mr.. Buchanan,
the Supreme Director of Nicaragua, to guard a.
gainst the contingency of delay. in the event of
h - Iottar Van Inn R.,ahn