New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-02


During the absence of Mr.. WEBSTER from
Washington the negotiations touching the
Central American question, between him on
the one part, and Messrs. Champion and
Molina on the other part, have necessarily
been suspended, but will doubtless be 70.
newed on his return, and without the inter.
vsntion of public opinion treaty unfavor-
able to Nicaragua and to American inter-
ssts will most likely be signed and sent into
the Senate. lis true that the Secretary
Of State has not yet definitely accepted the
English proposals; but he has admitted
Mr.. Champions declaration Of the ground
which, according to instructions from Lord
Granville, he proposes 10 insist on; and in
July last, treating with Sir Henry Bulwer
he accepted proposals essentially the same.
though from circumstances no treaty was
theme contaminated We may then, expect
that no difficulty will now be made in bring
ing the matter to conclusion, in that sense,
unless the voice of the press be raised
against such course, and for a truly Ameri-
can line Of policy.
We are opposed 20 negotiating in the
matter for any thing beyond the pure and
simple execution of the Bulwer and Clayton
treaty, with the consequent return Of the
port of San Juan to Nicaragua. 1t 10 note.
rious, that up to the year ls4s that republic
held undisturbed possession Of this port, and
that it was taken from her by British
armed fierce on the pretense that it belonged
to the Mosquito Territory. The whole
transaction was as fragrant a violation Of
national rights as it would be to Seize PEN
.acola on the pretense that it belonged to
the dominions of Billy Bowlegs, and that
England was the protector Of that poten-
tate. The treaty referred to provides for
the abandonment of this Mosquito-British
claim to San Juan. For the purposes Of the
inter- oceanic canal, that is TO be free and
neutral port, and as such under the protection
of all the parties to the treaty, but the
British protectorate over il as Mosquito
port is to cease, and by consequence it re-
verts to Nicaragua, its former and its right
full possessor. This, we think, is the only
position an American Secretary should oc-
cupy in the premises.
The Justice of this position was fully ad-
mItted by Lord Uranvule In MS mstrucaons
to Mr.. Champion, as it had been before by
Lord Paimerston. These instructions were
to surrender San Juan 70 Nicaragua, on the
payment Of an indemnity, in some form or
under some name, to the Mosquito King.
II the claim Of that monarch, to San Juan
be good and defensible one, why should
his British spokesman and guardians pro-
pose to give il up! The very offer is an
admission that tho claim 10 untenable and
the demand for an indemnity mere fetch
to cover the retreat Of the English diplo-
matists.
So too, Of the claim of Costa Rica to
Guanacaste. That is business we have
nothing to do with, excepsas we may be called
upon by both parties to act as umpire. It
matters not how much that claim may be
disguised and modified. Ii matters not that
the pretended right freely to navigate the
river and lake be reduced 80 as 10 refer TO
sailisg vessels only, leaving the monopoly
Of steam navigation with the Transit Com
pany to which Nicaragua has granted it.
No such change renders our interference
any the more tolerable. The dispute be-
tween the two republics il very proper
subject for arbitration, and if the parties
agree to choose Messrs. Webster and
Champion for srbitsrs, very we'll. But il
is not proper subject for = treaty between
America and England, nor can they be JUS
titled in enforcing such treaty against the
will Of either party. Still less can Amer
lea be justified in sacrificing the interests
Of Nicaragua, her friend, looking to her for
protection, to the ends Of England and the
aggrsndizement Of Costa RIGA, which is
but the next thing to British province.
We have no desire 10 e@SSasrrass the set
dement, Of this question, and we are not
the advocate Of either Of the parties in
Central America, except so far as 90 il
identified with American interests and the
ether is not We say frankly that We pre-
fer these interests to those Of Great
Britain apd her dependents, and we urge
the American Cabinet not to make, aaa the
American Senate not to ratify any treaty
in he premises in which the former shall
be sacrificed to the latter. The right il pal
pably on our side, and We ought 70 hold fast