The southern press., 1852-02-28
For the Southern Press.
"SatisfactOry Adjustment"

published in one of the most respectable papers
in the United States or elsewhere, that the affair
of the Prometheus, together with almost every
question of importance in regard to our foreign
relation, is now satisfactorily adjusted, and il
must be allowed that they have been managed
with great discretion by the government" |
am sorry cannot agree with the writer.
! Those who have read the correspondence be-
tween the American minister and the British
secretary for foreign affairs, will see that the
amende honorable was made, not on the ground
of the application of the former, but /" in conse-
quence of despatch from the Admiral, COM
handing the West India station, apprising the
government of the attack on the Prometheus."
So says the British foreign secretary and it
follows that the discretion of the government
of the United States had nothing to do in the
business, but that the disayowa of the Secretary
was made on the report of the admiral, of the
West India station. But this is moi of much
consequence.
twill be perceived that the British foreign
secretary disavows the outrage on the Prone
theus, simply on the g ound of being violation
Of what is called the CLAYTON and BULwER
Treaty. OF course be considers that treaty still
10 force, and, consequently, that the government
of the United States has acquiesced in the Brit
ish construction of the first article, to wit
that so far from carrying with it a relinquish-
ment of the usurpations of Great Britain in
Central America, it amounts to direct acknowl-
edgement of her claims as guardian and pro-
tector Of the priessant King Of the Mosquitoes.
| The British foreign secretary does not dis
claim the right Of his government to lay and
collect duties at st. Juan, port always hereto
fore appertaining to the State Of Nicaragua, from
the time of the conquest by British authorities
pretending to act for this mongrel sovereign
On the contrary, he studously abstains from
saying word on the main question connected
with the attack on the Premetheus, which is,
whether the protection of the Mosquitoes was,
or was not, relinquished by England in the
CLAYTON and BULwER treaty. At the same
time, by considering the treaty as in force, nc.
cording to the British construction, he virtually
asserts the claim of his government to one. third
of the State of Nicaragua, comprehepding the
only possible outlet for an interoceanio ship
canal on the Caribbean. sea, connecting the two
great oceans of the world
This claim is again virtually asserted in the
secretarys letter to Mr.. LAwRENcE-certainly
model of diplomatic courtesy-in which he
designates Mr.. JAMES GREEN as not only " Her
Majesty's consul at Greytown," but also, ga
principal officer of the Mosquito government at
that place" Thus, at the same time, asserting
the government of the Musquito King and pro-
claiming the copartnershp of Her august"
Britannia Malesty-as Mr.. FILLMORE salutes
her-and that renowned King of shreds and
patches" Yet this is, it is TO be presumed, one
Of those satisfactory adjustments which do such
credit to the discretion of the government
Nobody, believe, doubts the discretion" Of
our Secretary Of State-at least, before dinner;
but bis valor, especially incontests with Eng
Iand, is rather more than questionable.
The firing on the Prometheus, being thus
satisfactorily adjusted" let us now speculate
on the probable results. The government Of
the United States having receiver he disclaimer
Of the British secretary as satisfactory ad-
1 justmeEt of the affir, and as a full atonement
for the outrage, without the slightest abandon.
ment Of the pretence on which il was founded,
namely, the protection Of the rights Of the Mus
quito puppet King, the British government, Of
course, feels perfectly safe in continuing its en-.
croachments in Central America, by virtue Of
that protectorate. If any future remonstrance
should be made against It, we shall probably be
told, as in the case Of the treaty, "that in re.
ceiving mere disclaimer Of the attack on the
Prometheus, unaccompanied by any disavowal
Of the right Of the British government TO act in
the name and behalf Of the King Of the Mus
quitos, yoQ recognized that right, and having
thus twice done so, Il is now too late 10 call il
in question" A few years more Of passive nc.
quiescence in British usurpation in Central
America, will constitute a sufficient title for
government, which for ages past has seized,
without scruple and without right, almost every
important commercial positionin all quarters Of
the globe.
The firing Of British vessel Of war, on
vessel under the American flag, and VIGOROUSLY
American, ought, in my opinion, 10 have brought
the whole controversy in relation 10 the true
meaning Of the CLAYros and BULwER treaty,
to an issue. IL shows distinctly that the United
States must submit 70 pay commercial duties 10
an authority which they not only have not
recognized, but absolutely repudiated, and which
they believed, and had a right TO believe, had
been forever reliuquished, or that the protect.
crate Of the Musquitos must be abandoned.
We have the authority Of Mr.. SqUrER, in bis
late work on Nicaragua should be read
by every man who wishes 10 understand the
importance Of this question-that The entire
control Of that burIesque on all government, is
in the hands Of the British consul; that the port