The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-11

has been detained for some days from his seat in the
House of Representatives by serious ndisposon.
The Clayton Bulwer Treaty-British Claims in
Honduras.
When the insulting proceedings of the British author-
tesn Central America aucsted the public attention.
qued prophet to forete that British arrogance would
find an apoogist and defender in the National Ingencer
newspaper OF this city That journal, though published
at the capital of the republic has, with unwavering zeal
and answering consistency, opposed the claims of the
United States in its controversies with foreign powers and
times of actual it has espoused the of the
public enemy. But confess that the British or
gan has been led by its antAmercan zeal to greater
lengths than anticipated in the discussion which has
arisen from the seizure and colonization by the English
of the islands in The Bay of Honduras.
When it was known that Mr.. Clayton and Mr. Bulwer
were engaged in negotiating treaty relative TO the absurd
claim of The Mosquito Indians 10 the left bank Of the Near
aqua river, this journal then under the editorial control OF
Thomas Richie and Edmund Burke, esqs., denounced
the concession which had been made 10 British arrogance
In admitting her right to treat the subject-a right
which she peposterously claimed the protector of
band of rowing and debased savages The treaty was,
however, concluded, and opposition ceased under
the belief that although the right of England to treat
had been improperly acknowledged that acknowledg.
ment accompanied by REIMBURSEMENT for the future
of all right the part of that power OCCUPY. Tor
tfy, or colonize, assume any dominion over, Mica
ragua, Costa RIGA, the Mosquito coast. any part
of Central America" In defiance OF that relinqus
ment the British agents and officials. acting benalf OF
the Mosquito Indians, retained possession of San JUAN
the Nicaragua river and British ship fred into an
American merchant vessel to compel her pay port dues
TO them. Not satisfied with this outrage, the British
government has seized upon the islands in the bay of
Honduras, and proceeded 10 colonize them and the
National IntiRsnes faithful 10 its uniform course of
subservency 10 British interests, undertook if we I'M
dersand it, 10 justify the act by affirming tina, Honduras
no, included in the treaty of 1850 negotiated by
Messrs. Clayton and Bulwer. The proof which it
brought forward TO sustain that affirmation was nothing
than vague statement of its own, made in 1906
tina, the territory covered by the treaty extended from
Honduras southwark. In view OF the plain and ex-
pci, language OF the treaty ITSELF that statement, al
tracted attentions for il of itself entitled TO no
weight whatever, unless TO prove the limited knowledge
OF geography possessed by The journal which made it-by
journal whose pompous presnsioas are regarded as
OF rather than OF anger II
may have been oversight in the trainers of the govern
per expound treaties with other nations but as that
oversight had been made the public looked TO the treaty
itself for its true meaning and paid no attention what.
ever to the vague words OF the National Ineiigenee
which that Journal with the exquisite modesy which
cbaracterzes it, presumes to term colemporaneous ex-
position The language OF the treaty clearly embraced
Honduras-the country improperly sailed British Hondu-
rasand The islands in the Bay Of Honduras which The
British have seized on, and proceeded 10 colombo The
term {" Central America is geographical term well IN.
derstood as embracing the territory we have men
toned and we well remember that the friends OF
Mr. Clayton claimed the treaty Of 1850 triumph, by
which he had swept the British from Central America
Until the origin OF the present discussion, we never heard
that any part Of Honduras excepted from the opera
ton of the treaty. and we confidently appeal the
public TO sustain the assertion that the conditional rstif
cation OF the treaty by Great Britain, and the correspond
ence between Mr.. Clayton and MIR. Bulwer, by which
the American Secretary undertook accept modihca-
lion of the treaty without consulting the Senate. were
kept profound secret. II was Mr.. Claytop's duty
to lay that important modification before the Senate The
defence set up for that derection of duty or rather
usurpaton OF power, is insufficient Even il there be
no misunderstanding to the meaning Of Mr.. Kings
letter Mr. Clayton in July, 1850, the defence set up
does not meet the
The attempt OF the National Inhiiigenesr TO defend
Mr. Clayton against charge Of abandoning portion
of Central America to The British is exhibition Of un-
candid argument and OF subservency to British interests
which has been rarely made even by that journal 1t
quotes extract from the Uaioa OF April "a $780, which
states tina, the territory called British Honduras bad been
in the possession of the English for nearly hundred
years, and that that possession had been recognised by
the Spanish monarchs in their several treaties This ex
tract is asserted to be recognition OF the British title
and is used prove that Mr. Clayton had the authority
OF this journal for not meddng with the British title
to Honduras We will not denounce this disreputable
ar,ihce the language deserves we will content our
selves with exposing it.
In the first place, the article from which the extract
mentioned above was made bears date April "a 1850
more than two months before the treaty ratified
and has reference whatever 10 the British title since
the treaty by which England stipulated not to occupy.