The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-19
treaty. all OF which is destined become famous in our
annals As il is not long, we shall copy il entire

1
annals As il is not long we shall copy II entire
ARTICLE Vessels Of the United States Great Britain,
uayeIsng the said canal shall, in oil war between
me contracting parties, be exempted from blockade, de-
enton or capture, by either Of the beTerents a"d hs
roUisio" haR srsmd distance from The 100 sads
me SAID canal hereafter BE- found srPedisnt 20
sssabttsh."
Now, this article means nothing-lteraly nothing
Without IT. vessels OF the United States whilst passing
through the canal, within neutral territory would be
secured against capture by the law Of nations
Whilst sunendering all have done by this treaty
we ought al the least TO have obtained stipulation that
the entire voyage between Atlantic and Pacific ports
by the route OF the canal should be protected in time OF
war This would have been OF vast moment, both DO.
lltically and commercially. to the people OF the United
States. 1t is OF the first Importance that trade and
intercourse with California and Oregon should be placed
on basis, both in peace and in war In FACT,
this is but branch of coasling trade. Why, then.
of war with Grea, Britain. American vessel sail
ing from New York to San Francisco, through this
canal, shall be protected from capture throughout her
whole yoyage' II was easy TO have framed the
article so as to read Vessels of the United States
or Great Britain, sailing from the ports of either
10 their respective possessions, and lraversng the
said canal, shall be exempted from blockade, deten-
ton, capture by either of the begeents, throughout
their entire voyage" Why this not done' 1t ap.
pears that the subject within the view OF the nego-
tiaors at the time; and this the only accepted time
The treaty declares that this provision shall extend to
such distance from the ends OF the said canal as
may hereafter be found srpsdien. TO estabiM The pro-
pitous moment lost for making such a provision
when the treaty signed When will Great Britain
agree to now, having already obtained all she desired
by the treaty! Mr. Clayton at the time when he ex.
changed the ratification, seems. though too late, TO have
been aroused TO sense OF its Importance. In his note
TO Sir Henry Bulwer that occasion, dated the 4h
July, 1850, he employs the following language:
"There another matter still more important, which the
spualions of the convention direct that shall SETTLE
but which you have instructions TO determine, mud
desire you invite the attention OF your government
1.-THE distance from the ends OF the canal within
which vessels of the United States Great Britain
ersing the said canal, shall, in OF between the
contracting parties, be exempted from blockade detention,
capture by either of the begeens The subject
Of deep INTEREST," and shall be happy receive the views
Of your government in regard to it it may be
convenenO(or them to decide upon it,"
Sir Henry Buwer had no instructions to determine this
distance When will any British minister have such in
strucons The truth is that Great Britain has obtained
great advantage in this respect by the treaty and when
has she voluntarily relinquished such advan-
tagei
Surprising our naves be OF equal force, which is far
from being the case by Of her habors in Jamaica,
British Honduras and along the Mosquito coast including
that OF San Juan de Nicaragua she would be able 10 cap
every American vessel before il could enter the canal
In FACT from her possessions in the vicinity she could make
the Caribbean in the neghborhood Of the canal a
mere cui de sac for our vessels The inevitable
quence must be- that none OF them in time OF would
a,emp, 10 the canal They would be compelled.
for the sake OF security TO adopt the long and dangerous
route around Cape Horn. II true that from present
sucted There be another BETTER and shorter
through the ishmus OF Daren, which the British
government, has acquired from New Granada whilst our
administration has been asleep,
We might say much more other parts OF this treaty
but we think we have said enough to convince the pub
lie how ridiculous and vaing orous is the boast of the
National ieuYtneer, that had il not been concluded. "the
British would have continued TO extend their domin.
ion and occupation in the Central American States !;
and long ere this there might perhaps not have been
left patch OF the country of Central America I'M
subdued BY the British power"
This treaty is destined to be of discod be.
tween Great Britain and the United States long
il shall endure and the is abrogated essen
TALLY changed, the better it will be for both nations.