The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-16
Oar Washanstsa Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1858.

Oar WashAngtea Cerespoadencs.
wAmseros, Jan. IA, 1883
Affairs II Central Amerioo-Aovase"s :" Washington
The ssairs Of Central America just the pre-
dominant object of Congressional attention The discus
zion which has arisen upon them has revealed very
important facts-rs that the United States has
deluded into treaty with England upon false preences
and second, that the whg section Of the Senate has
committed itself to the Enghsh construction of that
treaty.
The avowed objest Of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
to put end TO British pretensons in Central Anne
rcs well protect the proposed routes OF railroad
and canal and elsewhere But it seems that two
months after that treaty was ratified notes were ex
changed between negotiators, modifying its obvious
meaning and restricting its application and it seems,
also that in defiance Of the treaty the pretenons of
England have only been continued but extended and
that she has its ratification erected colonies with
in the legitimate limits Of Central America in contraven-
tion OF its explicit terms.
The attempt has been made to exeulpate England from
the charge of having violated the treaty by urging that
the islands which she has seized and erected into colony
fell within the exceptions made in the private understand
ing between Messrs. Clayton and Buwer, and of which
until within q few days the public knew nothing But
this attempt has failed most gnaly for even the pri
vae and dc0 understandings OF Clayton and Bulwer
were admitted to be valid still in its evident apPeaton
1t only extend to Belize it is sometimes I'M
properly called British Honduras whereas the Islands
now organized as colony never Peraned any manner
to Belize nor have they had any political geo.
graphical dependence upon It,
This distinction most forcibly drawn by General
Shields in his speech yesterday In point OF clear and
pointed argument that speech perfect, and makes
the true distinction between the question Of Belize and
that of the called Bay Islands. They have
ton relationship and it is only in the muddy brains of
certain wing Senators that the two have been
founded.
The speech Of Mr. Soule upon these matters was a
model Of perspcuous argument and forcibe yet dgned
eloquence 1t listened to with breathless attention
and ctn a,1~ l.xan
pie that his arguments supported by
answerable array of facts. He showed that, admit
ting the exception which claimed for Belize from the
provisions Of the Clayton and Buwer treaty and that the
understanding of these negotaors after the ratification
OF the and after it haa passed beyond the reach Of
modification, vald-sdmitting all this yet that
then the reservation could only apply to certain limited
privileges obtained under license from Spain cut log
products Of the earth The right of sovereignty on pro
perry could not be reserved to England she had
by anterior treaties and by that of 1914 in full
force and effect recognized the unqualified sovereignty
Spain the territory in question And when the pro-
vince of Guatemala within whose limits Belize fell OBJ.
tanned its independence State she inherited the
sovereignty of Spain. After making this point, Mr..
Soule proceeded to show that the islands of Ru-
atan, &C., had always belonged to the province
and State of Honduras and that their seizure and
occupation by England was an act Of piracy, which
additional example Of practical libustersm by nation
which affects deep horror lest the United States should
colony had taken place since the publication Of the
Clay and Bulwer treaty and therefore most d.
rect ana Migrant vloAuOn OF It's provisions.
80 decisive the arguments Of Mr. Souie, that Mr.
Pierce of Maryland obliged to admit what he had be-
tore dened-hat England had disregarded the treaty in
her conduct in respect to these islands In fact the
Wing apologists for England, who had advanced ar1u
mens in support OF her pretensons which she herself
had never had the audacity to offer, completely
driven 10 the wall and unable to say word in vindica
ton of their position. Senator Underwood, of Ken
trcky however got hold of school map and undertook
to eughen the Senate with the grand discovery which
lie had made that Belize part of Honduras The
profound Senator in happy ignorance, all the while
that no one under heaven supposed, had pre-
tended that 1t had been part of Honduras
And he talked for half hour amidst the half sup
pressed laughter OF the few present and then sat down with
self satisfied air if he had achieved grand dis
covery Such ignorance although may laugh at IT, is
nevertheless Illuminating to the country Had Mr.. I'm
derwocd inquired of school boy before rising in the
Senate what the history OF Belize or Brit h Honduras
he would have found that il fell within the erores of
Guatemala the province which province its to
the Captain Generally in which contained would
Rave found that the British Honduras given to
the district simply because the district ronted
bay of Honduras And further that the State of Guate
maa, asserting it, boundaries State to be the
those which had possessed province claims
and Justly claims Belize her territory.
But If Senator Underwoods grand discovery had been
correct it had relation whatever to the question before
the Senate, which simply-Has England violated her
treaty with the United States creating colony in
Central American? This is the sole question which should
engage the attention of Congress- and it should
suffer its action to be diverted from by false issues
irrelevant matters of kind
You will in the Union of this morning but
most Just exhibition Of the blunders made by Senator
Seward in his speech this subject 1t convcts him of
the grossest ignorance and viii to modify his hi.
thero rather lucrous pretensons to superior
and information ALERTE-