The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-12

Mr.. Ciayton-The National Intoilisenccr-And
the Sending or Mr.. Hampstead as Consul to
Belize.
Among the documents submitted to the Sen ate on the
4ih January last. in ans the resolution Of General
Cas-. is note from Mr. Clayton to Mr.. Hampstead.
then United States consul Belize. annung and discon-
unuing his Office The assigned in the note for
this extraordinary act is. that g" presumed that the APP
poinment OF consul OF the United States at Belieze
If required BY trade with that port, may have been
made without full consideration OF the territorial rights Of
Great Britain in that quarter" Mr. Clayton has since
expressed the opinion that the appointment o! this
sui recognition the part OF Mr. Folks admin
straton, of the right OF Great Britain to the settlement,
Of Belize and the National Intelgencer of Saturday, the
5ih instant has and again reiterated the same
opinion. 1t has gone so lar TO say that Mr..
Folks recognition OF the existence OF British colony
there shut all hope of successful negotiation such
| subject"
| Mr.. Folks administration requires such apology
as that made for it by the ex-Secetary. That admins
lraion adopted any without full con-
sideration" especially when this was connected with
Great Britain, or with any claim Of that graspng power
territorial dominion any part Of the continent of
America.
The appointment of Mr. Hampstead was made. not
merely because trade with Belize justified the APP
pointment, but because Mr. Polk desired TO have an
intelligent and responsible official agent that port who
could furnish him with information relative to the
designs and Entertainments OF Great Britain the Mos.
quito shore and in Central America Belize was at the
time the and focus OF the in,rgues Of Great Brit.
ain Tor the purpose OF acquiring dominion the coast
l .I.l..- n.
in the wide world where il necessary that
should have consul than at this very port Had this
consulshp not been unwisey discontinued, Mr.. Everett
would have had occasion TO inform the President.
he does in his letter of the Sd OF January, communicated
to the Senate, that, as has since CHE
mova OF r Hempstead) been appointed there has been
officer OF this government in that quarter from whom
the information asked in the resolution could be expected
by the department" There ought TO have been such
officer there and his services necessary at the
moment when he Withdrawn. and have been evel
since, than at any former period. We entertain not
doubt that his withdrawal highly acceptable the
British government because it enabled them to prosecute
their plans without being observed by the government
the United States.
We have said that MIR. Polk did not act on this ap
pontmeut OF a consu 10 Belize without full considera
ton We have TO believe that this wise and
gacious statesman cautiously and carefully considered
as was his custom, the very question raised by Mr.
Clayton whether the appointment OF a consul to Belize
could be construed By any, even the most remote, mp
cation a recognition on our part OF the right OF Grea
Britain 10 that settlement against Guatemala any Of
the Genital American States. Finding that not The
shadow of such an implication could be deduced from
the act and desiring, for the important public
which have been stated 10 have official agent there
he appointed Mr.. Hampstead.
i Was Mr. Polk right wrong in this conclusion J A
consul is an officer appointed 10 reside in foreign
Try for the purpose Of facilitating, extending, and protect
ing our trade with that country Such officers follow
foreign trade as the shadow does the substance wherever
!, goes, and afford protection to it, whether the port
which they are sent be in possession OF the rgh,u
or a usurper The appointment Of consul 10 any giver
port recognises nothing more than The de aeto possession
OF that place by the power from whom the exequa
ltur is demanded Such an appointment, does not il
the slightest degree interfere with the question o
1.-The right OF this power to be in possession This hs
ever BEEN and this must ever be- the law and prac
tce OF commercial nations Until Mr. Clayton made
the discovery, no statesman had dreamed that b
act OF sending consul TO foreign port, for the proec
ton of an actually existing commerce there was ecog
milton OF the right OF the power in it's possession 10 hold
il against all mankind II such sbsurdIty eoun
tenanced by public law sad would be the condition o
commercial nations Before appointing consul they
must then fret carefully study whether the party il
possession was the nghtiul owner OF the port and i
they determined agains, bis right then their
with il must either altogether remain without
consular protection One other OF thes alternatives
inevitable Bu, what IL the rgbul owner shall never
cover this portion OF his dominons, and the usurpaor
should prove perpetual Il would then follow that we
could never have consul this port unless should
b, willing TO admit, by appointing him, that usorped
possession righteous possession. The law of
tons requires such absurdy. The free commercial
intercourse of the world must il il did.
Mr. Clayton has, therefore, suggested argument 10
the British government in favor Of their right Belize
which 10 predict tina, no British statesman will
ever employ II would be the height OF absurdy for them
to say to MS, "You have sent Mr. Hampstead to Belize
TO protect your actual with Us in mahogany,
loswood and dye.suGs and therefore you have admit.
ted our absolute right to this settlement asains, all
kisd You are thus forever estopped from affirming
Al, oh