Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-26

He then goes to depict the mischiefs the injuries
and the evils under which the republic Of Guatemala
aborng account Of the contraband trade carried
in the British settlements. He speaks as have read,
of the aggressions of the settlers extending their limits
beyond the proper southern boundary and he says:
But the transaction Of which they ought be ashamed
is by strange made the ground Of title for those
cuped up the year 1921 If that they could
thus establish legal claim, what with their activity and
apathy would they pretend? Besides by ing
the provisional settlement in question the Importance ~ a
colony and making it, with the provinces that compose the
other arguments which, although easy refue "a fs
not the object which have in view,
Now, Mr.. President it has been assumed or the
part of the Committee Foreign Relations have
assumed il in the debate here, fact upon which the
action of this Government to be founded in reference
to the British treaty, that these possessions in Gen.
ral America. assume only far as are informed
that the weight of authority is that side say that
the Republic Of Guatemala claims -claims it not only
through her official documents which have referred
but through her official maps and that in the present
posture of the question bound to take that
ma dcie true. Sir, during the last Congress mission
instituted these Governments of Central America,
and minister will be there doubtless with the in
struction TO obtain and report to his Government
rate information upon this whole subject and particularly
the geographical position Of these British settlements
We shall probably know at the next session Of Congress
whether those settlements in Central America not
and when that fact is established the proper action OF
the Government will follow in respect to the treaty Of
1850.
this branch of the inquiry committed to them submits
only that primd fdce the title is with Guatemala and II
this be So the result in regard to England, IN REFER
the treaty is that her settlements there remain
undisturbed within the limits and under the rights ac-
qured from Spain But she has the right to coonze,
to fortfy, to exercise any dominion
jurisdiction greater than that existing before the treaty
Of 1850.
Mr.. President do intend to prosecute this dis
cusson further. Whenever question shall up be-
the Governments the United States and Eng
land to the proper construction Of this treaty. the
stpuations in regard to Central America to the eff
feet if any, upon the text Of the treaty. by the subse
quen declaration and correspondence between the Secre
tary of State and the British minister shall be pre-
pared to meet it, Sir peace in our beloved country IS to
be preferred over every thing except national safety and
national honor. That statesman that man who would
precipate his country into careessy recklessy
idly upon the assertion OF any abstract opinion, would
GO down. he would deserve to posterty with execra-
ton But that statesman that who would leopard
the national honor the national safety from any fear
of war; would go down with deeper execraton STILL For
one, l am prepared to say that while fair, legt-
mate, just construction be given the treaty Eng
land must be held strictly to its engagements The Go
vernments of Central America weak and feeblethey
poweress against England In 1885 she refused to
hear their remonstrance against aggressons under Brit
sh authority Now, by this treaty of 1885, the honor
of this country is sernly committed preserve the in
egrty Of every part of Central America essential to
our safety.
Sir, the Government of Old England is known-wel
known 1t great mighty, and powerful and not great,
mighty, and powerful alone, but wise and sagacious.
Look at her Why, it has been truly said that the
never upon her dominion The world is crcled by
her martial airs beautifully and strongly said
by the lamented Webster Look at continent!
From the Island Of Trinidad the mouth Of the 0rnoco
to the Cape of Florida, you find her entrenched
don of islands We cannot put her out of them. She
commands the southern outlet Of the Caribbean and
at the Bahamas the Gulf of Mexico. She is fortified
everywhere Whyl To protect her fleets in state of
and further her in state of peace How
is it in the hemisphere? She commands the Medi
terranean at Gibraar the pass between Africa and
Sicily, at Malta, and recently, late 1882 she has
the enterprise of commanding the route to India
by sezng the fortress of Alden the straits of Babeman
del, the Arabian Gate of Tears" do not complain Of
that We have right to complain. England is wise in
her generation. She reposes upon her strength If
other nations permit her seize and retain such strong
holds the hemisphere be it but upon this
with the safety and interest of this country Now, sir
am prepared to make charge. am uniformed upon
the subject We told that these British settlers at
the Belize constantly trespassng upon Central Amer
ica that they have endeavored more than seize
the Bay Islands, and colonze them Intelligence in the
public journals of this very day tell of ag
gresson committed in Honduras by the British author
ties there. Still they in report and rumor only
make therefore, charge of bad faith violation Of the
treaty, because have information justify in
making such charge. But, sir, just certain the
return and the earth revolves in its orbit this
continent far interests the welfare and safety Of
the United States must be freed from the aggresions Of
England.