Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-15


gons under the treaty Of 1863 that she had claimed
have some title BEFORE and perhaps some irregular
settlements but the first valid treaty that Of 1868
which defined the purpose of her occupation stated
her that by the treaty of 1888 the boundaries within
which England might proceed TO exercise her privileges
were defined and further privilege given while the
convention Of 1856 extended the bounds Of the British
cupaney do not know that mentioned the fact of the
acknowledgment of those existing treaties by that of
1914 That is undoubtedly stated by the honorable
Senator from Louisiana In nothing that have said at
any time have undertaken to yindicate the rghtfu do
minon Of Great Britain to those countries have
pressy rerained from that have spoken OF the cir
under which she obtained possession and Of
the encroaehments by which she has endeavored in vo
aton of the treaties which conferred on her restricted
rights, to obtain absolute dominion / do not see
therefore, that in this respect there any difference be-
tween the Senator and myself unless it be this: that
suppose the Clayton and Bulwer treaty to leave the
rights Of Great Britain, whatever they were in British
Honduras without impeachment and without sanction
Mr.. S0ULE. Whence, then, would ask can arise
the discrepancy between and the honorable Senator
We from the outset, unhsstatngy admitted that in so
far certain precarous rights might be claimed and held
by Great Britain having been transferred to her by
the treaty Of 1885, and afterwards by that of 1886 they
remained untouched But other pretensions than those
admissible under the mere suerance allowed by those
treaties understood to be entertained by England
and those the pretensons which this treaty was
to do away with 1t left to England none Of those
rights through which she might any political iu-
rsdcton over the country it covered and this was all of
Central Americas and this point the honorable Senator
will allow TO satisfy him that understanding Of the
treaty was in strict accordance with that of Mr. Clayton
himself exhibited in the instructions which he gave to
that able, efficient and patriotic agent Mr. Sauer when
he put him in charge of interests connected with
the republic of Nicaragua. 1t will be remembered that
those instructions bear date the 7th of Nay 1850,
and therefore anterior to the exchange he rat
cations between the two negoators Here is TIL language
which Mr. Clayton uses in reference to this subject:
we have never acknowledged and can acknowledge
the existence any Of socergtq in the MOSQUITO kins
o won be IN dany tla
title Of the United States own territory Having al
ways regarded Indian title right of occupancy
we agree that such title should be treated other
wise than as thing be exnguisheda the will discover
pom Identification ofthe treaty Britain
H no longer hare any interest deny this principle which she
has recognised in every other in with u.s. Hr
p,oecorde ciQ be reduced shado aouinis umJr'
or she can neither ooenpy or eolonze
Mhioh o. control 80 part f te Mosquito coq8t Cen
a"eriea 70 attempt 70 do either Of those things, after The
change c raeaoas, ,coad iaevaby produce rupture ,gkA
tie United States"
Mr. PEARCE do not perceive anv discrepancy h.
tween the Senator and myself certainly as regards
the Mosquito coast of which Ihave rerained from speak
ng or OF the rest of the States of Central
at all but there is difference between the Senator from
Louisiana and the Senator from Michigan, which will
not attempt to reconcile.
Mr.. DOWNS. Some documents have been published
this morning, for the first time which throw light on this
subject and corroborae very fully and very competey
the positions taken by the honorable Senator from
Michigan and myself and Others in regard to the proy
sons OF this treaty. While the matter is fresh in our
minds, II Will be well to refer to those documents
Will therefore read the message of the President Of the
United States, transmitting the treaty to the Sen,te
which clearly indicates the construction which we have
placed upon the treaty that it did embrace the whole of
central America, including Honduras. shall stop
now discuss the nature of the possession the right
which Geat Britain had there But the position tint /
assumed and so understood the honorable Senator from
chgan 10 assume that after that treaty the Bril-
fish Government retained power TO occupy orty or
colombo any portion of Central America including what
IS called British Honduras and think the message of
the President transmitted with the treaty clearly shows
that he and his Cabinet entertained the same opinbn
In that message dated April % 1850 the President ues
this language
1t will be that this treaty does not propose to take
money from the public Treasury effect any object conte
plated by it. yields protection the capitalists who may
undertake to construct any canal railway 18th
mus commencing the southerx part of Mexico and erm
mating in the territory Of New Granada"
Here words which define the limits of the treaty
1t embraces the whole of Central America The object
IS ito construct any canal railway across the Isthnus
commencing the southern part Of Mexico and term
mating in the territory of New Granada. l would ask
whether in the territory commencing on the southern
part of Mexico and terminating in the territory Of New
Granada British Honduras is not included? Here we
have the language Of the President of United States
to the effect that the treaty intended to apply to
that region, and to the whole Of il But that is not ALL
Let us proceed II will be found that this message COM
pleely refutes the argument of the Senator from View
York. (Alr. SEWARD that the treaty was intended only
TO provide for canal across the sthmus for the Prs
expressly states that object Of the treaty was to
protect Central America from foreign aggression and to
maintain the independence and sovereignty of all the Cen
tral American republics. The message further says
~" gives preference any route over another but
proposes the Of protection Cor all which inge
nuity and enterprise Should this treaty be
ratified will in future the liberation Of all Central
America from any kind Of foreign aggression
Any kind offoregn aggression" The President first
states what Central America and then says that the
treaty applies to ALL But that's not ALL He continues
AT the time negotiations opened with Nicaragua for
the construction Of canal through her territory found
Great Britain in possession ofneay half Of Central America
as the ally and protector Of the Mosquito king 1t has been
my Object
call the attention Of the Senate particularly to this
1T has been my object in negotiating this treaty only
70 secure the passage the thmus the Government
and citizens Of the United States by the construction Of
great highway dedicated to the Of all nations equal
terms butte maintain the independence and sovereignty
all the Central American republics"
Now, if that language does not sustain the Senator
from Michigan (Mr CAss) and myself-if the treaty
does not embrace the whole territory as the President
says, from the southern boundary Of Mexico to New
Granada, am at loss to find words to express that
meaning While we are on this subect-for it is in
terestng one and ! think every thing in regard to ii
ought to be UNDERSTOOD would like the honorable SEN
ators from Maryland Mr. PEARcE) and New York, (hr
SEWARD who have looked so closely into it. and talked
much about British rights to explain what they mean
by those British rights Do they mean that England
ains after this treaty had before the right not merely
to cut wood in Honduras but to coonize it. they have
now, in proclamation declared their intention TO do
mat IS the real question We that by the rea
ty, II has renounced that right The late President Of
the United States TO have entertained that view
when the treaty submitted to the Senate; and
would hike 70 know now If the gentlemen still think that
under the stpuatons of that treaty they have that
There j. another circumstance Mr. President TO which
wish to call the attention Of the Senate on this subject
and is to show that this idea OF the construction which
is contended for by the British Government or;ci-