The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-22
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE
MONDAY, March 81, 1853.

Neafa aqua and Costa RIGA relative ~ .Lo.. W
the river San ia. controversies bordering on
eo iivei oan Juan, transmitting renort frnSS ~
secretary OF State, and documents bv toai .le
accompanied Referred to the Comm;,. ,en ~ Was was
reign Relations iiiaee on fo-
The following resolution was an,o,,,
business before the Senate: as the
RESOLVED, That the Secretary ofState no d;ro.,.,
to communicate to the Senate such inforns t;d
nish, in regard to the conflicting claims of Cra
Britain and the State of Honduras and the;r -
spective titles TO the Islands of Roatsn Renno ae
Utilla, Barbarat, Helena, and Morat in or nea
the Bay of Honduras. '
Mr.. EVERETT addressed the Senate for
two hours on the subject before the bodv. ftbs
debate should now terminate, he said il yuonId
leave on the public mind not only an incorrect,
but a somewhat painful impression as 10 the roai
state of affairs in Central America and our con-
nexion with them; and the country wonId he
alarmed and think that they are more ser;ons
than they in reality at this time Hence
having recently held an official position that re.
CURED him to pay some attention to the subject.
he thought it proper that he should enpa - for
short time, the attention of the Senate.
He ought to make an acknowledgement to the
Senator from Illinois Mr.. DoUeLAs) for the ia
vorable notice that he had been pleased 10 taI-aof
the letter addressed by him. as Secretary of So
to the Ministers of France and Spain IN ,he
subject of the proposed tripartite convention reIa
tive to Cuba. Ii he could think that the Senator
did not in the warmth of his argument oyorrat
the merits OF that letter, he should certainIv feel
from the favorable notice taken of it bv so dis
eliminating judge, that his (AIr. E's) ambition
as public man, ought to be satisfied IT was snb,
ject of great difficulty and Importance dividino
to extent, the opinion of the country anJ :;
his DESIRE in that letter, to find ont If noss.
bic, and assert the line of principle and poIicv
which, generally would be approved by the coun-
gressive spirit and tendency of the country and
the age, to the preservation of the public faith
with the sanctity of public honor and with the
dictates OF liberal conservatism. This was the
object which he had in view; and if in any decree
he had attained it, his utmost ambition was satis-
fed But, if allowance be made for the total
dissimilarity of the two subjects-the proposed
trpartite treaty, to which the letter applied and
the treaty between the United States and Great
Britain. of 1S50-he thought it would be alIoweJ
that the constitutional doubt which he eYnressed
as applicable to one case, could not be applied in
the other. The Cuban treaty could not have pro
cured single vote in the Senate and the President
not i'll advised enough send it here; whereas
the Clayton and Bulwer) treaty was ratified bv
majority largely exceeding that reouired bv The
Constitution-two-th thirds.
After speaking of the importance of our relations
with Central America, and the condition of the
States in that quarter he alluded to the hostilies
which now exist between Nicaragua and Costa
Rica and said the exclusive privilege to the United
States for the lnteroceanic canal could not be
obtained because Nicaragua was not in condition
to make the grant. She claimed unbroken sove
relgnty over the whole route. She is satisfied that
her claim is good, and we think that it is good
But there was great power that set up a rival
claim, and this was to be disposed of; and this was
ne understood one OF the objects of the treaty of
April l9, $780, Although Great Britain set up this
claim and although we think it unfounded. vet,
in reference to this question: she set it up onlv To
aid the construction of the canal-not to obstruct
its execution. She said Nicaragua had no riqbt To
give the charter, because Nicaragua did not own
the entire distance. Ii was the leading proposition
in the treaty to give the assent of Great Britain to-
the charter.
I'D To fbo
lieved with his friend from Delaware that il was
,,ominis umbra-the shadow of name 1t is really
nothing more; and it would be a waste of the time
OF the Senate to attempt to prove the inanity of
this king and this kingdom. During two centu
rles Great Britain had contracted certain duties
and obligations towards the Mosquito Indians who
are reduced to mere handful, and are in a
wretched state, and she does not consider herself
in a condition wholly to disregard them. England
has no interest or motive in keeping up the pro.
tectorate.
He repeated, there were many conflicts in the
Central American States, that there would have
been safety for us in undertaking the exclusive
construction of the canal, involving, perhaps a
cost of hundred millions of dollars and it was
therefore proper that Great Britain and the United
States-two friendly powers-should agree to pro-
tect the interoceanic communication.
In relation to placing our diplomatic relations
with Central America the most advantageous
footing, he said much depends on the individual
who is sent there; and that, small as the Central
American States are, it is more important who is
sent thther than to London, Paris, or ST. Peters
burg. He might say, without intending to COM
pliment that he placed entire confidence in the
President. Out OF the able and distinguished
men of his own party he will find the right man
The only two diplomatic appointments-to Swift
zerland and Peru-is sufficient pied gre to his mind
that the President will have regard 10 merit and
qualification.
He had no doubt the same good sense would pre-
side over the appointment for this mission and if
the right man can be found to take the affairs of
Central America in hand, and bring the long-de-
layed controversy to conclusion, he believed it
would cover him with honor. If we cannot now
settle and all the difficulties which obsruct
the execution of the contract he could but see that
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA struggle on in hostility
the one against the other, and the canal through
the territory would be indefinitely postponed.
He did not think that England had violated or
intended to violate the faith of treaties What had
she gained by the treaty? She was not OBLIGED
to make treaty to execute faithfully its provi-
sions. We had no claim upon her. What po-
htical Involvement or ambition operated as sole
purpose for making its There was difficulty
enough before. Then, to Central America pro-
per, leaving out the Balize and Honduras Question
he could not but see that England has done what
she contracted to do. There was, however. some
difference TO the meaning of the treaty. She has
given up this, and then that, and said she will
abandon the protectorate., She has given IN San
Juan, and declares herself DESTROYS of getting out
OF the whole matter as possible If there ia
cause for superstition of bad laith, a disposition
to cavli, (and there would be reasonable grounds
it might be said the United States in recent trans
actions at San Juan, had broken their faith We
there see the municipal government created into
an independent corporation, under the name of the
Mosquito King, it is true, but composed of Ameri
can citizens. As to the settlement at Balize. and
all she has said regarding it, he did not think il
worth while to discourse on the subject He he
heved 1t is generally admitted-let the decision If
geography be what it may, let Baze be in Central
America or in Mexico, let its origin and settlement
De what they will-that the British settlement was
not In contemplation by the negotiators at the time
the treaty was made '''N
Attentlon was not then turned to it. and the
same remark TO some extent, is true of the Bay of
Islands; He understood the British government
claimed the title to be de facto and de lure in it,
out as to the validity of the claim he had not a
WORD to say The people there asked for proec-
ton, and 1t was afforded to them on the payment
OF q! certain amount of money. He, however, can
dldly sad that the organization of the islands into
colony was an i'll advised step, which he thought
would be abandoned upon proper representation to
the foreign office in London. He had no doubt
of it.
He did not apprehend any disturbance of the
relations between this country and Great Britain
IN consequence OF the state of things in Central
America He agreed with the distine ushed Sena.
tor from Illinois, (Mr. DoueLAs) that England
does not love There is no room for senti.
mental influence in countries governed by cousti.
tutlOns and Dariaments 4 Wac n,Iu