The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-12
fhe Nicaraguan Treaty.
In SENATE, ApriI %, 1850.

fhe Nicaraguan Treaty.
In SENATE, APrit %, 1850.
The following message from the President Of
the United States was received, read. and referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and or
dered to be printed in confidence for the of the
Senate:
To the Senate Of the United States:
herewith tranemit to the Senate, for their ad
vice with regard to its ratification. convention
between the United States and Great Britain, con-
clntled at Washington, on the 10th instant, by
John M. Clayton, Secretary of State, on the part
of the United States, and by the Right Honorable
Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, on the part Of Great
Britain.
This treaty has been negotiated in accordance
with the general views expressed in my message
to Congress in December last Its object is to es-
tablish commercial alliance with all great mari
time States for the protection of Contemplated
ship canals through the territory of Nicaragua, to
connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and, at
the same time, to insure the same protection to
the contemplated railways or canals by the Te-
huantepec and Panama routes, as well as to every
other inter-oceanic communication which may be
adopted to shorten the transit to or from our terri
tories on the Pacific. 5Ev ,gs}5s.35,3
II will be seen that this treaty does not propose
to take money from the public treasury to effect
any object contemplated by it. 1t yields protec-
ton to the capital is who may undertake to con-
struct any canal railway across the isthmrs.
commencing in the southern part OF Mexico and
terminating in the territory of New Granada. IL
gives no preference to any route over another,
but proposes the same measure of protection for
all which ingenuity and enterprise can construct.
Should this treaty be ratified, it will secure in fu
ture the liberation of all Central America from
any kind of foreign aggression f1 81 $50
At the time negotiations were opened with Nj
caragua for the construction of canal through
her territory, found Great Britain in possession
~ H.
protector of the Mosquito King 1t has been my
object in negotiating this treaty not only to secure
the passag e across the isthmus to the Government
and citizens of the United States, BY the construc
ton OF great highway, dedicated to the uses OF
all nations equal terms, but to maintain the in
dependence and sovereignty of all the Central
American republics. The Senate will judge how
far these objects have been effected. IS y
If there be any who would desire to seize and
annex any portion of the territories Of these weak
sister republics to the American Union. or to
tend our dominion over them, do not concur in
their policy; and wish it to be understood, in
reference to that subject, that adopt the views
entertained, so far as | know, by all my prede
cessors. - asat
The principles by which have been regulated in
the negotiation of this treaty in accordance
with the sentiments well expressed by my imme
diate predecessor on the 10th of February, 1S47,
when he communicated to the Senate the treaty
with New Granada for the protection of the rail-
road at Panama. 1t is in accordance with the
whole spirit of the resolution of the Senate of the
Sd OF March, 1885, referred to by PRESIDENT Polk,
and with the policy adopted by President jackson,
Immediately after the passage of that resouion,)
who despatched an agent to Central America and
New Granada ssto open negotiations with those
governments for the purpose of effectually pro-
tecting, by suitable treaty stipulations with them,
such individuals or companies as might undertake
to open a communication between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans by the construction of ship
canal across the isthmus which connects North
md Snnt AIMS rIcas and of 1riny hu
such stipulations, the free and equal right of navi
eating such canal to all such nations, on he pay
ment of such reasonable tolls as might be estab-
lished to compensate the capitalists who should
engage in such undertaking and complete the
work.
] also communicate herewith copy of the cor.
respondence between the American Secretary of
State and the British Plenipotentiary at the time
of concluding the treaty. Whatever honor may
be due to the party first proposing such treaty
Justly belongs to The United States. My prede-
cessor, in his message of the 10th of February,
lS47, referring to the treaty with New Granada for
the protection of the Panama railroad, observes
that, "should the proposition be rejected we may
deprive the United States of the just influence
which its acceptance might secure to them, and
confer the glory anj benefits of being first among
the nations in concluding such an arrangement
upon the government either of Great Britain or
France. That either of these governments would
embrace the offer cannot well be doubted; because
there does not appear to be any other effectual
this important passage but the guaranty of great
commercial powers that the istbmus shai be neu-
trail territory The interests of the world at stake
are 80 important that the security of this passage
between the two oceans cannot be suffered to de-
pend upon the wars and revolutions which may
arise among different nations % aauss. 3
Should the Senate, in its wisdom, see fit to con-
firm this treaty and the treaty heretofore submit.
ted by for their advice in regard to its ratifca-
ton, negotiated with the State of Nicaragua on
the Sd day of September last, it will be necessary
to amend or both of them, so that both treaties
may stand in conformity with each other in their
spirit and intention. The Senate will discover by
examining them both that this is task of great
difficulty.
have good reason to believe that France and
Russia stand ready to accede to this treaty, and
that other great maritime State will refuse it's
accession to an arrangement well calculated to
diffuse the blessings of peace, commerce, and
civilization, and honorable to all nations which
may enter into the engagement
II. TAYLOR.
WASHINGTON, April %, 1850. s
No. @s.- ~. 926.f1sg