The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-08

When eAamlnedb clearly 10 ascertain ana uA Inc oouu
aries or divisions between the Provinces am mol IN
formed on that subject ! have had some occasion 70
make inquiry in reference 10 our disputed boundaries
with Mexico. and have found that The boundaries os
tween the provinces generally OF an unsettled and
indeteTmlDaie character How far The same may DC al
ffmed Of the boundary between Mexico and The captain
generalcy OF Guatemala. am uniformed but SO lar as
can get Information am strongly disposed TO believe
when these boundaries asceflaned that the BRUSH
settlements Honduras bay they are prescribed by
the treaties with Spain will be lound 10 lie together
within the limits OF the captangeneracy of Guatemala
and not Of New Spain or Mexico.
The first authority TO which the honorable senator re-
lerred in his attempt TO establish the position that hey
were not in Central America was Humboldt, upon whom
he relied and justly relied as OF the most authentic
writers upon the subject OF the Spanish possessions ~
America have referred 10 Humboldt, and although
may be that he meant 10 describe these British settle
mens as within the province OF Yucaan, yet II is by no
means clear question: Ga page no. The page to which
the senator referred Humboldt, speaking OF the intend
ency OF Merida or the peninsula OF Yacaar alter de-
scr'bng the face OF the county. climate, &C. says;
"Tbe ruins Of European edhcss discoverabls in the
island Cosumei ia the midst OF grove OF palm trees IN
dicate that this island, which is now unnhabted was a.
tho commencement Of the conquest peoped 10y Spanish
coloniss Since Tie settlement OF the English between
ONO and Rio Hondo the government, diminish the CON
raband trade, the Spanish and Indian popu-
aton IN the OF the peninsula west from the ,onnla ms
Of Yucalan. Coonsts not permitted 70 settle ON the
western coast on The banks Of the Rio aeaar and Rio
iondo political Essay on The k'ngdom Of New spaln
by Baron Humboldt, vol 2. page l6O) 1855.
Now, Humboldt, is giving here information as TO the
effect that had been operated upon the Indians and the
pOpuduOu oI Uy ntdhs ol tuesc pIitiou
seementsthat is to say, because oi the conlraband
trade which sprung in the British settlements the gov
ernment OF Yucaian had Withdrawn its populations but
he does not mater OF geographic history that
because the British settlements between the Rio
Omoa and the Rio Hopdo they were 10 be found in the
province OF Yucatan neither does be tell that the Rio
Hondo was river OF 4uca,an say therefore, although
may be- when speaking here OF the province OF Merida
YucaiaD and oil the British settlements that he meant
10 say they formed part OF Yucaan yetitsby no means
The honorable senator then refers to Spanish writer,
Alcedo on whom he seems To place great reliance.
have looked also into this work--a large geographical
dictionary, compilaon--but think the honorable
stor himself will not ascbe much authority TO Mr.. AL
cedo when he finds that Acedo has been dscredted by
Humboldt who is certainly far more worthy OF reliance
find that Humboldt complains that the English geogra
paer riEkeron had prated and mlsused his materials
In speaking OF Tia, piracy he refers to Alcedo, and says
"Mr. Pinkerton, in the second edition of his Modern
e in No and he
cnnrved mix several exact notions derived from the
the dictionary OF NJ AIcedo. This author, who believes
himself to possess singular knowledge OF The true terrific
nora snala, and La Plmerica, parts of New Bscsy
He divides what he calls the domnons Sdomain OF Mex
&c &c According this pdocpIc we should say that
the three divisions OF Europe SPAIN Languedoc
Catalonia, and the territories Of Cadz aud Bordsaux"-
(Poltca Essay the Kingdom OF New Spain by Baron
Humboldt, vol j, p. 263, 6I,''65)
That IS the way he introduces Acedo TO The consider
alton of all historians and geogrnphers say then, that
only but discredted in manner to show, IN the opinion
Of Humboldt; that there is great degree OF merit TO be
ascrbed TO any OF those writers who have attempted to
trace, from early records the boundaries between the
Spanish provinces.
would suggest. then, TO the senator from Delaware
that for conduc, OF this question, may
vove the interests OF th,s country would be safer for
him repose his note, connected with the treaty oil
$780, where he guardedly refuses any admission, than 10
recur TO the speech which be made few days ago,
when he presented Argument TO establish II fact
apbcal fact, that the British settlements al Belize
were to found in Mexico, and no, IN Central America
One authority cited by the honorable senator was Ar
rowsmh who published map OF Guatemala in 1926
The honorable senator was kind enough 10 give
access to H. hat map pnrport, to have been reduced
from the survey the archives of Guatemala declara-
lion the part of Arrowsmilh which, in the judgment
OF the honorable senator entities II to high credit Now
Mr. President all geographers are conversan with the
maps OF Arrowsmitb. lie ", perhaps, now OF the
largest map-makefs in the world and 10 whom, believe
great credit IS generally given Tor accuracy But Arrow
smith has this remarkable fact connected with his maps
He does not date them not In twenty, so far my
observation goes, will you md dated But It is little
able that this map OF 1895 is dated, and claims 10
have been compiled from surveys be found in the
archives OF Guatemala.
The honorable senator informed in introducing the
map that II was entitled 10 peculiar confidence be.
the Britisb government anxious 10 ascertain
where those settlements were, and therefore sent
depuation 10 Guatemala TO examine the archives He
informed that the anxiety OF the British government 10
know where the BRUSH settlements from this:
That since the dominion OF Spain had ended Great Britain
al a loss TO know who her landlord in regard TO
these NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. she 10 treat with Mexico
Guatemala upon the subject OF those possessions and
therefore II became matter OF interest to England to
seai an agent Guatemala 10 learn it, and The result
was said he, this map Of Arowsmith's Of 1926. be.
leve have stated the honorable senator's position cor.
rectly He further informed US, that by Of that
estisaton Great Britain found that her settlements
Honduras bay the province OF fucatan, and she
proceeded To treat and dd treat with Mexico accordingly
in reference 10 them. II is little unfortunate for the
senator's theory that there s seeming conflict OF dates
because the treaty made in 1885, and the map
Published Eng land in the year. and s hardly TO
be presumed that the treaty followed soimmedia,ey upon
the pronalgstion Of the map. have taken the pecsu
ton 10 look into other maps of howsnth in reference
TO these British possessions, and have found what any
senator will find who will examine them, that they are
made exclusively with reference TO British preiension
and without any earthly regard TO the existing stale OF
facts, geographical or political
SIR, there Is map OF Arrowsmh, very large man,
in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, map of The
West India Islands and the coast OF Central America OPP
po-e Ii has date but will find upon II that the
British settlements nj Belize laid down they should
be--between the Rio Hondo on the north and the Rio
Sipon on the south. These the treaty limits with
Spain as prescribed by the treaty OF 1856 And then IL
you will extend your walk into The library you will find
a large alias, published by Arrowsmith again without
date IN which you will find The British possessions at
Belize extended as far down as the river Sarsoon en-
bracing extent, II IL taid, OF hundred and fifty
miles below the southern limit Of the treaty so that this
author upon whom the senator relies TO settle this geo.
graphical question, on the authors own word that hrs
map s compiled from the archives of Guatemala, lays
down the British IN his map not as they are
prescribed by the treaty, but successive encfoachmens
by the settlers have enlarged Them according TO the rea
" limits in the earlier map and according to the British
trespasses in the later map.
say. them with all possible respect 10 the literature