The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-12
The Origin OF the Clayton Buiwer Treaty.

III
The interest excited by the treaty with Great Britain,
concluded in 1850 relative to Central America and the
construction Of shpcanal from the Atlantic 10 the Pa
cc makes il proper Tor us 10 recall the Leading cicnm
stances which gays rise 70 it. 4, Y y. XII, ....,
The extracts we presented yesterday from the treaties
between Spain and England contain the most solemn
sipuls,ions that British subjects and all coonists enjoy
ing Abe protection Of The English flag, should conine
themselves to that portion Of Central America now called
ipropesiy British Honduras, and limiting these lights in
that territory The commercial privilege Of cutting wood
the right Of fishery for consumption and Of using inc
natural productions Of the Garth The extract we made
from the treaty of London mentions the Mosquito coast
bv napae "A couniry which British subjects and those
enioyinS its protection should abandon lnasmucn aS
~ Mo.nno proteciorate was set up anterior to that
,r..,v j, was specially and emphaticay abandoned by
that But regardless OF its pllghed fa'lh,
,h R.h government ne yer carried out its various en-
s,renents 10 Spain for despite OF them, undertook
=, continue the by taking the chief of the
Mo.oui,o tribe 10 Jamaica and there browning him
...l of the English Crown. This absurd farce was
enacted whenever il became necessary, in violation OF
the PRINCIPLES which have always been maintained by
all civilized nations 10 the nature and extent
Of Indian titles While the attention OF the United
S,aes was centred on the Mexican war and the exgen-
clos which grew out OF il, English force seized the
town Of San Juan on the north bank of the Nicaragua
river in the name and on behalf OF the Mosquito In
dams. About that time were represented near the
government of Nicaragua by Hon. Elijah Hise, who
succeeded in negotiating treaty with the proper officer
Of tina, government by which the most important privi-
pges were granted to the United States The right of
way through Nicaragua for MALE, troops. and munitions
Of war was given to the United States with the further
rsh to charter company for the purpose Of establishing
m communication through the territory of
thai republic Privilege granted to introduce, free Of
duty, all the materials necessary be used in construct
ing that communications, IS we'll as the provisions and
supplies Tor those engaged the work These and other
advantages granted to the United States, and the
company which might be formed under it's auspices with
out requiring as to into enianglng alliances with
other pares In the mean time. Mr.. Barclay, the Brit
ish consul at New York. Published notice on behalf
OF his government announcing that the left northern
bank Of the Nicaragua river belonged 10 the Mosquito
Indians who were under the protection OF Great Britain,
and warning all persons from undertakings in that por
ton OF Central America. Sd
The claim thus set up for the Mosquito Indians by
the seizure OF San Juan and the notification OF the
British consul at New YORK 10 the last de-
gree preposerous and insulting. Neither Great Brit
ain, nor France, nor Spain. nor the United Slater,
nor any other civilized power. had ever before &C
knowedged sovereignty in an Indian tribe On the con-
trary, all Of them had proceeded on the principle
tina, the occupancy OF the abogines did not interfere
in any manner with the rights derived by Christian
tons from discovery and settlement Had the British
government taken the chief of the Semnoles Jamaica,
crowned him king. taken him under its protection. and
on that pretence had sci up Seminole proectora,e in
Florida, its course would not have been absurd
than tina, by which il undertook to establish Mosquito
po,ec,orae on the coast OF Central America. in order to
furnish pretext for establishing colony on one Of the
routes between The Atlantic and Pacific But il the
tabshed law had been differentiated the custom OF civil
lied nations recognised the sovereignty OF Indian tribes
in the territory they roamed over-ye England had by
sosmn treaties recognised the Mosquito pos.
session OF Span and had stipulated in express terms tina,
her subjects and persons enjoying her protection should
abandon that coast and not resort TO II for timber
or to gather the natural productions of the soil The
complete and perfect title OF Spain TO the territory in
hsbsd by the Mosquito Indians had been Acknowledged
not BY inference or implication. but in plain and direct
terms and in terms equally plain and direct England
had engaged to abandon her proectorate there And fur
ther il England had not acknowledged the tile OF Spain TO
the Mosquito country. abandoned ts proecorate the
seizure Of the left bank OF the Ncarasus river would
still have been outrage. inasmuch the republic OF
Nicaragua had perfect title 10 both banks OF the river
TO the ssaa fact which is sustained by authoritative
raps, by history and by long und undsputed possession
NeassSua bad not lost her rights by failure to settle
and use for her citizens had settled and used the left
bank and had founded the town OF San juan near the
mouth OF the rver years ago. and continued TO occupy
itunt,l the iotcible seizure by the British.
Mr. Hises treaty did not reach Washington until Gen.
eral Taylors administration had been installed and Mr.
Clayton placed al the head Of the State Department The
treaty was then stihei and the important rights and
privileges il granted TO our government and 10 people
were refused and rejected We do pretend TO say
what motive dictated this extraordinary course on the
part Of General Taylors administration. I, may have
bean thai party vndicveness created unw,lngness
that Mr. Folks administration should have the credit Of
procuring such advantages az those which Mr. Hse's
treaty secured II may have been that Mr. Clayton pre-
eyrsd lesser advantages he could gain ecat for hav
int Obtained them. # may have been that fear OF
Great Bsi,ain which has long been characteristic
Of wing sta esmen. dictated The policy Of the Americas
Secretary. Perhaps all these considerations had their
st,. and conspired procure the suppression OF Mi
Hses treaty. and gave rise TO new negotiation in which
Great Britain was admitted party without having any
right to be consulted the matter. treated Of The