The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-06

cannol) DC aGCOmPiAsAtu 80 lou neHoAttoh
The easoni or interference be ayowed 10
for their protection, look welt TO their with
Nicaragua See that il is assgnabe others ,ha
exclusive privileges are granted nation that will not
agree 70 the same treaty supulstOns with Nicaragua that
the tolls TO be demanded by the
able oppressive that power be reserved the pro-
pneioIs OF the canal their any
mo hereafter, or uojus,y 20 obsuuct embarrass The
right Of passage THIS VIII require all your vigilance aud
skill lfhey do not agree grant passage reasona
bic and proper terms, refuse our protection ind
tenunco to procure the contract from Nicaragua. IL
charter grant OF the right OF shalt have been neau
ons OF nconsderaay made before your arrival in that
country, seek 70 have properly modified To answer tho
ends we have in view"
II will thus be that the policy OF President Taylor
was not only in accordance with the resolution Of 1888,
but with the principles adopted by both houses oil Con
gress, and with those of every President OF The United
States from the days OF Presidents Adams and Jackson
10 this me SO far we have the means OF ascerainng
them.
But. ii will be asked, if the views OF President Polk
really such here represented, why was that
he suffered Mr. Hise 10 violate the principle and abandon
the whole policy OF the government by the negotiation OF
Mr.. Hises treaty with Nicaragua OF the 2st OF June,
1919, by which Nicaragua grants 10 the United States,
company OF The citizens thereof the exclusive right
and privilege to make. construct, and build, within The
territories OF the State OF Nicaragua through and by the
and means OF any OF the streams, rivers bays har
bors lakes lands, under the jurisdiction Or within the
limits OF said State, canal canals, road roads,
either railways or tunpkes, or any other kind Of roads,
for the purpose OF opening convenient passage and com
muncatIon between the Caribbean and the Pacific
ocean 7" The answer is, that Mr. Polk assenled
10 or authorized any such thing MIR, Hise acted in
king the treaty moi only without instructions and beyond
his powers but IN direct opposition to the instructions
which Mr. buchanan gave him IN his letter oil the Sd OF
June. is4S He went with to conclude common
San Salvador But Mr.. Buchanan expressly added :.
is not, however, deemed advisable TO empower you 10
conclude treaty with either Nicaragua, Honduras, or
Costa RIGA, until you shall have communicated the de-
partmenl more full and authentic statistic information in
regard to those States than that which il now possesses
Mr. Hises treaty. granting TO us the exclusive right OF
way, not only hostile to all the views and opinions
OF Mr. Polk, but was also adverse TO the sentiments OF
Mr. Buchanan, the Secretary expressed by him 10 Mr.
CTampon the British minister, on the 22d OF May, ls4s,
at which lime Mr. Buchanan requested Mr. Champion 10
ascertain Lord Palmerson's opinion with regard TO plan
he ie very anxious togIve eec, TO for the establishment
OF communication by railroad in the first instance,
and afterwards II practicable by shpcanal, the
shmus OF Panama, between the Atlantic and The Pacific
oceans.
The great obstacle which had prevented the execution
OF This important undertaking had been, in Mr.. Buchan
ans opinion the want OF security for property IN The ter
rory which embraces the islhmus resulting from the
continual revolutions and hosties of the republics of
Central America and for this state OF things be pro-
posed the remedy by the conclusion OF treaty between
Great Britain and the United States, admitting parties
10 it, should be thought desirable France any other
great commercial power, by which treaty the perpetual
neutrality OF the province in which the isihnus OF Pana
ma is situated should be guaranteed Mr.. Buchanan pro-
posed 10 afford the advantage OF the communication al
moderate toll 10 all nations. In these views Gen. Her
rau, The minister OF New Granada concurred. The Brit
ish minister himself is my authority for the fact.
concurred with the principle established IN 1895. and that
be could not have yielded his appreciation 10 Mr.. Hse's
treaty Tor monopoly.
But Mr., Hise's treaty, independently OF the objection
on the ground OF the exclusive privileges 1t conferred,
was liable TO others
BY the Sd article:
is agreed that if the government OF the United States
shall decide not TO undertake and construct the said works.
then either the President Congress thereof shall
OF containing such liberal provisions and
such grants OF rights and privilege (not inconsistent with
the rights OF the contracting parties herein securely
be necessary convenient or proper 10 elect the great OBJ
jecs in view"
We see, then, that Mr.. Hise's treaty proposed, FIRST
that the government OF the United States should under.
take and construct the canal 10 Nicaragua and, secondly
II should decide not TO do So then either the President
Congress should issue charter OF incorporation
for the purpose As 10 the first proposition have
yet met with any man OF any party who supposed that
our government had power 10 make improvements outside
the United States and their territories. Mr. Polk denied
that II had power 10 make internal Improvements, and
MIR Buchanan OF the school
As 10 the second proposition TO confer upon the Pfes
dent Congress the power 10 issue charter act of
Incorporation for the purpose OF cutting canal in Mica
rsgua, need not ask the question. Who believes that
either OF them could exercise such power under the
shtuon No foreign government could confer greater
power upon President our Congress than the
sutu,on delegates 10 them. The power OF Congress TO
corporation within the limits Of The United States
was denied by Mr. Polk. But # there be any man Tex
cept the senator from Illinois, Mr. DouoLAs) who thinks
that either the President (vho has legislative power)
Congress, or both combined, have power 10 issue
cDarter Incorporating company 10 make canal IN
Nicaragua, or railroad in China have not yet seen
him. ...# ...
BY the twelfth article OF Mr. Hses treaty il provided
in consideration OF the monopoly granted and the other
grants in the preceding articles, that
"Ths United States OF America doth .oemny agree and
undertake protect and defend the Of Nicaragua
the possession and exercise Of the and domn
lou Of all the country, coats por lakes. and terri
tories that be Tighiiuly under the jurisdiction and
within the just and tue limits and boundaries Of the said
State and when the circumstances add condition Of the
country may require IT. the United States shall employ
their naval and military force preserve the peace and
MAINTAIN the neutrality Of tho said ports, lakes
rivers and territories, and hold and keep the
der the dominion and sovereignty the
safe OF Nicaragua or OF the government OF such Sse or
political community OF which Nicaragua voluntarily
become member, with which, Of her accord, she
may hereafter be Identified"
Does any man here defend such treaty as that This
of the first instances since the ancient enanging
alliance made with France by the treaties OF IT'S, in
which any minister OF this government has attempted 10
disobey the solemn injunction OF the Father of his Coun
try 10 avoid all such political connexions for this is
political, not mere commercial alliance. IL Is difficult
TO perceive bow IT could have failed TO plunge into
war Mr.. Polk, IN his message 10 the Senate, when
transmitting the treaty which provides for the protection
OF the Panama railroad, that the province of Panama
shall be neutral territory, Iu.tihes that treaty the
ground that IT - treaty Tor commercial purposes
ly, and not treaty for political alliance which he sd-
mts would have been fatal TO ITS confirmation. On the
very piles laid down by MIR Polk iu that message il
impossible that he could have ever consented 10 the
ratification OF Mr. Hise's treaty
have quoted but part OF the twelfth article The
other provisions of that article only enangng
bat enasQled. If understand the article ALL IL pro.
vdes thai shall not support Nicaragua in her OF
aggression outside OF her Just limits yet the naval and
military forces and The entire and resource, OF both