The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-13

establishments they bad found on the Islands. In
1742 England again attempted to seize the whole
coast Of Central America, and also these islands.
The ire Of Spain was rouaed; che was then az now
a proud nation; but she had then the ability to
command respect, aud war ensued. In l763
treaty between England and Spain was concluded,
BY the provisions Of which England was bound to
destroy all her Notifications, &c., in that region
But England relying on . secret reservation de-
MED that Rooatan was included in the treaty, and
kept that island fortified. War again ensued,
during which Guatemala seized Rooatan. new
treaty was mace In l7S3; and Spain, desiring to
protect herself from any invasion by Great Britain
provided that the British should abandon all Cen
trail America, and all ielands dependent on it
Great Britain thus by aolemn treaty surrendered
all ner rights and ciaims to any part of the conti
nent and the dependent islands. But still, not
withstandng this treaty, England held fast to her
possession OF Rooatan; and in 1856 Spain pressed
upon England what she considered her rights,
and this led to another treaty, by which
pretensions of England were concerned By it
agreed to evacuate all her possessions and
posts on the continent, and on all islands, without
exception In l796-awar raging between Eng
land and Spain--this treaty was suspended, and
the English again resumed possession of Rooatan,
but surrendered it to an officer cent there from
Honduras In 1914 new treaty was. nad de, which
reat6rmed and incorporated within it the very
stpulations of the treaty OF l7S6, and unless some
thing has transpired since then, the English claims
to dominion over these islands have not shadow
of right. After that these isands were taken pos
session of by the State of Honduras. In l843 Com
modore MacDonnell, then commanding British
forces, took possession of the islands hauled down
the Honduras flag, and raised that of England
He had, however, scarcely left there than the Brit
ish flag was taken down and the union jack display
ed Mac Donnell was shortly after removed from the
post, and the British government repudiated his
conduct as unauthorized; and the Central Ameri
can States thought that all claim to the islands
was abandoned by Great Britain. But they were
mistaken; they were weak, and had to submit to
whatever that proud power might dictate. Great
Britain asserts no claim over these islands except
so far as thatclaim is connected with the Belize I'M
der the with Spain her right was lin
lted and was nothing more than the license to cut
wood IN Honduras. He read from an act OF the
British Parliament of 1923 for the punishment of
crimes, and said that it contained description of
the settlement of Honduras a settlement for
tain purposes and was not within his majesty's
territories or dominions.
He thou hit he had shown conc lusively that Eng
land possessed nothing more than the precarious
license to cut dye woods; and il was but in keep
ing with her former conduct that she should now
take possession of those islands and colonize them
IN the very teeth of the assertion by this Govern
iment Of the Monroe doctrine. How strange 1t
would appear to the world that, at the very mo-
ment shc binds the United States against taking
any islands or territory in that region, she comes
forward, and, without any right, takes possession
CT and colonies those islands
He wished not to light up any fires which might
lead to general combustion; and he was not in q
sensible of the dangers of contest with any
try; still he desired that the world might know
that they could not presume too far nor too long
on our prudence or our confidence. He desired
the nations of Europe to be aware that this Gov
may III an emergency be prepared to
compete successfully with any or all of them. He
had no fear for the result OF such q contest. He
would tell them that in such contest we might
realize the expectation of the British statesman,
and find under our banners the discontinued of
every land, and all those complaining justly or
unjustly of wrong and oppression. He would
have them remember that there Is in the spirit of
freedom more power than was exhibited in
the whole history of the human race. He hoped
that this matter would shortly come before the
Senate in some tangible shape in which the Senate
might inform England that, if there be any doubt
In the provisions of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty,
that we will give notice of our intention to suspend
it's effect
MIR. PEARCE said he came into the debate only for
the purpose of defending MIR. Clayton against the
charge that he ha6 done away with what gentle
men supposed should have been the effect of the
treaty. As he understood the treaty, England, by
I he had surrendered no lights in British Honduras
Hut there are gentlemen here who do understand
hat treaty as sweeping Great Britain from all
Central America. He did not 80 understand it, but
lid understand il as intending to stop encroach-
ments of Great Britain in that quarter How came
It that gentlemen who 80 understood the treaty,
and who have known Great Britain has continued
The occupancy of those islands the same before
the treaty, have never said one word on the sub
ect TIL now, In remonstrance or otherwise. But
he rose not to continue the debate, but to make
statement in behalf of Mr.. King. It was written,
and was handed him by Mr.. BRAGG, of the House.
It was in these words: -as. sa-s..,.- =
"Colonel King desires Mr.. Pearce to say in the
Senate that it has not been his desire or Intention
IN any thing which he has been represented as
saying in reference to the Clayton and Buiwer
reaty' to cast the slightest imputation on Mr.. j.
NJ. Clayton in reference to that matter; on the
contrary, he desires to do Mr. Clayton the justice
10 say that he is convinced that, in every thing |
with that treaty, he (Mr. CO. was actu-
tied by patriotic anxiety to protect the rights
md interests of his country. Colonel King feels
mortified that any thing said by him under a mis-
apprehension of the facts of the case should have
,een made the basis for unjust reflections on Mr..
Clayton" .@
This statement he thought was but in keeping |
With Colonel Kings character for strict integrity
md scrupulous honor.
MIR SOULE asked whether the Senator from
Maryland applied Mr.. Kings words to what has
occurred recently, Or to former conversations
while the treaty was pending?
MIR. PEARCE said he was not authorised to an.
ny them in any way.
Mr.. SOULE said that they had all considered
hat the precarious right Of Great Britain to cut
ogwood had never been touched
MIR. PEARCE said that nothing he had said was
o the effect that Great Britain had any right to
omlnon over any part of these regions, but that
hose rights-whatever they were-were untouch.
d by the treaty.
MIR. SOULE said that previous to the treaty
treat Britain had set up other pretensions and
hese pretenslons were, he understood, to be |
wept away by the treaty. He read letter from
Mr.. Clayton to Mr. Walsh, that Great Britain had |
no right to COLOMBO any part of the Mosquito coast
'r Central America
MIR. DOWNS read from President TaYor's mes |
,age communicating the treaty, to show that the |
President understood the treaty to mean that un.
der it Great Britain would have no right to colo
nize, fortify, &C., any part of Central America,
defining the boundaries of Central America from
The southern boundaries of Mexico to the territory
Of New Granada, and these limits certainly in. |
cluded British Honduras; and also, that if the |
treaty we're ratified it would relieve all Central
America from European aggression. He con
te nded that IT Great Britain had the right to colo
nize, &c, before the treaty, it was abolished by
that treaty. He commented also upon Bulwer's |
letter to Clayton, expressing his willingness to
.ign the treaty notwithstanding the verbal altera
lions; and yet, two months after refused to ratity
It, except conditonally.
Mr.. PEARCE said he understood President Tay
or's message as defining the boundaries within |
which were situated the three proposed lines Of |
with the Pacific.
Mr.. SHIELDS said that he thought the Senate |
ought not to cmbarrass itself respecting the uues
ion of the terms proposed by Great Britain in
atifying the treaty. He considered that it made
40 difference which was the proper construction
If the treaty; it had been violated by the seizure
If those Islands. Those islands never belonged to