Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-02-09
Rritish colony in Honanr..


The browning act of British aggression
in Central America is consummated at
last. The settlement at Belize is eleya-
ted to the dignity of the British colony
An original claim to "cut logwood, has
ripened into right of sovereignty and
dominion, and the. narrow limits of a
purely commercial possession are expan-
ded into province g extending almost
the ocean. ,is.3 - s,is, qI,sis I.so
This Honduras episode makes an inte-
resting chapter in the story of British ag-
gresSion' ana illustrates the process by
which England plants and rears her. CO.
lonies. The seizure of Belize was origi-
cancers found it a convenient basis for
their operations. and without further ques-
ton seized upon it. Spain demonstrated
and resisted. England diselaimed, yield
ed. and renowned, but never, in fact, re-
leased her grasp or abandoned her pur-
pose. At one time by subtle and unseen
intrigue, at another by open violence and
usurpation-now by fraud, and now by
force, she contrived to keep possession of
u territory to which she made no pretcnce
of title. until. in process of time the origi;
nal occupancy of outlaws became in. some
sort legal, and legitimate. In 1896 Eng
land acquired right of possession in Be
lie for certain purposes only. AS late as
1917, if not more recently still, she dis
claimed by her public acts any right of
sovereignty in Honduras, Her preten-
sions rose and her encroachments pro-
crossed, however, until, at last, we have
the intelligence that " the Belize, or Bril-
fish Honduras has been elevated to a CO.
lony, the superintendent converted into a
governor. and constitution given to the
people,"
If the prevalent be the Just construc-
ton of the Monroe doctrine, then we
have here an occasion for lis application.
Here is an instance of European coloni-
cation on the American continent. By
one act of imperial usurpation Great Br-
tain appropriatcs vast portion of Anne
rican soil, subjects it to the jurisdiction of
a colonial government, and thus estab-
fishes position whence she may exert a
controlling influence in the affairs OF, this
continent r.
Whether the Clayton Bulwer treaty
comprehendcd British Honduras within
its operations or not-whether the conf
Dental communication between the Bril-
fish minister and the American Secretary
be or be not of binding obligations on this
governments point which is not, ne
cessary to determine in order to make
the colonization of Honduras an infraction
of that treaty /; for it is not pretended by
the apologists of Clayton, much less by
other persons, that either that treaty or
its secret proctol gives Great Britain a
right to establish n colony with its govor-
nor and constitution on soil which she is
permitted 20 hold for certain commercial
purposes only. By no possible construc-
ton can Great Britain wiring from the
Clayton Bulwcr treaty any semblance of
authority to found u new colony in Cen
trail America. On the contrary that trea-
ty expressly prohibits her from coloni-
zing any part of Central America. But
should it be. asccrtained that The, cstab-
lishment of British colony in Honduras
is an infraction neither of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, nor of the Monroe doc
tIine, it will then be met by the positive
intredict of another presidential declara-
ton, which no construction can by posi-
bilty explain away. Referring express
ly TO the contemplated colonization OF Yu-
by Great Britain, Mr.. Polk. in special
hCSSaSS vi %oln ApIlB iOfps maze Inc
following expelicit and solemn declaration:
"our own security requires that the
established policy thus announced (the
Monroe doctrine) " should guide our con.
duct; and this applies with great force to
the peninsula of Yucatan. 1t is situated
on the Gulf ofMcxico, on the North Ame-
rican continent, and from its vicinity to
Cuba, to the capes of Florida, to New
Orleans, and indeed to our whole south
western coast. 1t would be dangerous TO
our peace and security If il should become
colony of any European power"
The intelligence of the establishment Of
British colony in Honduras viii impart
additional interest and Importance to the
debate in the Senate on the resolutionsof
Gen. Cass. The proper construction. of
the Monroe doctrine, and the effect Of the
Clayton-Bulwert treaty, must be determin-
ed without dela7. for the progress of
British aggression in Central America
leaves TO this country the alternative only
of submission 10 an acknowledged out
rage, or of appearance in the Just and L.
climate growth of British power.
VIRGIEIA AND IsTEREAL IAdpRovEMETs.-
The house of delegates of Virginia, dp-
Al