The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-25

these engagements should become part of diplomatic
convention, which could not be broken without viola
ton OF national faith The British government could moi
DC bound without the authority OF her Britannia Majesty
formally conferred upon British plenipoenary. The
American government could not be bound but by the
OF the President and Senate. The declarations OF the
Secretaries OF State either sde on both Sides could
not make treaty. Pending the negotiations for this
purpose, our government was informed by minister
~ Central America that under the direction OF Mr. Chat
held the island of Tgre in the Gulf OF Fonseca bad
been sezed by the British forces belonging to military
ana naval expeditions ted out for that purpose and
TINS island was dependency OF the State of Honduras
on the Pacific side, Immediately. by order of the Presi
dent instructed Mr. Lawrence that explanation should
be required by him OF the British government regard
these proceedings OF Mr.. Chafed. My note to Mr.
Lawrence for this purpose under date OF December
ls49, states:
Circumstances lead to believe that the seizure of the
Of Mr. Cha.fiod II Mr.. Chauied be Indeed proper ex
Ponen OF tho views OF the British cabinet which will
NOT believe until so informed from authentic source the
sooner we are apprzed Of their intentions the better You
VIII theeIoe, on the receipt OF this, forthwith address
note Lord Palmerson setting forth proceedings of
BRUSH naval and military expeditions and the conduct
will ask him. in firm but respectful language, for dsa
vowai Of all acts Of interference by Mr. Chaed others
zion 10 any part of the Central American States Should
Lord Pamerson the seizure, any intention
cupy any portion OF Central America under pretcx
or or any purpose you will Immediately enter the potes
/ OF this government against IT,"
| Mr.. Lawrence replied on the sh of February, 1850
"You instructions to me were of such cha racter tha,
felt to be expedient to read them 10 his lordship'
/ With this note Mr. Lawrence transmitted memoran-
dun of an interview with Lord Palmerson on the 27th
January le5o during winch interview the note Of the
Palmerston informed Mr. Lawrence IN this interview th
the object oil sezing Tgre island OF debts
incurred to, and abuses committed on, British subjects,
States TO payment and indemnity. " | repeat" said
Lord Palmerston TO Mr.. Lawrence. "what | ad-
dressed TO yon 10 the early part of this negotiation.
that Great Britain has no intention OF annexing, set
liDg, or orhfylng any part Of Central Amrica MIR.
Lawrence then stated that "he instructed demand
before proceeding any further n the negoation) dis
avowal on the part OF her Majesys government OF the
act OF Mr. Chalheld in the seizure of Tge island; that
the United States did not recognise the right of the Brit
the property OF these weak republics for the debts OF pr
vae Individuals; that these claims did not grow out of
lorts, but contracts and illustrated it by The focibe
seizure of vessel showing his idea of a tort" To
which Lord Palmerson replied, that before requesting
the admiralty to furnish these naval forces for the said
purposes, he had consulted the law authorities of the
Crown who had given him the opinion that the govern
ment would be justified in taking such course; but he
added, that at the time il question suscep-
tibe OF argument" Mr.. Lawrence then told him.
that in order that he might understand fully the views
OF the United States, he fso,d read to him his iasrue-
lions this subject ia full, ich he then took from the fabte
asd read through" He then told him Lord Palmer
stonl "that he should address him communication on
thus subject, and in which he should request from her
Malesiy's government dlsavowal OF the act of Mr..
Chafeld in the seizure Of Tgre island" To which he
replied that he had already sent orders 10 abandon Tge
island. 10 leave just where il before it taken
possession of by Mr.. Chatfeld, placing il, however,
within the discretion OF the admiral 10 do what seemed
TO hiH right" In the same interview Mr.. Lawrence
stated 10 Lord Palmerson that there feeling exist
ing IN the United Slaes, and in Central America, that
Great Britain desired TO possess itself OF territory not
only Tor colonizaion but also to command the keys of
the geat proposed cana and that from the public
papers, as well as from private information he had gath
cred that there a body of inclined TO secure the
canal in the hands OF British subjects; and he asked
Lord Palmers,on whether this really So" To this
Lord Palmerston replied, "hat there such party
that he had been often spoken to the subject
that he had given no encouragement to any such idea
but had said that, If accomplished ALL it be done
BY Great Britain and The United States and dedicated
the world at large that in his declaration that her Ma
lesy's government did not intend to settle, annex, colo
nze or fortify any part OF Central America, he
cee, and The government would carry out these seni
mens."
Sueh the character of the declarations and repre-
senlalons made to this government by the Briliph Sec
re'ary OF Foreign Affairs. pending the negotiation of the
treaty oi 1850 There did not appear TO be mental
reservation or equvocaon IN this declaration We were
not told that Central America was term 10 be taken
cum grano Sails or tina, il mean, anything more or less
than the five Central American States We see IT was
admitted that Ilgc island, dependency OF the State OF
Honduras, the Pacific sde in Central America.
and we know that, IN accordance with the British decla-
ration and assurance to us, the British flag there
taken dowR and the flag OF Honduras hoised in s stead
under British salute OF twenty zone guns We knew
that the British government had before that tme laid
claim to Roatan. an island the Atlantic side OF the
States oil Honduras aud Guatemala; but whether that
island was or was not part OF the British West Indies
VI vi State, WAS ques
ton about which nigh, have Differed and in relation
TO which this government determined to leave the qnes-
lion oil right TO be decided hereafter
Roalan, and others OF these Bay islands, the at
las OF the Society for the Diffusion OF Useful Knowledge
exhibited on the Secrearys table, deneated part OF
the "British West Indies" We had no claim to any of
the "Bay islands" II these islands formed n part OF
either the Central American State OF Honduras Guate
mala the treaty did take them from her. nor grant
them to Great Britain, nor recognise her right to them
IT, the other hand, they rghtlully belonged to Great
Britain and not to Central America, the treaty did not
profess TO interfere with her utle by either denying af
fming IT. We made The treaty with the British declara
ton before ushat Lord Palmerston perfectly
his that Great Britain did not intend TO
occupy The Mosquito coast, or any part Of Central
dmcrtca
before the treaty. We know they continued TO be the
same for long period after The date of the treaty In
deed, the British construction OF the treaty ITSELF
municated 10 the Senate by my honorable friend from
Massachusetts Mr.. EvERyrTl IN bis communication
companying the Presidents message OF the 18th OF Feb
ruay, 1S53 directly the opposite of that which we
given TO understand by the Earl OF Carendon's
letter is The British construction OF the treaty, though
he to have been that there might be then
difference OF interpretation 10 Mr. EyrRErrs let
ter accompanying that message, and dated the l5h OF
February 1852 will be found extract oil despatch TO
MIR Crampton from Lord John RUSSELL then Minister OF
Foreign Affairs in London, dated January 10, 1853, de-
caring that The British government "ntend ID adhere
strictly 10 the treaty of Washington OF the 10Th of April,
1880 and any sovereignty direct indirs,
in Central hnerics" Such was the British declaration
made 10 this government, about the FIRST of the year,
i 1853.
Now, sir, ask, is II not bumilating 70 compare these
repeated declarations made both before and at the time
and after the treaty, and late January last,