The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-02-03
Claytom.BuIwer Treaty,


Our neighbor still insists that the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty is nulity, and we presume
that he is the only man in the United states
that really and sincerely thinks it is a nuiiity'
or whose head is too thick to comprehend the
plain and explicit provisions ofthe treaty
The treaty stipulates clearly and distinctly
the divisions of Central America which are
to be deemed neutral and protected as such'
bv both Governments. Neither power to oc-
cunv or exercise dominion over said territory.
Gen. Cass admits this himself, and IN his
childish attempt to bring down rdcule ana
disgrace upon the treaty and upon Mr.. Clay
ton, he establishes these provisions beyond
controversy. Now, this bugbear of proto-
col which the Enquirer makes such fuss
about, contains not one qualifying word which
either weakens or strengthens the provisions
of the treaty itself. The protocol relates
simply and specifically to British settle
ment known as the Balize or British Hondu-
ras. Great Britain had acquired a claim
there, and formed a settlement, whether right
fully or otherwise it was not the business OF
our Secretary nor our Government to enquire
for the purpose of this treaty. 1t lies too re-
mote from the territory embraced in the trea-
ty, the neutrality of which was secured for
the purposes of constructing and protecting
the Ship Canal, to be of any Importance
whatever in the contamination of the great
objects OF thestreaty.
The ENQUIRER meets our articles uqon this
subject with EXPLANATIONS and bare unsup-
ported assertions, foolishly attempting to fol-
low the footsteps of the great supe; anuated
"AIichigander," and using no arguments and
worse gic, proves about as much. He says:
sour readers may remember that the chief
point that we made was that the Senate ratl-
fed the treaty on the suppostion that 1t had
put an end TO the interference OF England
with Central American affairs
Your readers will recollect that is just
the point you did not make. You never have
made that point, and 1t is an insult to the
Senate to attempt it. The Committee on
Foreign Affairs with Vice President King as
Chairman, understood the treaty, precisely in
its present form, and it appears from Vice
President Kings own testimony, that Mr.
Clayton acted advisedly as to the understand.
ing of the Senate, by consulting its Presi-
dent before accepting the British ratification.
Thus advised, Dir. Clayton accepted the
treaty under the qualification that while
this government did not ignore the British
claim to the Balize, neither did they in any
''if we had only had Democratic Secretary
we should have had treaty that England
could not have evaded as she pleased" We
have just such treaty now, neighbor! and
there is no possibility Of England's evading
it, except by open and direct violation of the
solemn compact that she has entered into
with our Government by the terms of that
treaty, and by which she is both legally anC
honorably bound. When Great Britain VIC
lates this compact it is the duty of our Gov
eminent to hold her amenable. IF Great
Britain exercises dominion over the Mosquito
Coast, it is no fault of the treaty, for that ex
pressly prohibits it. The imbeciIity of the
Administration may allow England to do az
she pleases. to eyade or abide her contract
We are prepared to see it do anything excep
maintain the dignity of the Government.
This Treaty, neighbor, will furnish NJ
shield to the errors of the unfortunate hand:
into which it has fallen. You may say tina
it is "nuI and void" butyour attempts at prov
ing it have exposed a void which nature has
put beyond the power oftreaties to fill.