The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-04


To.day'n Inside pages contain variety OF in.
terestrg political news from Washington; Opinions
of the Press on the Nebraska bill; the Extraditon
Case of Heilbronn in the United States Distric,
Court; the case of exAlderman Sturtevac.; Pro.
oeedings of the Chamber Of Commerce; the Intro
duction Of Free Labor from Africa into Cuba; Com
nercial reports, and variety Of miscellaneous in
teligence to which it is unnecessary to allude in
detail.
The Late Discussion on the Clayton But-
wer Treaty-The True Issue. =
Tho utter worthlessness of the partisan press
IN the United States as guides of public OPT
MON las never been illustrated in more ,hu-
initiating manner than in its comments OIL the
recent debate in the Senate on Central Ame-i-
can affairs. Judging from these comments, a
stranger would suppose that the subject of u.
debate was not of the least consequence, and
that'the whole was sort of gladiatoral bout
between Mr.. Clayton on one side and Mr.. Cass
on the other. Now, whether Mr. Cass got the
better Of Mr.. Clayton, or rice rersa, or whether
the late Mr.. King thought this or said that, has
no concentrating whatever to do with tie
real issue in the matter upon which the debate
was predicated. This issue is one of great na-
tional importance, and involves very serious
consequences. We, therefore, earnestly protest
against the narrow view which the entire psrti-
san press, whether adheripg 10 the fJssilized
wings or Kilkenny democracy, have taken of the
subject In saying this we are compelled to cd
init that the debate was much encountered with
personalities and irrelevant matter. and TIT
the true Issue was not distinctly presented.
The facts involved are few aud simple. In
1850 Mr.. Clayton concluded treaty with Mr..
Bulwer, then British Minister in the United
States. which treaty was ratified by the Senate,
and promulgated July of the same year
This treaty, il was alleged, settled defnitively
all the questions which had arisen between the
United States and Great Britain in Central
America But while it affected to dispose of
these questions it served only to compliea4e
them, for its terms were SO vague and contra
dictory that entirely opposite constructions
were at once given to it by the contracting
parties. Mr.. Clayton claimed that, if it hal
not entirely destroyed the alleged British pro-
tectorate on the Mosquito shore it had nullifed
it, and that it secured Central America from fuc-
Their British aggression forever. Lord PaImers-
ton, on the other hand, immediately announced
to the British agects 10 Central America that the
United States had recognized the Mosquito pro-
tectoraSe and thesc agents proceeded there
upon to apprise the different Central Americ Ia
States OF the fact, ard to define the boundaries
of the Mosquito kingdom Not enly so, but
Great Britain continued to advance yretensions.
before. even to the extcnt Of firing or Amcri-
can vessels in the port Of San Juan aud organ
izing new colonies on The coast
We directed attention 10 these circuns .ances
al the time; ard day after lay called upon the
goTcrnm Mt 10 enforce the treaty If ii really
bore the construction which lad been assigned
toitca the American SIDE or 70 take steps TO
annui IT if it in any way sanctioned or author
lied de practical construction which had bssn
given e it by the British government. The fec
bic administration Of Fillmore. however. far
from adhering TO the American construction of
the treaty. and still fayther from enforcing 1t,
actually sanctioned the project OF bringing the
sScalled Mosquito Kingdom" under the joint
protection of the United States aud England.
iHh PROJECT, h1NeFtr, loftn9atcIy got public.
was unanimously condemned died. and made
no sign
The continued fragrant violation Of Whist the
public had been told were the objects and PRO.
visions of The treaty by Great Britain, al last
attracted the attention of Congress. The Sc.
nate called upon the President to know IL any
new colonies had been organized, or other acts
performed by Great Britain, in contravention
Of the treaty, TO which the Executive responded |
that il didn't know. OF course it didn't-on |
the principle that none are so blind as those |
who will not see. IT, however, commune lted |
to the Senate compile Of notes, which had been |
exchanged between Messrs. Clayton and Bul.
Wer after the treaty had been ratified by the |
Senate, and which contained an understanding |
between those gentlemen that certain portion
i Central America, known as British Hon
lurns, or Belize, should be exempt from The
provisions Of the treaty. This understanding
vas altogether or post facto, and Of no more
value than If i had been exchanged between
Aessrs John Jones and James Brown, for the
treaty can have no legal construction beyond
shss Il PesFs On its face Nevertheless, the