New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-14
Cass or TIE BALIZE.

CAss ON THE BALIZE.
The acquisition Of California by our Government
and the discovery its Gold Mines taken in eonnec'
ton with the difficulty and peril of overland transpor
taton bitber and the tedOusness of the passage via
Cape Horn gave al immediate and signal importance
10 the routes across the stbmus of Darien though
Central America Our steamships and mails began TO
take that course in lS49 when We bad no shadow oil
ootLod south of our own boundary and hardly dpo-
matte footing in the Central American States where
Great Britain had long exerted commanding influence
II WAS well understood that the mouth Of the San Juan
de Nicaragua had long before been occupied by the Bril-
fish as protectors of the Mosquito sovereignty named
BY them Grey town and held by British troops 10 de-
fsnce of the adverse claim Of Nicaragua. This occu-
patton directly threatened the security if not the prac
ticaby of the Nicaragua route to the Pacific, which
involves lees landcarrage than any other this side of
Cape Horn, while it was notorious that in Of
war with Great Britain, could not hope to send
passenger or package to California, any route
south of the valley of the ella.
Under these circumstances, Mr.. Clayton, as Secre-
tsry Of state under Gen Taylor concluded april ID,
1882 Treaty with Great Britain, of which the main
Object was avOwed TO be the promoting and securing OF
tie construction of Ship Canal through Central
America between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for
the benefit of all mankind To this end the two Gov
ernments mutually pledged themselves to each other
that
/ l. Neither of them would attempt to establish
maintain any exclusive authority control such
Ship Canal nor erect or maintain any Notifications
commanding it;
q Nor occupy fortify, colOnize, assume nor ex-
ercse dominion over any part of Nicaragua, Costa
Rca, the Mosquito Coast, any other part of
Central America, Use any protection which either
affords may afford, any alliance it may have with
any State people for the purpose Of erecting such
Notifications or coooizing or occupying the above
named countries.
3. Vessels of either nation trayersing, having
taversed or about to traverse, said Canal 10 be
enpt in time of Lostites between the United States
aud Great Britain from blockade detention or capture
by the forces of the other.
4. The parties making the Canal to be protected by
both the contracting Governments from all obstruction,
seizure injustice whatever
5. Both Governments to use their influence with
Nicaragua, Costa Rca &c. TO facilitate and promote
the construction of said Canal and the establishment
OF a free port at either end of it,
6 Also to protect il when completed and guarantee
lis neutrality
Z Also to invite other nations to unite in said
guarantee.
8. The same protection and guarantees to be ex-
tended to any other Canals which may be made uniting
the Atlantic with the Pacific
Such are the outlines of Treaty which seems to
the most honorable and worthy negotiated be-
tween two nations. For although the United States
were Immediately to be benefited most, and Great
Britain next by the opening of Canal through Cen
tal America, yet the Treaty contemplated no exclu.
sve privileges for them but threw open every result
ing advantage to all mankind. On the part of Great
Britain the chief naval power, aud of the United
States, always likely to be formidable by to her
enemies through her priyateers If not through her
Navy the stpulatons for the neutrality of the Canal
and Of q reasonable Of either end Of
it, were than just-they were generous to other
nations and ought to have elected expressions of their
gratitude.
Now consider the avOwed object and aim Of the
Treaty and all its stipulatOns are consistent. harmO
nious ard reasonable. The two contracting Nations
are mutually DESTROYS that tie Atlantic aud Pacific
oceans shall be connected by canal across tue
row isthmus uniting South with North America, aud
they recprocslly spulatc to remove every obstacle
and afford every facility to the construction Of the
work, and to afford it all the necessary protection
/ thereafter.
But, when the Treaty went TO London, the Govern
ment spprehended that its terms were so broad and
sweeping that they might be held to require the aban-
donment by Great Britain Of her settlement known as
the Baize, lying the Bay of Honduras, northeast
of Guatemala ami east from the Mexican province
of Yucatan, and forming geographically portion of
the latter rather than the former. This settlement
was in its origin rather foray Of British mahogany
cutters territory VIGOROUSLY Spanish than egi,-
innate colony but possession being zine points of the
law, when the Spanish dominion on the Continent
died out there remained no to dispute the British
claim, which had previously been made good in many
tIuggle SO far successful fighting can uphold such
claim. So tie British Minister wrote TO Mr. Cramp
tor tlst Lis ratification given on the express con-
di;ion that the Treaty did not tura the British
cut OF The Bolize British Honduras (sereral hun
6red niles distant from the neares. point OF the pro
posed Caral) and Mr. Clayton said, OF course MOI. IL
lad TO Relation 10 that territory. But in order n be
sure that there bad been 10 mistake Mr Clsyton an
pliSd 10 the Hon. VIM. Z. King then Chairman Of tho
Scna'es Committee Of Foreign Affars, which Conqt.
tee Lad necessarily Lad Charge Of tue Treaty willie be-
fore the Senate, and asked hin, Did or did not the
Senate rn1arsfon1 in v..;fr;,, ,ba T-... #. =.