The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-20
GREAT BRITAIN IN CENTRAL AMERICANA.

binary dispatches of the British ministers in justification
of these proceedings reminded of the defence Of
Robert Lord Give before parliamentary committee
raised to inquire into his acquisition of wealth
during his long official connexion with the affairs
Of Hindostan which resulted in founding the existing
British empire in India He described in vivid language
says Macaulay, athc situation in which his victory had
placed hm great prince dependent his pleasure;
opuen city afraid of being given up to plunder wealthy
bankers bidding against each other for his smiles vaults
filled with gold and jewels thrown open to him alone"
aBy Heavens Mr.. Chairman he exclaimed, "a This
ssent am astonshed at my moderation"
Let us take for instance the daring assumption by
which Lord Pamerston undertakes to destroy the claim Of
Nicaragua the Mosquito Shore in his letter to Mr. Cas-
ellon the charge daares Of Nicaragua in London, to
show how much indebted to Great Britain for not
more widely asserting this shameful principle.
Under the doctrine thus defantly proclaimed by pow
erul monarchy against almost defenceess republican
State Great Britain might have disregarded her first treaty
Of peace with the United States after the revolution by
taking American territory wherever the Indians had foot
hold in the original colonies We see Lord Palmerston
boldly asserting that the rights of discovery and the rights
Of ccesyul reVoluo under the former of which, at least
Great Britain continues to this day to hold some of her
valuable possessions should both give way in Gen.
trail America to the claim of wreched nest OF demi-sav-
agcs-which claim had any serious existence till
Great Britain for her ACKNOWLEDGEMENT sought to boil
ster up by the extraordinary logic to which we have adj
verted Considering that such principle if it is to be
honestly maintained may be enforced rs we have sug-
gesed by Great Britain at any time against the United
States wherever there is tribe Of Indians holding terri
tory to which the Indian title has not yet been extin
gused ought to be grateful to Lord Palmerston for
his moderation Doubtless like Robert Give he is him
self asonshed that when he could have obtained claimed
80 much, he has asked 20 hMlel
In age like this however, it is saddenng to see ma
on so proud and civilized that of England shield
ing her ambitious schemes behind dangerous and dishonest
like this There is not even pausibility in it.
The defence of Give better defence against wrong
for he had been brave and faithful servant Of the
Grown, and the enormous revenues that poured into
Ills own Golfers were showered, with much more pro-
fusion, into the treasury os his king But Nicaragua
was State wholly independent Of England The
latter had any rights upon Nicaraguan Central
American so--neber by discovery nor by occupation
no, nor by force Nicaragua was besides feeble and
struggling communicates more entitled to commiseraon
than conquest. 10 apply to her, therefore, doctrine
which Lord Pnlmcrston would not dream of applying any
where else Gods globe was stretch OF power wholly I'M
precedcntcd and novel, We submit this point to the con-
sideraon of those worthless who are at present joining
England in fearful sympathes over the recent affair at
Grcytown. And next, let ns see how far England has
followed her general policy in regard to Nicaragua in
other parts Central America The deliberations of free
institutions in the Old World by allied monarehcsthe
frequent botng out from the map of Europe of whole ma
tons-the division OF fair and ample territories between
combined and cruel oppressors achievements in which
England has not scrupled to play conspicuous part
have never been initiated upon the American continent
TILL within years past English ambition sought to re-
enact them upon the territory of the people Of Central
America The Greytown outrage of ls4s has been rapidly
followed by other examples.
We must recur here for moment to the iayton-Bul
wer treaty in order to disclose feature of English
policy in Central America. When that treaty per-
fected it was universally understood in this country o
nean the abandonment by Great Britain Of her protecorae
over the Mosquito territory but it appcarsand her
whole acton since the treaty proves that she insists that
the operation 81 Tie treaty to be pyo.pecr and NOT
frospecsetlat she bound by not to give up what
she had claimed and protected, and exercised dominion
over in Central America but that she only hereafter
to do none of these things in other parts of that region
Well has her progress the treaty made sustained
this construction Thus may the late British view Of that
convention be with The logic of Lord Palmerston
already referred to- They kindred arguments and
kindred wrongs. Now, let how far England has
carried out her idea of being rosepey bound by
the treaty
On the Sd of June l84s James Buchanan Secretary of
State IN his instructions Elijah ise esq appointed
United States charge daaire to Central America wrote
as follows
q The independence well the interests, Of the
tons the continent require that they should maintain
American system of policy entirely distinct from that which
prevails in Europe To suffer any interference the part
Of European with the domestic Of the
American people, permit them establish colonies
upon this continent would be leopard their independence
and ruin their interests"
July s. 1850, were exchanged at Washington the rati6-
cations OF treaty between the United States and Great
Britain the first article of which provided
The governments of Great Britain and the United States
neither The the other shall occupy, ortfy
co,onisc exercise any dominion over Mic
aragua Costa ca the Mosquito coast any part Of Central
america.
The of the Bay islands, being the most direct recent
aud offensive British violation of the treaty. respectfully
submit it to those whose generosity and honor just
much aroused by the attack Of Captain Holiins
upon the town of San juan inhabited it was by nest
ofpirstcs and naves who had been insulting and oungng
American citizens Mr. Clayton himself while the floor
defend his treaty against this humliatng consequence of
IT, expressed great doubt TO whether the uspation Of
the Bay islands by the English violation of the