The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-13


paragraph. where the writer honesty says The well
lare OF my country. and desire Of lis obtaining the
troll OF desirable spot in the commercial world, and
free from the competition OF adventurous race as
the North Americans, impel 10 address your lord
ship with such freedom"
Even before the termination OF war, but when It's
suit and the acquisition OF territory il was sure to bring
the United States became manifest on the 18th of Feb
Iuary, ls4S, British force landed at the port OF San
Juan, and driving out the authorities OF Nicaragua. where
they had been undsturbed for twelve years. took posses
sion OF that important point And this policy she has
pursued steadily she could without coming into direct
conflict with Honduras is not only extended but held
IN absolute sovereignty and an insular colony TO the
south OF has been established in the face OF all these
dlsavowas, and in the face also OF the treaty with
And allow to remark, that in bis historical and geo
graphical Investigations into the extent OF Central Amer-
ca and into the question whether British Honduras makes
part OF It, the senator from Delaware has avoided very
prominent and marked circumstance in all these TRANSACT
lions Great Britain is IN possession OIL and claims, re-
gons which no geographe no statesman, no map ever
denied were 10 Central America His argument touches
merely the small district of Belize the OF which was
granted, we have seem by Spain to England for GER
few miles from the Belize Not word can be found
in any arrangement between SPAN and England, nor IN
any claim actually set by the latter usying her pos
session of any territory south Of that river And Is TO
this narrow district and nothing that the respecta-
Bile authorities, quoted by the senator, REFER when they
speak OF the Belize settlement making part OF Yucalan
Sarso0n river by some maps, which IS as clearly IN The
State of Guatemala the James river is in Virginia. and
the coast suppose, little short OF two hundred miles.
And she has seized and retained islands, and formed them
into colony, which least three hundred miles from
Belize, lying OIL and believe, in sight OF the coast OF
the State of Honduras and much within her limits
Long Island ia within those OF New York. The most
valuable of these islands, Roatan. in 1904 pro-
nounced by Colonel Henderson, the English command
ant at the Belize, sent 10 examine IT, TO belong TO Spain
But in 1880 il seized by the British superintendent OF
the settlement in that spirit OF utter disregard OF ex-
listing and acknowledged rights which marks the progress
strances from the government OF Central America then
united and powerful. was restored TO Honduras But
it Is too important naval station in those seas to be
finally abandoned merely upon question OF justice, and
il again taken possession OF by British force in
is4l and small military deachpeni belonging to Hon;
now England claims IL, with Sonnacca, Uua, NC, as
an integral portion OF her empire. Whatever opinion,
therefore, may be formed of the position assumed by the
senator from Deawarethat the original Belize settle
ment is in Yucaan, and not in Central America-it is
beyond controversy that the later encoachmens of Eng
land the territories OF the Central American States
Whether they secured to her, beyond the reach Of
our action, by the understanding" OF the negotiaors
must leave the senator from Delaware 10 explain |
trust notl contend not but it is strange circumstance,
this appeal from written treaty to the memory and in
tentOn OF it's trainers.
But the whole subject has now assumed very grave
aspecso grave. indeed that the course OF the negoa-
ton and the conduct OF the negotiaors reduced TO
comparative nsgnifcance. No mistake the des-
patches OF Lord Clarendon. While sufficiently courteous
in their expressions there an air OF firm determination
spread over them, which leaves doubt OF the liked pur
pose Of the English government. We have the chart
by which they to sail, and whether we are in the
way or out OF the way, their voyage is 10 be onward,
turning neither to the right nor to the lett do not see
that they have given up single reasonably founded
preension and even the recognition OF the eto gov
eminent OF Graytown, which the senator IRON Delaware
refers 10 with appreciation, not the result OF the treaty
engagements, but, Lord Clarendon states of subse
quent arrangement entered into between the two gov
crnmens'-an arrangement which consider very I'M
provdent one, and most unfortunate 10 the
preiensions OF England Oar duty and our policy were
the faithful performance of its slipulaons but not TO
have made temporary adjustment OF partial question
by that very actadmng the right OF England to inter-
ere in the OF Central Amercainstead OF with
drawing from them, the treaty requires But this
rangement is mere expeden, which, however, Lord
Clarendon says. "Great Britain has intention OF dis
turbing or departing fom-l presume. till II is her IN
teres, 10 do So
Mr. President. the nsg ating motive, il may speak,
OF the Clayton .Balwer treaty TO 10 the par
ties. 10 the commercial world, indeed the undsturbed
OF inter across The terrific
res OF Central America With that view, they muu
ally nerdcled TO themselves all right OF exclusive
rol The canal, well all right to establish
maintain Notifications commanding the line OF its
But Il they had stopped there, the work would have
been but half done Each party was maniiesty DESTROYS
OF excluding the other from The OF exeng
trolling influence the feeble governments OF that
gion, by which in peace serious enbarrassmens might
be thrown in the way OF their transit, and in war any
hostile attempt 10 seize and hold this great highway
would be facilitated and might be rendered successful
And 10 conformity with this policy, the introduction upon
the political action OF these parties went much beyond
the line OF the canal The treaty provided for but
route from San Juan. with right 10 reach The Pacific,
either by Lake Nicaragua or by Lake Managua and It's
specific sipuaions apply to the route thus described
But The natural restrictions extend FAR beyond this
district, 10 the whole of the vast regions known
Central America, stretching hundreds oil miles beyond
this line, and where, OF course, no fortified position
could act upon H. The extensive possessions OF Gnaie-
mala covered by the treaty; but il makes provision
for canal there. Why this cautious and jealous inter-
dic,ion OF power various countries, be pene-
.fad hy fh al
political influence, easily converted by enc party to ITS
own interests and to the injury OF the other To place
these young political communities, closely connected
with another beyond the control OF either of these
two great powers. was the evident object OF this
ven,on aDd furnishes the true key 10 the construction
OF lis language And now unworthy attempt is made
by of them-I cali by no milder ,erm--io
fn,'er away the real meaning OF the convention and to
establish the preienson TO march ia forces into that
Try at pieasurefo preexis under the OF an al
lance" OF preteciora,e" will he wanting
and thus 10 defeai ITS own obligations.
am not speaking, in this connection. of the rights
sulling from state OF war. OF course that condition
between England and any of the Central American re-
pubcs leaves either party al liberty 10 apply lis forces at
pleasure. But even then the neutrality and free use of
the canal guaranteed 10 the commerce OF the world
But am speaking OF sale OF peace, during which the
treaty says the contracting powers you shall not occu
py, nor fory, nor colombo, nor assume exercise
any dominion over any part OF Central America. One
would think there were peonasms enough here 10 keep
that region Tree from The grasp of the great powers
Boz no, says the British government through its prnc
pie law adviser in questions OF foreign intercourse the
Queens advocate, rhe fret article expressly recognises
the fact that Great Britain has and may have alliances
WITH and Affords and may afford, protection to States and
neoplp n Central America. and only hat