New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-05
THE CLAYTON AND BULWER TREATY.
OPINION OF REyERDY JOHNSON.

WAsHISGroS, Dec. &c. 1853.
Hon. JOHN NJ. CLAYTON, u. s. Senate
Ny Dear Sir: cannot hesitate to comply with Your 70.
quest 10 give you my opinion the construction Of the
Treaty Of Washington OF 10Th April, 1850 Pending the
negotiation Of this treaty exerted myself in personal con
ierences with Sir Henry l.. Bulwer to bring about
agreement between You and him. and several occasions
had the honor be consulted by you both particularly
in reference the declarations made both sides at or
about the time of the exchange of notifications.
In the first 6raught Of the first article of the treaty pre-
scented by you for the consideration Of the President the
contracting parties obligated occupy or fort
ify COLOMBO assume exercise any dominion
Nicaragua Costa Rica the Mosquito Coast any part Of
Central Americs. thought then, you did thai these
words were sufficient exclude any nation disposed to
observe the faith Of treaties from occupying terrifying
colonizng assuming exercising any dominion under
any pretext for any purpose si think SO but renem
Der well that other gentlemen who consulted the
time desired, from abundant caution that Great Britain
should pledge herself not 10 make OF any protection
which she afforded might afford, any alliance which
;s S. hsS s o. r SS Of r.U nor %
s.ns dcniOs over tha, sOuntry AID In hs PREV
ohee>of this s explicitly dsarn the Mosquito Pro
Nv ov opinion then provision wa.
oS a. 81 81 a !S1 ssS. S % M BS o o. Gs
tive al could only render them oreiSe ,aa
tsd IS they esHy aid Of themselves the doing say Psea.
lar acts specified an express that pch acts ,aoaa not b
all effectively and absolutely 10 prohibit them
IN, opinion t the treaty did sseesu.y Al aisEis .aa
s'.@ the British IN SsEt5 asIe asd he
i thought Advisable do IA 4sisslaS ssrbI"
All that desired By extnsa sh Britain dominion over
hst eounify whether held dec indirectly whether claimed
y Great Britain IN her right right Of the Indians Bat
Government had motive and desire 70 prevea Great bta
from performing % the duties which charity Soa for
fallen might dictate her deprive
70 interfere tie extent in the hlnsny We
designed to Do anything which could enable the Of this
mseAhle remnant Of Indians butcher them and
ought that bosh Great Britain United owed
their hish character of civilization humanity Interfere
in their behalf to mt the exrpson u the the
puon Of them from the lands thy oceapied without
Ing BY resDshe indemnity the Indian title according the ras
Of justice which have been admitted both tbs EagA
and ourselves But did intend snA tbs treaty e0a.
sns thing for that that coai be dFedl
20 prevent the British Government from using armed with
oai consent within the prohibited under
Of her pretended proteeorste And when
done y He0n my resaos.eiy lawyer Snd the legal
sdVse Of the Prden the tine that -dgne1i
eesa not be more properly ana .ArSoy setsd for
purpose than that which employed when
IL has been ssd bat can barely seedit II that GreA st.r
contends virtue Of the pATeoogy Of tie last part Of the
article incidentally speaking Of the prote0a .Aeh either
that the aeknow edge the proeeforate The
Inosrs equally sefnc~edses s.y pFsesiSrAe the
SANE NesrSsuA STATE which eAoos
70 protect The words apply 20 boh parties sai IL q
rad ruls that does net WORK equally to eoth re Moment
ihTtsers with 70 dsfend the iz9Aas AID
to virtue Of the clam
by With ecuA justice the rgtt ttks
ans IL defense HoESurs csAgua Bat iaisn
he t4esy -hieh pesotll P1poss aea b0h &
Crest pri United Il. sGhf lntse BY r,:
sssA iss Ssss Es7psss sHsspt ,,