The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-28
Correspondent of the Journal OF Commercc)
The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Is.

The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty is neither
abrogated nor at an end, in consequence
Of the disagreement between the VI gov
ernments as to its Interpretation. The
negotiation concerning its construction is
suspended; but is subject to resumption at
any time. But government has rejected
the British Interpretation, and failed to
establish its own; and will not under the
present Administration, be likely to mod
ify its demands. The mode of q formal
abrogation of a Treaty will be found in
the Act abrogating the Treaty of ITS
with France, and the Act itself embodies
the reason for it, viz. that the Treaty had
been violated by the French government.
A similar Act may be proposed by Pres
ident Pierce, but | have no special reason
for the belief that this measure has yet
been decided upon, or that there is any ur-
gent reason for it, at present.
The chief difficulty lies in the extension
of British jurisdiction over the Bayislands,
and especially Of the Island Of Ruatan,
which our government considers a palpa-
BILE violation of the lotter and spirit of the
Treaty, and entirely inconsistent with
President Picrce'e re-assertion O. the Mon
roe doctrine.
The history of the British claim to Rua-
tan is briefly as follows:-It was taken by
English pirates in lG50-retaken subse-
qucntly by Spain, and again taken posses
sion of by England in 1742, and then
fortified. In 1890 the English were dis
lodged by forces sent from Guatemala.
In 1896 the English again became masters
of it, hut held it only for a year The
British commander of the garrison at the
Belize seized upon the Island in 1880,
but the act was subsequently, upon the
complaint Of Honduras, disavowed. 1t
was again taken possession of in 1871 by
Col. Alexander Mcdonald, Her Majesty's
Superintendent in Honduras, who hauled
down the flag Of the republic of Honduras,
and hoistcd that great Britain in its stead.
The island was taken by Great Britain
without any right to it, no less than five
times, and the last time as late as 1852.
The tone held by President Taylor'S
Message i'll 1850, tended to check for a
while the rapid encroachments Of Great
Britain upon Central America; and both
Governments undertook, in view of the i'm
portauce to the world ofthe Isthmus transit,
amicabIy to arrange the matter; but 1t has
been, 80 far successful.
Great Britain has possessed herself OF
the actual sovereignty of territories on the
northern shore Of Honduras, extending
over twenty thousand square miles, cxciu-
sive of the islands and keys. The Ruatan
island contains 10000 acres of fertile
soil. In Yucatan, Great Britain has OBJ
tanned possession of additional territory.
to the extent of 5000 square miles
Add to this the protectorate OF the
Misouito understanding five hundred
miles from the Roman river to the CHR
qui Lagoon, aud embracing $1,000 spare
miles-and the result is that Great Britain
now has practical possession of about SIX
tv square miles in Central America, or
one third of the whole. That she intends
to hold all she has got, is now certain;
and circumstances are very favorable TO
her acquisition of all the rest---and that,
too, in the face and eyes of the Monroe
doctrine, to say nothing Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
The difficulty has been aggravated by
the expedition of Walter and Kinney, and
this may be a prctext for further British
rretcntions. But our own government