Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-11-17
The Clayton nnl Rulwer Treaty.

The rumor of the abandonment Of the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty is very coufi.
IDENTITY asserted by the Washington cores
pondents, and the stoty has all the marks
Of consistency and probability. Lord Pal.
merson, it is stated, has at length, after
two years solicitation for decision, ex-
pllcitly declared that Her Majesty's Gov
ernmen. will not conform to the Clayton
aud Bulwer treaty-wlll not abandon the
new co!2nY of the Bay Islands-will not
recognize the old political boundaries Of
the Central American Republic as those
lntened by the Treaty, aud will not relin.
guish the protectorate Of the Musquiio In
dams II will be remembered that about
two years ago despatch from Lord Car-
rndon found its way to the public, in
which that Minister, on behalf OF the
Aberdeen Cabinet, re-asseIted pretrnsions
respecting Central America which this
government supposed had beeu finally
disposed Of and conceded By the treaty OF
1850. That despatch the correspondent
of the New York Enquirer says. formed
part Of correspondence in which Gov
ernor Marcy had distinctly stated the fol-
lowing propositions:
1st. The treaty of 1850 binds the Uni
ted States aud Great Britain equally hot to
colonize, tortify,. or in any respect acquire
or appropriate Central America or an,
part OF it, The American Government is
bound by that stipulation not to seek
to annex those Safes, nor to subvert
their independence. THIS oblga ton will
be faithfully observed.
ID. The obligation Is mutual. 1t has
been violated by Great Britain in occu-
plying the Bay OF Islands, and in refusing
TO surrender BY a distinct act oil the Gov
eminent the protectefate formerly asst rted
and exercised over the Musquito coast.
81. A perfectly good understanding be-
tween the countries requires that these
causes Of disagreement be removed. To
that end this government proposes the dis
contlnuance Of the above COLONY, and the
formal REIMBURSEMENT Of the protectorate.
As an alternative 10 the rejection of these
propositions, this Government would con-
sid.,r herself released from the equivalent
obligations. and would proceed to trea,
with the governments Of the Central
American States, precisely as # the treaty
had not been formed.
These proposition have been discussed
and expounded BY Mr. Marcy aud Buc-
hanan with grsas ability. Lord Palmer
ston has taken the responsibility of reject.
ing them, and the alternative has conse.
quently taken effect. The Clay ton and
Bulwer treaty is. therefore, repudiated by
both governments, and 10 longer exists. -
OF course that reputation releases the
United States from its obligation not to an
mex any portion of South America, aud
should the enterprises Of Walker and
Kinney result in the subjugation Of por-
tlons of the South American States, the
question Of annexation will undoubtedly
come up and have to be decided with ref
erence to the wishes Of our own peopI.
and the opposition which England is like
ly 20 offer. II Will no doubt meet with an
energetic protest III both quarters, but for.
eign interference will be- more likely to
benefit than damage the cause Of annexa-
ti0nists.