The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-11-17
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON
Our Relations with Great Brit
tain.
The Clayton ana Bnlwef Treaty
AnnulIed The Central Ameri-
can Question Again Open.
WAsHIE1roK, Wednesday, Mo-


WAsHIEoroE, Wednesday, Nov. =.
We have stirring intelligence from Europe,
Mexico and Central America. The Govern
ment have received the full correspondence
between our Ministers in London and Lord
Clarendon onithe conflicting interpretations
OF the Clayton and Bulwer treaty. The gen.
eral result Is hal The celebrated arrangement
Is no more II is by mutual agreemehb or
rather disagreement, explained away. It
has disappeared in cloud of construction,
and is repudlated by common consent. In
the negotiation upon the question, both by
Mr. Marcy and Mr.. Buchanan have put
forth their highest ability, and have shown
themselves perfect masters of the art of di-
plomacy-more than a match, in fact, for
Clarendon and Palmerston combined, the
latter being. perhaps, the most acute and
adroit in Europe. not excepting the German
veterans, Metternich and Nesselrode. a.c
The Secretary of State, our Minister in
London, and this whole Administration
backed by every distinguished man Of the
Democratic party, have desired the abroga.
ton of the Convention of April 10, 1850,
and have labored to that end with assid1ity
ever since the inauguration of President
Pierce. This object is now practically
effected. In order to bring the British Gov
ernment to the desired point, Mr.. Marcy be
gan two years ago with very candid de-
claraton that the United States would faith
fully adhere to the treaty in every part, ant
while respecting the burdesome obligation
which is imposed upon us, not extend, under
any pretence whatever, the dominion OF ou
Republic over any portion of Central Amer
lea, we should require an equally strict com
pliance with the counterpart of this engage
mcnt which had been assumed by Grea
Britain. The latter government had seized
the Ruatan Islands, an insular dependency
Of Honduras, when member of the Cen
tral American Confederacy, and had con
tinued her protectorate over the Mosquit
Indians. We demanded that these infringe
meats upon the treaty should be corrected
that the Colony at Ruaton should be aban
doned. At the same it was represented tha
if those encroachments were continued, tht
United States woL Id consider the treaty, a,
to these and corresponding stipulations a
an end. Now it is well known that tn
sections against colonizing, occupying, for
tifying, and annexing the country, compris
the whole of the treaty that is Of any con
sequence. t.5
Mr.. Buchanan writes that the British Gov
ernment, being pressed by him, under in
structions, to give distinct answer to thes
demands of the American Government, ha
replied that she rejects them; without quail
fication.
The treaty, then, is at end. Our positio
towards Central America is just the sam
!. as if no treaty with great Britain had bee
made on the subject. 1t will now be til
object of the Administration to settle al
open questions directly with the America
Government concerned, and the sho rites
way of doing it may be found to be the
annexation, process which Honduras all
Nicaragua have earnestly requested US to q
dopt.
. No tears will b. shed over the somewha
early decease of the Clayton and Bulwc
! Treaty. The country was at one time di;
posed to regard it as u brilliant and usef,
democratic achievement; but the discover
of the secret protocol and Mr. Claytons ow
explanations dispelled that illusion. 1t wa
perhaps useful in one respect; it gained us
truce and enabled us to complete withot
molestation our communication with Caliio
, nia. 1t kept the peace until the breakin
out of the Eastern war.
e 1t is a fortunate circumstance that in tht
3 agreeing with our own to repudiate and la
aside this treaty, the British Government
places the whole controversy beyond tn
reach of hostile proceedings. The last dis
patch to Mr.. Buchanan from Lord Claren
don or Palmerston, for both are spoken G
having conducted the correspondence
said to be framed in the most friendly ton
towards the United States. AQUIDAY.