Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-09-05
Final Settlement of the Central American
Question


Islands Coded to Honduras The Mosquito Prctec-
torate Abondoned
The New York Herald contains letter dated Lon
don, Aug Is, announcing the definite settlement of
the Central American Question, by treaty which,
it alledged has been arranged between Lord Claren
don and Sr. Don Victor Heron, Plenipotentiary of
Honduras IN London. The writer says:
The treaties drawn up by these negotiators have
already been signed, and consist: First of general
treaty OF amity and commerce. Second, of a conyen-
ton tor the adjustment of all claims of British sub
lecs on the Government of Honduras and for the ex
tnction of any Indian (Mosquo) titles within the
territories recognized as pertaining to Honduras and
third, convention for the restoration to the soyer
eighty of Honduras OF the Bay Islands
The convention for the restoration of the Bav ia
lands is that which, from the circumstances of their
occupation and colonization by Great Britain having
been regarded in the United States as fragrant vic.
lahon OF the Clayton and Bulwer convention first
claims attention, and will excite much interest The
convention restores these islands 10 the sovereignty
OF Honduras only STIMULATING, behalf of the peo-
pie who have established themselves there under the
British occupancy, the perpetual enjoyment of GER
tain rights and privileges The ground upon which
the restoration is made is the importance of preserv-
ing neutral the route of the proposed inter-oceanc
| railway through Honduras Art. sets forth:
Taking into consideration the peculiar ;opographi.
cal position of Honduras, and in order 10 secure the
neutrality OF the islands adjacent thereto with refer
ence to the proposed inter oceanic railway across the
are placed by mutual agreement under the sovereign.
ty OF the republic of Honduras.
The inhabitants already established there are-I
To govern themselves by means of their own munich
pal government, to be administered by Legislative
executive and Judicial officers of their own election
according to their own regulations g. Trial bv iurv
IN their courts. g. Perfect freedom of religious
! belief and worship, public and private. f. Exemp-
ton from all taxation real estate other property
except such as may be imposed by their own munici-
Ina rollo oil
| to be applied to the common benefit. s. Exemption
from military service, except for their own Defence
J he republic OF Honduras engages not to exercise
It's rights OF sovereignty in any to violate the
rights and mmunities specified in this article The
republic OF Honduras also engages not to erect nor
permit TO be erected any Notifications on said islands,
or any others in the Bay of Honduras, nor cede such
islands, any of them, the right of sovereignty
over them, or any part OF such sovereignty to any
nation or State whatsoever.
Art. II. The contracting parties agree to commu
nicate the present convention to all other maritime
powers, and to invite them to accede to it,
This is the total of the convention touching the
{" Colony of the Bay Islands," which thus disappears
from the list of British colonies, and devoves to it's
legitimate owner, Honduras. The stpulations con-
corning religious freedom and trial by jury are thus
forced on Honduras, and furnish the germs from
which those eminentIy AngloSaxon ideas or insti-
tuIons must soon spread to the main land-the soon
er the better
The second convention provides for the establish
ment of board of three arbitrators-one to be nam
ed by the English government, the second by that of
Honduras and the third to be chosen by the two
thus named. He must not be a British subject, a
citizen OF Central America of the United States
This commission is TO hear and decide on all claims
as between British subjects and the republic of Hon.
duras and lis decision is TO be final and without
appeal.
The limits of Honduras are recognized as extending
10 Cape Gracios Dios, and the Rio Wanks or Lego
ria on the south; but if the Commission of Arbra-
ton find that there any Mosquito Indians in the
territory above that river, they to decide upon
the time when such Indians shall withdraw from it,
and the amount of the annuity meantime to be paid
to them IN consideration of such withdrawal.
The treaty OF Smity, commerce and navigation
contains the usual stipuatons of such treaties with
an additional article of guaranteeing the neutrality
and protecting the independence of the proposed
great inter oceanic railway through Honduras.
The letter states that the terms of the arrangement
between Great Britain and Honduras only require the
approval of the Legislature of Honduras which will
be given, of course, and adds:
Ii should be observed that the government Of France
has agreed 10 the article guaranteeing the Honduras
railway, as an appendix to the treaty with Honduras
already existing. 1t is we'll understood that these
guarantees amount of public interest in this
, railway which ensures its speedy construction.
In respect to the remaining issue in the Central
. American complication, it has been agreed between
Lord Clarendon and Mr.. Dallas that the port of San
e Juan de Nicaragua (Greytown) shall return under
the sovereignty of Nicaragua, subject, however, tc
y the same stpulations with the Bay Islands, The
a Mosquito sovereignty, called is to disappear
forever, and the Mosquito Indians 10 concentrate
themselves within certain defined territory, within
: which they shall have, for term of years. such
poSsessory rights accorded to the Indians or
$ the American Indian reservations" Meantime
: they to en- Joy small annuity from the State o.
Nicaragua, to be fixed by arbitrators, who to bt
appointed in the same manner with those charged
with similar duties in Honduras.
In respect Belize, it is understood, Guatemala
e being in the English interest and not having made
q any complaints of British encroachments since the
menced in 1849, that, therefore, the limits of Belize
will be understood to be those which claimed at the
time of the ratification of the Bulwer-Clayton
0 lion in 1850, viz as extending southwark 10 TIT
e river Sarstoon.
/ Fillmore North.
1t is manifest that Mr.. Fillmore is regarded by
great portion of the North equally efficient ally
with Fremont, in resisting the constitutional rights
- | OF the South. His open denunciation of the repea
. of the Missouri Compromise line, indicates his anti
Southern sentiments and, but for his manifest weak
ness as a candidate, he would receive much larger
vote from the free-soil opponents of Mr.. Buchanan.
Geo T. Davis of Massachusetts,, has declined the
nomination of the Fillmore American Convention O
that State, for the Office of Attorney General-no
= because Mr. Fillmore does not represent his OBS
anti slavery sentiments, but because he wishes II
make his vote effective by casting it for Fremont, thu
II only formidable opponent of Buchanan. Here il
what Mr.. Davis says:
81 have great personal regard and respect for Mr.
Fillmore and great confidence in the national ant
y harmonizing influences, which, if elected, ne Wou
be likely to bring around him. But cannot resis
the conviction that the practical Of this election
Z IoJo of