The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-06-12
The Central American Difficulty.


Mr. Dallas, dated on the cath of May, on
the subject Of the differences of opinion be.
tween the British Government aud that Of
the United States, regarding the construc-
ton and effect of the convention Of the 18th
OF April, 1850. and the subject of Central
America generally; and stating 10 Mr.. Dal-
las the views which the President enter
ta'ns OF that question as it now stands, in
| order that he may communicate the same
to the Earl of Clarendon. There has been
no direct communication between the two
governments on the main subject since the
letter of Mr.. Buchanan 10 Mr.. Clarendon.
IN September last, his Lordships's reply on
the 2Sth OF the same month, and the brief
reJoinder Of Mr.. Buchanan or the 4th of
the following October. The President. il
appears, would have been better satisfied it.
IN expressing the conviction that all obsta.
cies TO satisfactory adjustment of the con-
troyersy might with a concliatory spirit on
both sides be overcome, Lord Clarendon
had been pleased 10 Indicate the means
which in his judgment were calculated TO
produce so favorable a consummation. For
want of this the President was left to con
lecture the precise idea of Her Majesty's
Government. He could not he certain his
conjecture concerning it was well founded;
but he was induced by certain collateral ac-
cidents which have occurred TO infer it was
by no arbitration by n third power of the
difference between the two governments
relative to Central America
Mr. Marcy says it would be superlluous
10 dwell on the regret which the President
entertains that proposition of this nature,
winch der M"Jesty's government intended
rs final one, was not presented at the
commencement, and in such Il shape as 10
have attracted to and fixed upon it the at
tention of this government. Lord Cafen-
don seems TO assume that the difference be-
tween the two countries is merely of the
Interpretation of the convention of 1850
But 1t is not so understood by this govern
mept, which does not understand that at
the date Of the treaty Great Britain had
any possessions or occupied any Territory
in Central America unless the British es
Enlistment at tie Balize, with its depen-
dencies, as the same are defined by her
treaties with Spain, are TO be considered as
British possessions in Central America
That is the only possible construction of the
declarations exchanged between Messrs
Clayton and Bulwer at the time of ex-
changing the ratification of the couvention
Aster reviewing Great Britain's preten-
sions Mr.. Marcy says: And If is now con-
tended by the British government that in
the name Of the Mosquito Indians Great
Britain may take with military force and
hold San Juan Nicaragua, or any other
point in Contra. America, such pretcnsions
H.,
ideas of the independence or nuetrality OF
the lsthmus rs To render the convention
worse than nuTatory 10 the United States.
Instead of submitting TO arbitration pre,en-
sions involving such consequences, or in
any other way consenting torestore effect 10
the treaty with such possible construction, il
would, in the judgment of the President,
be lns duty to propose its annulRent, so as
10 release the United States from oblioa.
tions not attended by any benefits; and
which Obligations thus Intentionally incur,
they having entered into treaty upon the
supposltion that absolute reciprocity Of ie-
striction was incurred 10y Great Britain.
The President says he cannot do any
thing which could be taken to admit, either
directly or implicitly that there is ques
ton IN his mind relative to the true con.
struction of that convention, and he feels
bound 10 take care ,hat in entertaining
the proposition Of arbitration lie shall not
be understood as actuated by the slightest
feeling Of distruSt regarding the treaty
rights of the United States. But the
President is not prepared TO say that some
of the questions in fac. concerning which
the two governments differ may not be
conveniently determined 10y arbitration, on
by some analogous method. OF this class
OF objects OF inquiry, is the question
What are the righItul limits of the estab
lishment at the Baize on the side of the
State OF Honduras! The question whether
the Bay Islands 30 or do not belong To
that Republic, and the question: What
extent of country is embraced in the tenn
Mosquito coast, or is in the actual occupancy
of the Mosquito Indians, or consideredas
Indians; and with such territorial rights
only as that description of persons are en-
titled 10 claim, according TO the establish.
ed public law Of Great Britain and of the
United States, and Of Spain, or Of the in
dependent States which have succeeded
Spain Ill America, remembering that no
power exists on the part of Great Britain
and the United States to dispose Of the
sovereign rights of Nicaragua, or any other
State of Central America!
Mr.. Marcy concludes rs follows: All
these questions Of political geography, re.
gard in the first instance the sovereignty
and jurisdiction of the Independent States
of Central America. Great Britain and
the United States had no pretensions thus
to intervene: except for the purpose Of de.
fining their own mutual obligations arising
out of engag ements they may have con
tfacted in order TO insure, as fai rs they are
concerned, the neutrality and independence
OF the American Isthmus. Regarded only
as collateral considerations, affecting the
construction of treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, these are ques-
tons, which if not determined by agree.