The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-03

her object. predeterminanon 70 interfere with
airs thus manifested win render he ,ntinuance of our
smicase relations with her precs ricus.
am, sir, respectfully yovr oOsd'snt servant, .1cv
Mr. BUCHANAN TO MR.. MARCY.
Isaarlos OF rm Uxmp STATES,
LONDON. July 70, 1855. I
SRl have the konor to transmit 70 you copy OF my
remarks in reply to Lord Carendons statement o. May
1854 the original having been sent to his ordshp on the
Yosrs, very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN.
BON. W. L. MARCY &c, &s., &c.
REMARKS IN REPLY TO LORD CLARENDONS STATE
MENT OF MAY q 1854
II would not necessary to extend these remarks
by pointing out what might be deemed inaccuracies in
Mr. Buchanans statement of 9th January 1854, Of
the order which these points have been presented 1t
is sufficient TO observe that the sixth and last point Of
vention of April 49, 1850, and which was the first dis
cussed in Mr. Bnchanan's statement being by lar the
most important, it is entitled to precedence.
The American government cordially reciproca'es the
desire expressed by that of Great Britain to hve on
intimate and friendly relations with the United States
Strong bonds OF interests and affinity ought to unite the
two naops in perpetual peace and friendship
Mr.. Buchanan therefore deplores the unhappy nisun-
Outstanding which exists between them in regard to the
construction Of convention which i was believed on
the part of The American government would terminate all
their pre.exisng difficulties in Central America. How
unfortur ate would it be if this convention instead
settling should only mpcate these difficulties.
In replying to the British statement while 1t has be-
has failed to carry into elect the provisions OF the con-
venticn-a subject in its nature ntrinscay decate-he
will endeavor 10 perform the ASK IN manner CONSISTENT
with the exalted respect which he entersains for Great
Britain.
The rights and the duties of the parties must be regu-
lated by the first article Of the convention OF the 18th
April 1850 and these observations shall therefore, De
primarily directed to the ascertanmen of its true
ar s Of the
In the of these remarks it is proposed % main
tain that this article requires Great Britain t, with
Oval nth Ra
Islands, the Mosquito coast and the territory between
the sibun and the Sarstoon the Belize settlement will
demand a separate consideration.
What then is the fair construction Of the artcleY IL
embraces ohjects-1st 1t declares that neither OF
the parties shall acquire exclusive control over
the ship canal to be constructed between the Atlantic
and the Pacific by the Of the river San Juan de
Nicaragua and that neither of them shall ever erect or
maintain any fortcations commanding the same, or IN
the vicinity thereof In regard to this stipulation no dis
agreement is known to exist between the parties But
the article proceeds further It's mutually self denying
policy and in the second place declares that neither OF
the parties will OCCUPY fJry, or coonize or as
sumo exercise any dominion over Nicaragua Costa
Rss, the Mosquito coast, any part Of Central Ame
rcan
We now reach the true poipt Does this language
auire that Great Britain shall withdraw from her exist
ing possessions in Central America including the Mos
quito coastf' The language peculiarly app cable to
this coast will find more appropriate place 10 sub
sequent portion Of these remarks.
II any individual enters into q solemn and explicit
agreement that he will occupy any given tract OF
country then actually occupied by him. can any propo-
son be clearer than that he bound by bis agree eat
10 withdraw from such occupAncys Were this not the
these words would have meaning and the agree
effects It would to confirmation q the party in
the Of that very territory which he had bound
hime not TO occupy and would practically De equiva-
contradiction in terms. 1t is difficult to comnens
which appears plain or to ofsr arguments
10 prove that the meaning OF words not directly oppo-
site their well known signifc alton.
And yet the British government consider that the
in.ereies with none Of their existing
in n
nature, arc merely prohibits them from making new ac
qusiions. II this be the case, then it to
gnon OF their right the part of the American gov
elpmept to an the possessions which they already hold
whilst United STATES have bound themselves by the
very same instrument never under any crcums es
10 acquire tie Of foot of territory n Cen
America. Tie mutually of the convention would thus
be entirely destroyed and whilst Great Br ain may
time to hold nearly the wi ole eastern coast Of Central
America the United States have abandoned the right for
all future time to acquire any territory receive ioo
the American Union any ct the States In theic portion Of
their eminent This self imposed prohibition
The oection 10 the treay in the United states a.
the 1irne Of its conclusion and poserfuly urged by
some Of the rest the country. Had ten been
nae that wills il prohibited the United States from
acquiring territory under any possible cir:umstances in
portion Of country through which their thoroaghiare
10 California ani 0rg must pass the convention at tue
Time emitted Great Britai1 to remain 10 the
tarcy Of al her existing sessions in that REGION Mr.
Buchanan the confident conviction that Their,
would have zen a single vote in the American Sc
nate ia favor Of its ratification In every discussion l.
ken for granted that the convention required Grea,
place the parties qualiy Central Anaerica
Upon this construction the convention there uitt
great urani Ct opinion existed in the HOUSE
q Lords that the convention with Spain 1856 luec
Great Britain to Withdraw from the Musquito protecto
rate.
There the strongest believe that the same
construction placed upon the convention by the
government OF Great Britain, AZ the time OF It's concu
sion. If this the case why these strenuous
efors. before the affiliations exchanged to have
the British settlement OF Belize especially excepted from
its oreratonY Upon the opposite construction Of thu
II tnL ,1av IA,
tbat settlement under lis protection and thus secur
Great Britain in its occupancy
The concuct of the government OF Great Britain th
occa ion be satisfactorily accounted for only thu
principle that peroeviug the language Of the convention
30 &c sufficiently explicit and rehensive to
Belize they must have maze these efforts to prevent thu
Iecessity Of their withdra wal from that settlement Ant
ae atemp made to except any other of their pos
sessions IRON its operation, the rule that erpresso
t actusio d5erus, applies TO The case and
admission tina. they bound to withdraw from al
their other Contra American possessions.
II this % the true construction of the convention.
well its rnaDest spirit, then let apply it to the o5
jects it nte.ded embrace. And first Of Rustan-
thus for the present, ourselves from the
Mosquito Prote :forate.
II depied by the British statement thai Rua.an
" is clearly Central American island ana ba. thirty
niles distant from the (Honduras) port Of ruxi.lo In
deco, i. impossible that this could be deniei Why
then is this island not embraced by this convection
The only given for IL is the allegation that Ruaar
sni he eiacent Islands dependencies Of Belize
pr elected from the operation Of the Convention oJ
Mr. Clay tom declaration If the 4th July 1850 Now
is binding the United States to what does it IN.
ts La guage is very explicit. The convention
Understood by either Of the Negotiations says Mr. Clay
tod, 'to ineiuSe the Bri ish settem Honduras
Commonly called British Honduras distinct from
State If Honduras 10 the small islands in the neigh
oIhood # that settlement which may be known a. Ia
dependences.n
Ihe all islands in the neghborhood Of that settle
mebt" What are they Thee undoubtedly Cay
Casirs and " the cluster OF small ilsnds on the
at the distance Of "threa leagues from the Rve
Sivun," particularly specified in the Dfihh c,n
,ents with Spain " 1885. Indeed, the sans
construction you'd clearly IN have been u4eed upar
this convention by the Bfih Mini ter at Washington
in his letter Mr. Clayton of the It'll of January 1854
copy OF which is doubtless in the possession II Lort
Clarer don. 1t would be strange construct N Of
Cayton's carefully guarded language 10 IKE oils snai
islands he neig hood embrace the conpa aivsl
large very iInptrian. island OF Rustan with is
ceien barbots, not in the neghborhood but hundred
Of miles Giftani; isaDd represened as the key
The bay Of Honduras. and the cus Of the trade Of
boring countries which nsiders bly, larger
coiding 10 Captain Henderson, than many OF tie Wef
India isaIds in cuSvation and in its soil and Iatura
advantages not inferior to any of thes. This woui b.
to make he dependency FAR more valuable than Tho