Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-06-03

Indians 1t cannot be alleged by her that those In.
dams constitute. or are competent to cunstitute n
independent State admissible such inn The fanny
of sovereign pow ers. Nor is it pretended by Gre"'
Britain that III the name OH behalf of those Indians
she herself can, without c0nravention of the treaty
assume or exercise political sovereignty in any phrl
of the Mosquito coast. Her Massty's government
considers itself under obligations nf honor TO pro:ec
the persons of those Indians, nothing more, ana dc
cnres that it is rendy and resrous 10 be relieved OF
that duty in any manner which shall honorahly as
sure the future condition Of those Indians Without
entering here into discussion of the question whether
the convictions of duty thus entertained by the BRIT
ieh government are we'll or il.fnundeG, il seems sum
ceni to say that there is nothing hat branch ut ths
subject which merits the solemny Of an arbitration
by sOme third power, or which ought to be regarded
as incapable Of being settled at any moment by d.
rect intercourse between the respective governments
| of Gea: Britain and the United States.
Nor is ii apprehendei that Her Maesty's govern
ment is disposed to claim possessnn, either III her
own name directly or in that OF the Mosquito protrc-
torate OF the port of San Juan de Nicaragua. II can
not but be admitted that that port was all old possess
sion Of Spain, her right to which as indisputab!e
ss to Vera Cruz Panama; that she had port OF
entry, and fort at or near that place. long as she
retained the sovereignty of Central Amerlca; ana
TINT thep her rights ut sovereignty there and ct Ter
ritorls possession, passed 10 the republic Of Centrai
America. 1t is true that, at subsequent period, ahd
shortly before the date of the treaty now in question:
a British force landed at San Juan, expelled the
authorities Of the State Of Nicaragua which then
held possession of it, and retained il for awhile, as
against that State in the name of the Mosquito In
dlans. Ii is true Great Britain afterwards relnqulsi-
cd the place to the called people of Greyown, but
the original taking Of il was her act-that is she IN
the words Of Lord Cla"andon, placed "a people under
| her protection in possession of San Juan. pro.
tectorshp exercised, aud in the name of such per-
| sons az the Mosquito Indians, wuuld, it ID PLAIN,
amount 20 practical errignty. If admissible ur-
der the name OF prutf ',orship, for of the con-
1
ly for the other; anc the United States might be
inpelled for controlling REASONS, und rtake cnun-
ter protecorshp OF means or other perSus III Cen
tru America. Ii is NOT imposed that Great Britain
desires to enter into any such line Of policy OF CON
hictng protSctorshps III That quarter contends Tor
any construction of the treaty leading suca conse-
quences, and, of COURSE, difficulty between the
two governments is apprehended on this point, any
mure than i'll regard To the general relation Of the
| trea 10 the Mosquito Indians.
Secondly As 10 the Belize. it being conceded that,
in pursuance of the explanations interchanged be.
tween Sir Henry Rulwer aud Mr.. Clayton. Great Bri
tain is not precIudsd by any stipulation with the
United States from continuing TO exercise at that
Enlistment oil the rights which she acquired from
Spain; II would seem, also, that there is nothing in
that part of the subject which it becomes the two 90
Yernnen,s to say TO the world that they cannot srt.
by themselves; for, although is common in English
books Of geography aud others to give TO ihe Belize
the appellailUn of British Honduras, s il 10 well
known 10 admit Of dispute that the Belize is not and
never was, any part OF Honduras. and her Mai-stys
Government will not. it is assumed as matter Of
course, found on mere name any preteusuns OF
tended territory in thar quarter, to the prejudice Of
the territorial Integrity of the republic uf HordurG,.
Finally, there remains the question of tho Bay
Islands, as 10 which there is Of controversy al
least IN appearance.
Iii due 10 perfect frankness 10 say that the act Of
her Majesty's Government establishing late as the
year 1907, and III apparent contradiction to the
press letter OF the convention Of 1851 colony Mt the
Bay Islands, has lett dsagreeube impression on the
minds Of The Government aud the people of the United
States.
Possessing, M Great Britain does, numerous colo.
NAL establishments IN all parts vi the world, many of
them IN Tbs West Indies; II Inns not been readily
wnAt Inducements OIL interest she have had Ia
abllsh Anuw colony, under the peculiar circumstances
OF the time, in the insignificant territory OF the Bay
Islands.
Nor, on looking back beyond the fnct or her Ma.
J-sfys warrant establishing the colony of the BAY
Islands, and considering the state of things existing
in that quarter al the date of the convention OF 1850
does this government well what ground it can
be maintained that Great Britain, at that time had
possession OF the Bay Islands, which could be deemed
rghtul, either RESPECTS her engagements with the
United States cr the territorial sovereignty Of the
public of Honduras.
do not understand the Earl OF Clarendon positive
ly that the Bay Islands are dependencies Of
the British settlement Ut the Belize. He indicates TO
be- sure an INCLINATION the part OF the British gov
eminent 10 MAINTAIN such claim, but he concedcs
at the same time, that it is "debatubl- question:
The President doUs not permit himself for mument
to entertain the idea that the Earl of Clarendon will
insist upon any claim Of right in Central America in.
compatible with the most sacred respect for all spu.
latI"s OF treaty, as understood by her Majestys gov
eminent. OF courss. he looks 10 what are the
tlghttul sources OF British title the Bay Islands
suggested by the Earl of CIerendon. Hy finds them
IN the 'staten-nt from the Foreign office OF May =
lS3i, as communicated Ia Nix. Buchanan, and BY him
transmitted TO ths department
E,,',.
that Ruaan was claimed and miiitarily occupied By
the former republic of Central America as successor
10 e rights Of Spain, but ASSERTS, al III. time.
niv"r.r British claim Manifested hy oi nu;hnri.
y, military aud civil. aud by actual pos ...sirn.
Occasional acts uf military authority By the cap
tains Of British thips.ot Of civil authority Gy
tho superintendent of the Belize, Insufficient II s
obvious, TO determine claim Of title rs against the
counter.clam OF the republic Of Central America or
the State of Honduras. No rc!inGushment o, title
by the latter ID alleged except in certain declarations
reported to have been made by the Central American
commandment at Tru1O, who, whatever he may have
said could have power to cede away the territory
of Honduras.
The occupation Of Ruatan by British subjects, as
its origin aud character described in the "sate-
ments presents Of the conditions Of righttul
possession. Its language on that point is: "Ruatan
has been of late years, without any insilga;on On the
part of her Majesty government spontaneously &C.
cupied by British SUBJECTS" IL is not presumabe
that the spontaneous occupation of Runtan by Britain
SUBJECTS without instgation on the part OF her Ma
jesty't gOvernmen-that is an act Of mere invasion
by unauthorized private persons-wl be parsever
iugy insisted upon by the Earl OF Clarendon as the
foundation Of claim by Great Britain to the sove.
reignty even the riGhtlul possession, of the Bay
Islands.
1t cannot have escaped the attention Of Her Ma
i"sty's government that the political condition OF the
Belize, fixed by treaties, is not itself one of terrific.
rio! sovereignty, and therefore Great Britain never
could have acquired in the right Of the Belize. aud as
assumed dependencies thereof, the territorial sOve-
reignty OF the Bay Islands.
In word, this government believes that the Bay
Islands belong to the State Of Honduras, and that,
therefore, the occupation OF hem and still more their
colonization by Great Britain. arc contrary to the
tenor OF her treaty with the United States, as being
the occupation nnd colonization OF part Of Central
America.
But the British government thinks differently, and
upon the question whether the Bay Islands are sub
jet to occupation and colonization by Great Britain,
Notwithstanding her treaty with the United States, the
two governments ure at issus.
Upon this retrospect of the several points OF differ
euce between the twu g"vcrnn-Hts the President is
not able 10 perceive that any useful result would en-
sue to either from calling on Il third power 10 say
whether tho convention i'd ia prospective in lis
operation. in the of that idea expressed by
Her Majestys governments Tor, if that question
should by any possibility happen to be resolved IN
favor of Great Britain, ali The substantial points Of
difference between the two countries would remain
untouched rs being wholly independent OF that quss
ton of construction The dispute would still exist
to what rightiu possessions, at the date of the
convention, Great Britain actually had in Central
America.
And if it is now contended by the British govern
ment ;hat, in the name Of the Mosquito" Indians:
Great Britain may take with military force, aud
hold San JUN de Nicaragua, or any other point III
Central America such prpenson would be NO total
y irrecunciIahe with ali idea of the Independence or
neutrality of the Gsthmus to render the convention
that nugn;ory to the United States. Instead Of
submitting to arbitration preension involving such
consequences, any other way conserving TO restore
effect the treaty with such possible construction, 1t
would, in the Judgment of the President be his duty
to propose IFS anunIment 10 release the United
States from allegations not attended by any benefits,
aud which obligations, thus unattended. the United
States did not Intentionally incur. they having en-.