The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-05-28

Wv
est part of the Isthmus, and hither of
course public attention has been direct
ed as the most inviting field for enter
prises of Interoceanic communication
between the opposite shores of America,
and more especially to the Territory OF
the States of Nicaragua and Honduras.
Paramount to that of any European
State as was the interest of the United
States in the security and freedom OF
projected lines of travel across the 18th
mus by the way of Nicaragua and Hon
ras, still we do not yield in this respect
to any questions of territorial aggran-
disement, or even of exclusive advantage
either of communication or ofcommerce.
Opportunities had not been wanting to
the United States to procure such ad-
vantages by peaceful means and with
full and free assent of those who alone
had any legitimate authority in the mat
ter. We Disregard those opportunities
from consideration alike of domestic and
foreign policy. just as even to the
present day we have persevered in = sys-
tenn of justice and respect for the rights
and interests of Others, us well as our
OVID, in regard to each and all of the
States of Central America.
1t was with surprise and regret, there
fore, that the United States learned a
few days after the conclusion of the
treaty of Guadalouhe Hidalts, by which
the United States became, with the con-
sent of the Mexican Republic, the right
full owners of California, and thus invest
ed with augmented special interest in
the political condition of Central Amer
lea, that a military expedition under the
! authority of the British Government
had landed at San Juan del NOrte, in
the State of Nicaragua, and taken for
chile possession of that port, the neces-
sary terminus of any canal or railway
across the Isthmus will il the Terrific
ries of Nicaragua. Il did not dimin-
ish the unwelcomeness to US of this act
on the part of Great Britain, to find that
she assumed to justify it on the ground
of IN alleged protectorship of a small
and obscure band of uncivilized Indians,
whose proper name even had become
lost to history-who did not constitute
a State capable of Territorial sovereign
ty, either in fact or in right, and all po-
litical interest in whom and in the Ter
ritory they occupied Great Britain had
previously renowned, by successive trea,
ties with Spain, when Spain was sover'
eign of the country, and subsequently
with independent Spanish America.
Nevertheless, and iDjuriously affected
as the United States conceived them
selves to have been by this act of the
British Government and by its occupa
ticn about the same time of ~insular anC
of continental portions of the territor!
of the State of Honduras, VIC remember
ed the many and powerful ties and mu
tual interests by which Great Britain
and the United States are associated
and we proceeded, in earnest good faith
and with a sincere desire to do what
ever might strengthen the bonds
of peace between US, to negotiate
with Great Britain a Convention, to as
sure the perfect neutrality Of all Inter
oceanic communications across the 18th.
mus and as indispensable condition Of
such neutrality, the absolute independ
ence of the States of Central America
and their complete sovereignty within
the limits of their W territory, as well
against Great Britain as the United
States. We supposed we had accom-.
plished an object by the Convention Of
April 10, 1850, which would never have
been signed nor ratified, On the part Of
the United States, but for the %convic,
ton that in virtue of its provisions mel.
ther Great Britain or the United State,
was thereafter to exercise any :erritori.
al sovereignty, in fact or in name, in any
part of Central America, however or
whatsoever acquired, either before or af-
forwards. The essential object of the
Convention, the naturalization of the
Isthmus, would of course become a multi,
ty, if either Great Britain or the United
States were to continue to hold exclu.
sively the Islands or main land of the
Isthnus, and more especially if, under
any claim of Protectorship of Indians
either government were to remain for
ever sovereign in fact of the Atlantic
shores of the three states of Costa Rica
Nicaragua and Honduras.
1 have already communicated to The
two Houses of Congress full information
of the protracted and hitherto fruitles:
efforts which the United States have
made to arrange this international ques
tion with Great Britain. It is referred
to on the present occasion only because
of it's intimate connection with the spe
cial object now to be brought to the at
%tention OF Congress.
The unsettled condition of some O
the Spanish American Republics haI
never ceased to be regarded by this Gov
eminent with solicitude and regret o,
their own account, while it has been tn,
source of continual embarrassment IL
our public and private relations will