Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-30

by the proceedings of the Senate, that the
subject therein discussed viii be taken up in
that body on Monday next, when an import
ant debate viii in probability ensue -
LORD JOHN RUSSELL To MR.. CHAMPION.
LoNDoN, JAN 10, 1858
SrR-Tn treating of the affairs of Mosquito,
I must in the first place refer you to the
despatch of Lord Malmesbury of the 9th of
July, 1852, upon this subject. 1t is evident
that since Great Britain first assumed the
protectorate and defence Of the Mosquito In
dams, the position of all parties has changed.
First-Spain, instead of exercising absolute
soFereignty over Central America, and pro
hibiting all commerce on the coasts under
her sway, has entirely lost her dominion from
Cape Horn to Florida.
Second-The Mosquito Indians, instead of
governing their own tribe according to their
own customs, furnish a name and title to
Europeans and Americans, who carry on
trade at Greytown and along the coast of
Mosquito, according to the usages of civilized
Iations.
Third-Great Britain, instead of having
an interest in the defence of the Mosquito In
dians, for the sake of rescuing part of the
territory of Central America from Spanish
control and obtaining an authority for her
commerce, has no other interest In Mosquito
than that which is derived from an honorable
regard for her old connexion with the Indian
nation of Mosquito.
Her Majesty government has for several
years endeayored to suit her engagements to
the altered circumstances of the case; but
every proposal that has made with this view
has encountered some insuperable obstacle
The contentious in Central America between
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras; the
absence of any authority with which any
permanent agreement could be made; un-
founded jealousies of Great Britain, and
various other circumstances, have prevented
the settlement Of this vexatious question.
! Ia conformity with the opinions stated in
| Lord Malmesbury's despatch of July 16, to
A.! which | have already referred [ have to state
| that the committee Of government Of Grey
town are in feet the real power that exercises
authority in that part OF Central America
20 her Majesty's Government it would be
matter Of Indifference whether that authority
was exercised in the name of the King Of
Mosquito or in the name OF Greytown itself
! Blu, 1t is desirable that what IS apparentshould
be made to conform US far as possible with
what is real. What is apparent is that the
| Greytown What is real is that he has no
authority there whatever, but that the COM
mitsec of Europeans and Americans carry on
the government Of that port.
I What her d@iesty's government, therefore.
should consider good and final arrangement
wtuld be-First, that Greytown should be
free and independent port, connected with
| Masquito by such relations of friendship and
/ bo
that indemnification, or advantages equivalent
! to those laid down in the project Of convention
of the 18th Of April, 1852. shall be assured
| to Mosquito In return for It's withdrawal from
/ It's present position with regard to Greytown.
| Third, that Great Britain and the United
! States, without guaranteeing Greytown, should
! be ready to act IN concert to defend the inde-
pendence of the free city or port OF Greytown.
from whatever quarter it might be attacked
! What Is essential and of immediate import
ance is that the authorities of Greytown
should be really to assume either unqualified
Independence with an engagement to defend
Mosquito or qualified independence, owing
| allegiance and support to Mosquito. For this
purpose, some person qualified to treat should
proceed at once to Greytown Whether
naval officer of her Majesty's service or
civil one, would be filter person to be en-
trusted with this mission, [ must leave you to
decide It would be desirable, if the govern
ment Of the United States should concur in
/ these views, that new convention, in place
Of the unaccepted project OF agreement of
! April, 1852, should be proposed and conclu-
! ded, and that o person similarly qualified
should be sent by this government at the
same time and for the same object.
[ have only further to say that indemnify
to Mosquito might possibly be not made in
money, but in greater security, for certain
fixed territory within which the free port of
Greytown, assisted by her Majesty's ships of
war, might manage to defend the Mosquito
nation. The Governor General of Canada,
aud authorities in other of her Maiesty's
North American possessions. have made, from
time to time, agreements somewhat similar
The President of the United States has fre-
quently made conventions with the Indians to
! the like effect The popularity of this case
( Is that certain neigAbociDg States deny alto
gether the Independence OF Mosquito, and
the Mosquito nation are liable, every day, to
new incursions upon their territory.
We can make no complete provision against
this danger. Our policy is to do all that
honor and humanity require in behalf of the
Mosquito nation But we intend to adhere
strictly TO the treaty of Washington of the
18th April, 1850, and not to assume any
sovereignty, either direct or indirect, in Cen
trail America. j. RUSSELL.
MEMORANDUM IN MR. EVERETT'S HANDWRITING.
Mr.. Champion authorized Inc TO communi-
cate this to Congress in any way | thought
proper.