The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-08

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reaclin. lar bevond lis iicsty. coming in
TO he Stale of 1"nduras. and ,lau ofil.e
Bay islands, aprcrtaing Of right 10 tie
same State. are as diNinclIv colonial
government as.ihose of Jamsica or Cana.
da. and therefore contrary 10 tie letter rs
well as the spirit of tie. convention with
tie United States. ms il was AT the lime of
ratification and now Is understood BY this
government. eHa l2 rss
The interpretation which the British gov
eminent thus. lin assertions and act, persists in
ascribing TO the convention, entirely changes
its character. While il held US to all our OBJ
legations, il, in a great measure, released
Great Britain from those which constituted
the consideration Of this government for en-
tering into The convention. II is impossible,
in my judgement, for the United States TO
acquiesce In such a construction OF the re-
rpectiye relations Of the two governments To
Central America. To call of this royern-
ment upon Greet britain to ubide by and car
ry into efrrt the stipulations of the conven-
ton according 70 i,s -ebuiaus ir'porr. by wIlII-
drawing from the position OF colonizing por-
lions OF the Central American States OF Hon.
duras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rca, the British
government has at length replied, affirming
that the operation of the treaty is prospec.
tive only, and did not require Great Britain to
abandon or contract auy possessions held by
her in Central America at the date of its
conclusion. This reply substitutes a partial
issue in the. place of the general one presen-
ted by the United States. The British gov
ernment passes over the question Of the
rights OF Great Britain. real or supposen, in
Central America, and assumes that she had
such rights at the date Of the treaty, and that
the rights comprehend the protectorship OF
the Mosquito Indians, the exterdiDg, the ex-
tending of the jurisdiction and limits Of the
Balize and the Colony of the Bay Islands,
and thereupon proceeds, by implication, to
infer that the stipulatons of the treaty are
merely future in effect Great Britain may
still continue to hold the contested portions
of Central America. The United States
cannot admit either the Inference or the
premises. We steadily deny that, at the
date Of the treaty, Great Britain had any pos
sessions there, other than the limited peculiar
establishment at the Balize, and maintain
that, if she had any, they were surrendered
by the convention. This government, recog-
nizing the obligation Of the treaty, has or
course desired t. see it executed in good
faith by both parties, and in the discussions,
therefore, has not looked to ri5hts which we
might pssert independently OF the treaty, in
consideration Of our geographical position,
ind Of other circumstances which create for
Us relations to the Central American States
different iIom those OF sny government of
any government, in its last communication,
although well knowing the views Of the Uni
tod et;ll ~. ;t
reason why concliatory spirit may not en-
able the two governments to overcome all
obstacles to a satisfactory adjustment OF the
subject. Assured OF the correctness OF the
cunstruotion of the treaty constantly adhered
TO by this government, and resolved to insist
on the rights Of the United States, yet as
actuated only by the same desire whoh Is
ayowed by the British government to remove
all causes OF seious misunderstanding be-
tween two nations associated by so many lies
OF interest and kindred, il has appeared 10
me proper not to consider an omicable soli-
ton Of the controversy hopeless. There il,
however, reason TO apprchend that, with
Great Britain in the actual occupation o. the
disputed territories, and The treaty, the eiorr,
practically null 80 far as regirds our fights,
this international diff nlty cannot lont re-
main undetermined without involving str;--
Gus daiigcr the lrieadly relations which it is
The interes, as we'll rs the duty of both coun-
tries 10 cherish and preserve. II viii afford
me sincere gri,ficItivn ii future efforts shan
result in the success anti ipltcd heretofore,
with no mbre confidence than the aspect OF
the case permits me now to entertain.
On other suljrci o DISCUSSION be wecn
tie United SAFES and Great Biiitn ln>
grown ou'uf The attempt whca he *.
i-encirs of tie war in which size is enpn.
- wi Russia induced l,er to makc 10
draw recruits from the Unird 5 ales. L.
is the inlcin,iional and settled policy of
The United States lo maintain Hmpsr lal
neutrality du'ing the wars Which, fiom
time TO 'imr, occur among tie sreai powers
of the world. Performing all Ihr du hes
of neutrality towards the respective bellis-
cren' States. We my reasonably cxpcct
them not to interfere with Us. in The lawful
enjoyment of It's benefits. NoIwiIhstand
ing the existence Of such hoStiiilies our
citizens claim The individual right TO con-
Time all tlitir accustomed pursuits by land
or by sea. st home orabroal, subject only
w SUI W ''S'iNhoifN w tHIN ItINlpHS HS tue
laws OF war, the usage of nations. or spe
ci"l tre',iies may impose, and il is ourtre-
cognized right that our territory and ju-
ri>dlclion shall n I b.. invaded h.y either Of
the belIigerent parties for the transit Of
their armies, The operations of their fleets.
The lev. Of troops for their service. the til
ting out Of crulzers by or against either.
or any other act or incident of war; and
these undeniablc tights Of ncu rsliiy. in
dividual and national. the United States
will. unler no circumstances. surrender. |
In pursuance Of this policy. the Govern.
mtnt of the United States DO not forbid |
their ciiizens to sell TO either of the bel
|igerent powers articles contraband Of war,
or take muniiio s Of war or soldiers on
board their private ships for transportation.
in SO doing. the individual cit
lzens exposed bis property or person 10
some the hazards of war. his acts do |
not involve any breach of national neu.
Irality, nor of themselves implicaie the
government. Thus. during the progress
Of the present war in Europe. the citizen
has without national responsibility, there
fore. sold gunpowdrr and arms TO all buy
FRS. Regardless of tie destination of |