Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-06-25
LORD CLARENDols SPEECH ON AMERICAN
aEEaIRS

AFFAIRS
The following are the remarks OF the Earl of
Clarendon in the House Of Lords on the 9th
nit:
I will, in the first place, say that, as far as |
myself mn concerned-and speak also IN the
name of all the members of Her Alajcsty's gov
ernment-l do not believe there can be the
slightest doubt OF my and their desire TO main
tain unimpaired the cl"sest, the most cordial,
and the most sincere relations with the United
States [ChecrS | believe no men can be
more convinced lllan We are both of our Interest
and our duty 10 maintain those friendly relations
with the American government and people; ana
as far rs am concerned, having filed The oiice
of Foreign Secretary for some years. can con-
srivniou>Iy affirm that neither by word or deed
has ANYTHING been done which could create 4
lust cause OF irritation between the TWO cuul-
tries IChecrs.
The noble lord has alluded to the two points
of difference between the United StaleS and
Great Brilain-viz, the question Of the recruit
ment, and :he question oil Central America.-
With regard to the recruitment, that question
entirely arose from proposals made TO us with
respect to HE persons desiruus Of entering into
the Queens service. We did not even conicm-
plate accepting any of those offers without due
reference TO the neutrality laws Of the United
States, which, | entirely agree with tie noble
lord i, is as much our interest and duty to up
hold rs it can be those Of the United S!a'es
themselves. Hear, hear. 1t is not our duty,
indeed, to clrroach upon tile laws OF any ollcr
country; but we have all ;ntercst--a British
inlcrest-in the neutrality laws of the United
States being maintained. The maintenance.
therefore. of these laws WAS our FIRST thought,
as they constituted the principal part of cur
instruc lions: and tie moment we asceraned
that the recruitment could 10! be carried Oh
without the danger-uol on the part OF our own
agents, but of persons who assumed to hc our
a:cnts-of violating the neutrality laws Of The
United States wu agreed 10 rcllnqulst the whole
scheme.
Your lordships have seen from the papers
which have been laid OH the table that there Is
nothing which could be expected from one MI
ton towards another, from one Government
towards another, from one gentlemen towards
another, that wc have not done or offered 10 do
in order To afford rcplration 10 the United States
for any ofIrnr.-however uuintenliunal on our
part-which they can conceive has been commit
led. Hear. My lords, the last despatch that
was written on this subject, which was resume
of the whole matter, in answer to The long ces-
ed tie United States; ard therefore upon the
question of recruitment, | am exceedingly aux
ious not 10 say any mere at present. But, as
far as have been ahle to ascertain what are
TITS COUNTY, tlI:v ,,,r uITTrlUi
that we have offered u complete satisfaction to
the Government of the Unied States, and that
the only thing which We certainly have not
done has been 10 recall Mr. Champion and tie
Consus, because we do not think they have
mrrcd .hat ccnsurc and that punishment
IChrcrs, There would have been no short
coming on The part Of Her Mljesly's GOVERN.
mcnt, if we had seen reason 10 adopt contrary
course or no Hesitation 10 deal severely with
any agent who should so far have forgotten his
duty and been urmiudiul Of his instructions as
10 violate the laws Of the United States; bui
being convinced that that had not been done,
ard having in our possession The means of
proving to the United States That it was not
done, think nobody will require Of us TO sac
rice our agents and to purchase conra;inn
with the United States, by doing that which
would be both shabby and di>honoraOlc.-
(Chrers.
With regard 20 the Central American ques.
ton, yonr lortlships know what were the terms
Of the Cayton-Buiwcr treaty. think i! i'm
possible that language could be more clear or
ilorc precise in lis meaning than the language
employed in that Instrument. Hear. hear. The
treaty se!s forth that there should not be in
future any colonization, any occupation, any
ior,ifl ing or strengthening Of places not already
in The possession OF either cuun,ry. | do not
see how there c&n bc two interpretations Of its
terms. ], WAS intended for specific ohjcrs-
FIRST the construction Of 4 canal, and then It's
maintenance free for the use of the w"rl1, pro.
hibi!ing any enrroachmpnt on The part Of the
United alrs and Great Britain, which were the
contracting and guaraniying parties; but all lis
provisions were prospective, ana there Is GER
taiuly nothing in il which implies that we were
to give up Honduras and Ruatan, or to cvacuae
or alter our position IL any respect from what
it was before the conclusion of The treaty. 1t
is impossible that the very able man-Sir Hen.
ry Bulwer-who negotiated that treaty on the
part of Great Britain, could have taken upon
himself, without insirucions-evcn without the
knowledge of his Governmeni-to abandon any
norton Of British territory or British interests; !;
and so far from having done anything Of that
sort, he made = stringent proyso, which was
should not touch Honduras, or affect any of lis
dependencies. Hear.
When Mr.. Buchanan came over TO this ccun-
try, we heard for the first time that there WIS
M entirely new Interpretation TO be put upon
The treaty. 1t was no longer TO be looked upon
asa prospective arrangement, but one for the
. evacuation Of British territory, and we were
told that we were 10 blame, and were lii, cause
u will not say Of Il quarrel between the two
. countries, but-of irritation and complaint on
the part of the United States, because we had
not fulfilled the engagements OF the treaty by
eyacuaing all the territory we possessed in
Central America told Mr.. Bucianan-what
was the perfect trulh-that that was tie first
lime had heard such IN Interpretation put u2
on the treaty. lie replied that in his country
there was no doubt upon the subject then
said ihat-howcver clear The terms of the treaty
might appear to me-lu call in tkird party. an
impartial Judge, to determine what should be
the Interpretation Of the treaty, would le the
I fairest course to pursue between governments
. as between individuals. also added that we
certainly had TO wish to possess territory in
( Central America; that We did not desire to ex-
gtend our influence in that part of the world;
that We were perfectly ready to enter into such
engagements as would satisfy The United Siales,
and even our people ut home here upon that
score that il was therefore indifferent 10 us
.swho was called in to arbilrate; that We should
sbe prepared to abide by The decision, whatever
81. was; but that to do what was not conempla-
s1ed by the treaty, because We were told That Il
secrtain Interpretation was pnt upon it which we
could not admit, was not cousc which one