The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-01-09

Great Britain so constructs the convention
as To maintain unchanged all her previous
pretensions over the Mosquito coast and an
| different parts OF Central America. These
pretensons as to the Mosquito coast are
founded on the assumption of political rela-
ton between Great Britain aud the remnant
Of tribe Of Indians on that coast. entered
into at time when the whole Country was a
colonial possession Of Spain. 1t cannot be
successfully controyertcd. that. by the public
law of Europe and America, no possible act
of such Indians or their predecessors could
confer on Great Britain any political rights.
Great Britain does not allege the assent oi
SPAN as the origin Of her claims on the Mos
quito coast She has, on the contrary, by
repeated and successive treaties. renowned
and relinquishcd all pretensions ot her own,
aud recognised the fall and sovereign rights
uf Spain in the most unequivoral terms. Yet
these pretensions, sowithout solid foundation
IN the beginning, and thus repeatedly abjur-
ed, were, at a recent period. revived by
Great Britain against the Central American
States, the legitimate successors to all the
ancient jurisdiction Of Spain in that region.
They were first applied only TO defined part
Of the coast Of Nicaragua. afterwards to the
whole Of its Atlantic coast, and lastly to a
part Of the coast of Costa Rica; and they are
now reasserted to this extent, notwitlstand-
ing engagements to the United States.
On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, the interference Of Great Britain,
though exerted at one time in the form Of
military occupation Of the port OF San Juan
del Nnrte. then in the peaceful possession OF
the appropriate authorizes Of the Central
American States, is now presented by her as
the righiIul exercise Of a protectorships over
the Mosquito tribe Of Indians.
But tile establishment at the Balize, now
reaching lar beyond its treaty limits into the
State of Honduras, and that Of the Bay Is
lands, appertaining Of light to the same State,
are as distinctly colonial governments as
those Of Jamaica or Canada, and therefore
contrary to the very letter as well as the
spirit of the convention with the United
States, as il was at the time Of ratification and
now is understood by this Government.
The Interpretation which the British Gov
ernmcnt, thus in assertion and act, persists
lnascribing to the convention entirely changes
its character. While it holds US to all our
obligations, il in a great measure releases
Great Britain frnm those which constituted
the consideration of this Government for
entering into the convention. II IS lmpossl-
Bile. in ny Judgment, for the United States
to acquicsce in such a construction OF the
respective relations of the two Governments
to Central America.
To renewed call BY this Government
upon Great Britain to abide BY and carry
into effect the stipalations OF the convention
according TO its obvious import, ls withdraw
ing from tie possession or colonization Of
pnrtons OF the Central American States Oh
Honduras, Nicaragua. and Costa RIGA. the
British Government has at length replied.
affirming that the operation OF the treaty Is
prospective only. aud did not require Great
britain TO abandon or contract any posses
sions held by her in Central America at the
date Of its conclusion.
This reply substitutes a partial issue in
the place u the general one presented by the
Uniied States. The British Government
passes over the question Of the rights Of Great
Britain, real or supposed, in Central America.
and assumes that she had such rights at the
date 81 the treaty, and that those rights COM
pretended the proiectorship Of the Mosquito
Indians, the extended jurisdiction and limits
81 tile Balize, and tie colony Of the Bay
Islands, and thereUpon proceeds by implica-
ton to infer that, Il the stipulations Of the
treaty be merely future in effect, Great Bri-
tain may stl! continue to hold the contested
portions Of Central America. The United
States cannot admit either the inference or
the premises. We steadily deny that Ut the
date Of the treaty Great Britain bad any pos
sessions there, other than the limited and pc.
culiar establishment at the Balize, aud main
tain that, she had any, they were surrender
ed By the convention.
This Government. recognising the Obliga-
tons Of the treaty, has 81 course desired q
see il executed 10 good faith by both parties,
aud in ihe..diseussi0n, therefore, has not look
ed to rights which We might assert, indepcn.
IDENTITY of Tie treaty, 10 consideration Of OUT
geographical position and Of other cireum.
stances, which create for " relations TO the
Central American States different FROM those
Of any Government uf Europe.
The British Government, in its last com
munication. although we'll knowing the view.
II the United States. still declares that il
sees no reason why a conciliatory spirit may
not enable the two Governments TO over
come all obstacles to a satisfactory ADJUST
ment 81 the subject.
Assured of the correctness Of The consiruc.
ton Of the treaty constantly adhered 70 By
this Government, aud resolved to insist on IL
rights of the United States, yet actuateJ als'
! by the same desire which Is ayoweh By th'
/ British Government. % temose all causes .
serious misunderstanding between two ia
tons associated by "a many ties Of inieres
and kindred. il has appeared 20 me proprl
not IL consider an amicable solution u u,
controversy hopeless.
There j.. however, reason 10 apprehenI
/ ,b,t Nth Great nritain IN The actual urcn