Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-06-05

territory ofthe Gentraf Ameian States.
IS the narfovest pant Of the isthmus,
and hither,of course, public attention
has been directed as the most inviting
field for enterprise ofinter oceanic
communication between the opposite
shores Of America, and more espee-
tally to the territory of the State Of
Nicaragua and Honduras.
Paramount to that of any European
State as was the interests Of the Uni.
ted States in the security and free
dom of projected lines Of travel
across the isthmus by the way OF
Nicaagua and Honduras, still we
did not yield in this respect to any
suggestions of territorial aggraudiz5-
msnt, or even of exclusive advantage,
either of communication or com.
imerce. Opportunities had not been
wanting to. the United States to pro-
cure such advantages by peaceful
means, and with fal and free assent
of those who alono had any legitimate
authority in the matter. Wo disre-
ganlsd thes, opportunities, from cou,
charlottesville ordomestic and foreign
policy just as, even to the present
day, We have persevercd in system
Of justice aud respect for the, rights
and Interests OF Others as we'll as our
own in regard to each and all Of the
States Of Central America.
1t was with surprise ana regret,
therefore, that the United States
learned, a few days after the .oon-
clusion of the treaty of Guadalupe
Hiddlgo, by which the United States
became, with the consent ofths Mexi-
can Republic, the lightfulowners Of Cal
ifornia, and thus invested with aug
mented special interest in the poiit-
ical condition of Central America,
that military expedition under the
authority Of the British Government
had landed at San Juan del Norte, in
the State of Nicaragua, and taken
forcible possession of that port. the
necessary terminus Of any canal or
railway across the isthmus within the
territories of Nicaragua.
1t did not diminish. the unwelcome-
ness to US of this act on the part of
Great Britain to find that she had
assumed to justify it on the ground
lof alleged protectorship of a small
and obscure band of. unciyilized In
dians, whose proper name even had
become lost to history, who did not
constitute State capable of terrific
rial sovereignty, either in fact or of
right, and all political Interest in
whom, and in the territory they oc-
cupied, Great Britain had previously
renounced by successive treaties with
Spain when Spain was sovereign of
the country, and subsequently with
independent Span ish America.
Nevertheless, and injariously effect
ed as the United States conceived
themselves to have been by this act of
the British govern ment, and BY ats
occupation about the same time of
insular and of continental portions
of the territory of the State of Hon.
duras, We remembered the many and
powerful ties and mutual interests by
which Great Britain and the United
States are associated, and we pro-
ceeded in earnest good faith, and
with q sincere desire to do whatever
might strengthen the bonds of peace
between US, to negotiate with Great
Britain convention to assure. the
perfect neutrality Of all inter oceanic
communications across the istbmus
and, as the indispensable condition
of such neutrality, the absolute in
dependence of the States of Central
America, and their complete SOW.
ereignty within the limits of their
own territory, as we'll against Great
Britain as tie United States. We
supposed We had accomplished that
object by the convention of April l9,
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,
neither Great Britain nor the United
States was thereafter TO exercise any
territorial sovereignty, in fact or in
name, ia any part Of Central America
however or whatsoever acquired,
either before or afterwards. The
essential object of the convention
the naturalization of the isthmusI
would, of course, become nullity,
if either Great Britain or the United
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