The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-01-17
Clayton Bulwer Treaty.

Ohlted StateS and Great Britain hereby de-
clare that neither the one nor the other will
ever obtain the said ship canal; agreeing
that neither will ever erect or maintain any
forllflcations commanding the same or in
the vicinity thereof; or occupy, or fortfy,
or colonize, or assume, or exercise any do.
mnion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the
mos4o'to coast, or any part of Central
America nor will either make use of any
protection which either affords or may af-
ford. or any alliance which either has or
may have, to or with any state or people,
for the purpose of erecting or maintaining
any such fortifications, or of occupying, for
tifying or colonizing Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
the Mosquito coast, or any part Of Central
America, or of assuming or exercising do
mnlon over the same nor will the United
States or Great Britain take advantage of
any Intimacy, or use any alliance, conncc-
ton or influence that either may possess
with any State or government through
whose territory the said canal may pass, for
the purpose of acquiring or holding, di-
rectly or indirectly, tor the citizens or sub
Jects OF the one, any rights or advantages
III regard to commerce or navigation through
the said canal, which shall not be offered
on the same terms to the citizens or sub
jects of the other"
The above is the first article of the CLAY
TON BULwER Treaty, concerning which ne.
gotatIons are now pending between the
United States and Great Britain. The con-
struction claimed by England is widely diff
ferent from that claimed by the United
States.
We need only refer to the motives and
reasons which induced the two governments
to enter into the treaty, to ascertain the
true construction which should he put upon
1t. Our government seeing that British in
fiuence and dominion were rapidly spread
ing over the Republics of Nicaragua, Costa
Rica, and other small Central American
States, which are in close proximity to the
United States, and command the Isthmus
over which it was our Object and interest TO
establish a great thoroughfare to the Pa
c'fic; and seeing that they might ultimate
Iy fall within England's grasp-which would
have been fatal to our intercst-it bchooved
us to cast about for measures by which we
might restrict British colonization and do
mlnion in them. And in accordance with
an enlightened policy, convention was
called III 1850, treaty concluded, aud the
whole difficulty supposed to be scttled.-
But now there seems to bc a misunder-
standing between the parties in contractu.
ltappcars that at the time of the conclusion
of the treaty Of 1850, England had several
establishments, ly treaties with these Re-
puIics, permitting her to cut logwood and
other timber. And she now claims that
she did not, under the articles of the treaty.
agree to abandon any foothold that she
then held i'll Central America; that the
treaty was prospective and imperative rs to
any immun;ties which she then possessed,
Gid, instead Of diminishing, she is now
augmcnting her power and dominion there,
under the tliinsy prctensons of Il right, al
legged to be founded in treaty made with
Indians, prior to the independence of these
States, and while the whole country was in
tho colonial possession of Spain. This
whimsical and ill-founded right must van
ish like mist and fog, when tested by any
known principle of international law. Has
England political jurist who would he
guilty of the absurdity Of maintaining that
a tribe of Indians who had never estab-
lished their independenco-had none of the
functions of an Independent government
but belonged to, and WAS under the power
and dominion of Spain, could assume to
exercise the functions of a nation, and
make treaties, either in accordance or in
violation Of tho interest or rights of the ma
ton to which they belonged! If such a
doctrine is to prevail, any of the nations of
Europe might open diplomatic cores
pondence with the Indian tribes of the
United States, establish national relations,
and make treaties with them, in utter dero-
CATION of the interest and rights of this
government.
The basis of the alleged right of England
to exercise dominion on the Mosquito coast,
IS too ridiculous to contemplate for mo-
ment. Our government cannot, consist
emily with her honor, acquiesce with Eng
lands Interpretation of tho CLAYTON Bull
WEIR treaty; though we apprehend future
negotiations will result in concessions from
England, and all matters of difference be-
tween the two nations will be amicably ad-
justed.
Bostonians in Georgia,