The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-03


various papers relative TO the affairs Of Central Ameca
it will be aeen that introducing these affairs to the
stt non OF Congress- the Presidents Secretary Of State
for Foreign Affairs expressly says that tho Of
Nicaragua IN November l647 solicited the aid Of the
United ststsA government to prevent anticipated At
tack San Juan by the British forces acting behalf
OF the Mosquito King but received answer tst the
President Of Nicaragua addressed the President Of the
United States at the time and received answer
that in April 1s4s the United Slater Consul at Ncara
qua at the request of the Minister Of Foreign Asars
that Republic stated the occupation OF San Juaa by
British force but not answered. trAt the th OF
November l848 Mr.. Castelion, proceeding to London
from Nicaragua, and then to Washington, addressed
letter to the United States Secretary of State soliciting
bis intervention with regard to the claims OF Great Bi
tain in right Of the Musqute King and recsived
swer; that the 18th of January 1s49 Mr. Bancroft
then representative of the United States to theCourt OF
St. James, referred to Mr.. Casteons arrival in Lon.
don, and the subject Of his mission to settle the
affairs Of San Juan de Nicaragua with the British govern
said think it proper to state to you my opinion
that Lord Palmerson will not recede. have OF course
taken no part And that again in March, Mr. Bancroft
wrote that Mr. Casti0n would be anxious to seek advice
from the United States but that he had always made
swer to him that he not authorized to offer advice
government ITSELF that up the end Of 1S49 the United
States government have made no remark or remon-
TO Great Britain on the subject of her protecto
rate OF Mosquo and that with respect to the cap
tuIe Of Ssn Juan de Nicaragua (now called Greytown
the United States Minister In London not authrized
Commissioner from Nicaragua the benefit Of his coun
sells and good offices thereupon; and it s but right to
obrerye that the United States government pursued
that friendly and considerate policy which her
Msjesty's government always wishes to pursue,
when that government has had differences with other
Powers With regard to the grounds which her Ma
Issy es made the capture Of San Juan dc
nent to avoid all subjects Of controversy in which Is
not absolutely necessary to enter resaps, it from ad
vertpg to the documents which stated the
which her Majesty's government to the resolution
it at that time adopted and indeed those documents
were laid before Parliament and communicated officially
hn mar.
fuous now to recapitulate their contents.
With regard to the doctrine laid down by Mr. Pres-
dent Monroe in 1923 concerning the future colonization
OF the American sentiment by European States, in
axiom which ought to regulate the conductof
diclum of the distinguished personage who delivered
it. But her Nojesty's government cannot admit that
regulate the Of European States The doctrine
with regard to the ncaracy Of the Indians to exercise
The rights Of sovereign must also remain doc
trne which each State which has to deal with such
Indians must be free to exercise its policy and to
follow the dictates Of its own conscience II is certainly
true IA mat II Great Bitan spain and the United States
races in the manner In which Mr. Buchanan describes,
but this past practice though general cannot be taken
bad not yet passed beyond the memory of man, at
which Great Britain and the United States,
n0'y Dsh'd in ,Sn the slave
deemed 1t legitimate. The project of republic
composed chiefly Of negroes from the United States.
snd originally established under the enlightened and
humane patronage Of the United States would have been
deemed y yesTs ago. en- absurd and impossible chime
"a Yet Liberia exists and COW onishes as an inie-
pendent State. Already Great Britain, in her deal
iDgs with Indians has recognized them independent
chiefs whilst in her treaties with foreign she has
spoken Of these tribes nations and stipulated for the
restoration Of their possessions.
Thus all Of the above mentioned topics her Msiss
's without seeking TO impose any opinions
its opinions Nor indeed does appear necessary
although doubtless it would be desirable that her ass
and the United States government should
be PERFECTLY eed with -espcct TO them.
The remaining subject to be discussed s however
OF very different character It ieates to Question IN
recty concerned, and in regard to which 1t Is matter
both Of honor and interest that they should avoid all
lghtful Interpretation Of treaty engagement to which
Great BitAn and the United States parties.
held The ths Mosoo Coast nror TO S5
he then states that Great ain still continues to
old this sovereignty although the treaty of 1850
hbits her 5rcm doing. But Mr.. Buchanan coniouns
tie two conditions Of sovereignty and of protectorate
nd under this treats the agreement nat to co
nize nor occupy fortiiy, assume exercise
dominion over, as including agreement no. to pro-
iect With respect to sovereignty Great Britain never
cained and d,es not now clam or hold any sovereignty
which Gseat Britain has long exercised Mosquito
her Maess government asserts that the treaty Of 1850
torate but simply TO confirm lis power and limit its in
uence. Now, the spirit Of the aeaty must always be
inferred from the circumstances under which it takes
place. and the true construction OF treaty must be de-
duced fcm IL literal meaning Of the words employed in
its fran in The circumstances under which the treaty
of 1850 took place the following -
Up to March, 1S9e-i e. whole year after the cap
tuIe of san Juan de Nicaragua by he British iorcethe
United States government made observation, it has
already been stated the British government having
any aluson to this act.
But in November 1872 Mr Lawrence then just arrived
in England as the representative OF the United saes
government, addressed note to Lord Palmcrston not
asking any question as to the British prote Of
Mosquito, but requesting TO know whether her Majestys
government would join with the United States in guaran
tfeiug the neutrality OF shin railway other
communication between the two oceans, 10 be open to
the worli and common to all nations and whether the
British ntene cd TO occupy coionize Mica
rngua, Costa Eica, the Musgnto coast called. any
part of Central america TO this note Lord pamers;on
replied by stating that her Maestys government had
intention TO occupy colonize Nicaragua, Costa
Ica the Musquito coast any part OF Central Amer
ca ard that her Majes'y government would feel great
easure in cfmbining and cooperating with the govern
rent Of the United States fer The purpose Of assisting the
operations Of company which might be formel with
20 estatli h general communication by canal
Inilroad the lshmus separating the northern and
southern portions OF the American continent both by
offering security for the works while in progress and
when completed and in use, and by placing such com
municaon through the means of political gcmcnts
ieyond the reach of molestaton disturbance obstacle
ty OF inter national disputes, which may at any
time unfortunately arise upon the condition, moreover
that such communication should ut ali times he open
nd accessible for The Of all nations and
equal terms for all The copics Of which here
unto annexed are of great Importance, inasmuch a.
they hid the foundation ~ the Subsequent con'enon
OF Wa hngton, whilst tlSy explain the nature OF the
feelings entertained a. Chat time by the United state.
eovernn ent and by the government. Of her Majesty 1t
clear that the nted States government, which
had regarded the affairs of Central America
not long before with comparative Indifference, had had
its a'tcoon lately called to this part Of the world BY its
acquisition OF California and the discovery of the ore
which n at region found To contain-circumstauces
viii III rendered OF vast importance aic and rapid
communication between the possessions of tue nted
states the Pacific, and the possessions Of the ned
- tes on the Atlantic.
protest of canal communication moreover through
the State and lake of Nicaragua and the river san uan
then in contemplation and Nicaragua had granted
to company OF American citizens Whatever rights it
possessed over the proposed liuc Of traffic.
Great Britain houever by having placed people under
protection who we're in possession oil the post and
of san Juan dc Nicaragua might exert her inau
either to prevent this canal terg formed, she
aoweo II 10 be formed might anurougn tine rrotcc-
iorate as acquiring over such canal peculiar rights
1 b. olute control.
1he government the ntcd states therefore Justly
rsious TO know whether the British government would
iyVr impede the construction OF canal by the
=. Juan, and whether II would attempt 70 establish
PREDOMINANT ard permanent power over this canal by
cla nzrr fortiype occupying taking absolute pos
tt,sicn OF the county through which II parsed.