Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-17
have been left as mere matter matter Of infer

have been left u mere matter matter Of intor-
ence.
..Neither can her Majesty's Government sub
scribe 10 the position that IT the convention did
not bear the meaning attached to il by the Uni
ted States |, woad have imposed ugon tue Uni.
ted States self denying obligation which was
no, equally contracted by Great Britain. and
tina, such a state of things could not have been
in the intention Of the contracting partIes be-
cause If the convention did.bear the meaning at
tached 10 il hy the United States, II would then
have imposed upon Great Britain the obligation
IN renounce possessions and rights without any
equivalent remuneration on the part of the Uni
ted States. Ifihe Government Of the United 5.
can complain in the one case of the convention
n presenting an unilaitral character unfavora-
bic to the L. $ with much greater reason might
the Government of Great British, in the other
case. if the assumption of the L. s. were 10 he
ncted upon the construction of the convention.
complain of it prejudcal to England
But looking to the object which the con-
tracing parties had in view at the conclusion oil
the convention. namely, the security OF the pro
posed ship canal. the British Government con-
sder that tie design of the contracting parties
was not IS disturb any sta.e OF things then ex-
i.iing, but 10 guard against the future creation
Of a state of things which might by possibility
interfere with the security of the proposed canal.
That such was the true desi IN of the convention
is obvious from the provision in the sixth article
by which the contracting parties engaged to in
wife every State to enter into stipuatons with
them similar TO those contained in the conyen-
ton. But if the position Of the United States
Government were sound, and the convention was
intended to interfere with the state Of things ex-
isting at the time gifts conclusion and to impose
upon Great Britain to Withdraw from portions OF
territory occupied by it. similar obligation
would be contracted by other States according to
the convention, and the Governments of the
Central American States would, by the mere act
of accession. sign away their rights TO the terri
tories in which they are situated
The British Government share the convic-
ton If the President of the United States that
the interest of the two countries. and their mutu-
al desire to maintain existing friendly relations,
will alike inspire each party with O conciatory
spirit and enable them to overcome all obstacles
To "A satisfactory adjustment of Central American
questions. The British Government see no rea-
son why it should be otherwise. The British
Government neither have the wish to extend the
limits of their possessions the sphere Of their
influence in that quarter, nor would any British
interest be promoted by doing but the Brit
ish Government are not prepared To contract
either the one or the other in pursuance 81 the
Interpretation Of Il convention. 10 which inter
probation they cannot subscribe.
The undersigned requests Mr.. Buchanan to
accept the assurance of his highest considers
ton 'CLARENpoN.'
Mr.. Buchanan. ON the ith of October. 1855.
acknowledges the receipt of the above note rs
t)lows:
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES.
"LONDON, OCTOBER 4. 1850.
"The undersigned. Envoy Extr ,ordincry and
Minister nipotentiary of the United States has
the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note
ofthe Earl of Clarendon, her Majesty's Prnei
pal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated
the % ultmo, in reply to the note of the I'M
dersigned of the lth ultimo, in reference to the
Central American questions between the two
Governments, and he will not fail to transmit n
copy of the same by the next steamer to the Sec
rotary of State at Washington.
"Whst far from intending to renew the gere-
raj discussion of these questions, which has al
ready been exhausted, the undersigned in pass
ing. would make II single observation in regard
In the Earl Of Clan cudon's remark, that il the
convention of the l9ih April, 1850. had intended
that Great Britain should Withdraw from her
possessions in Central Americra, it would have
contained III specific terms renunciation' To
that effect 'and such remuneration would not
have been lett AS II mere matter OF Inference.
Now, 1t appears to the undersigned that an
engagement by party not 'tooccupy' or exer-
! Else any dominion over territory of which that
party is in actual possession at the date of the
] engagement Is equivalent in all respects to an
agreement TO withdraw from such territory
/ Under these circumstances. this il not II mere
matter of Inference because the one propps
ton is necessarily and inseparably involved in
the other and they are merely alternative modes
OF expressing the same idea. In such case to
withdraw is not to occupy, and not TO occupy is
/ necessarily to withdraw.
The undersigned needs apology for brief
! ~ advcrting to another argument of the Earl
of Clarendon, because il has now for the first
I time been advanced. He suites that If the posi-
tion of the L. States Government were sound and
the convention was intended to interfere with the
state of things existing at the time of its conclu-
sion. and to impose upon Great Britain the obi
| CATION to withdraw from portions of territory oc-
! cupied by II, a similar obligation would be con
traced by the other States acceding to the con-
vention, under the 9th article land the govern.
ments of the Central American States would, by
the mere act OF accession. sign away their rights
to the territories in which they are situated
Combining himself strictly to this single view
| pf the subject. the undersigned would observe
that. Notwithstanding the general term. employed
| by the convention. an examination of its proyis
IONS and especially Of tho sixth article itself will
g., prove 1T never Intended that the Central Ameri-
can States should become joint parties to this
treaty with the United States. Great Britain, and
other Governments exterior to Central America
! These States are the subjects on which the guar
'ihteeS OF the convention Sere to act and the ex.
'lusun of all other Powers from the occupapcy
# Central America, with view to the securi v
rot only of this canal, but all other canals or
allr"hds across the isthmus of the main
'olects t" be accomplished by the treaty.
II he Earl OF Clarendon has himself indicated
low absurd 1t would be for the Central American
Governments to become joint parties to this con
'entlon accordingt to the American constructions
twouid, however, be none the less absurd accor.