The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03

! respondence between him and the British Sec
rotary tor Foreign Affairs, by which you will
| perceive that the two Governments differ widely
| and irreconcilably as to the construction of
the convention, and its effect on their respective
relations TO Central America
Great Britain so constructs the convention
as to maintain unchanged all her previous pre-
tensions over the Mosquito Coast, and in diff
| ferent parts of Central America These pre-
tensions, as to the Mosquito Coast are founded
on the assumption of political relation between
Great Britain and the remnant of tribe OF
Indians on that coast, entered into at a time
| when the whole country was a colonial posses
| sion OF Spain. 1t cannot be successfully con-
troverted, that, by the public law of Europe and
America, no possible act of such Indians or
their predecessors could confer on Great Brit
ain any political rights.
Great Britain does not allege the assent of
Spain as the origin of her claims on the Mos
quito Coast. She has, on the contrary, by re-
peated and successive treaties, renowned and
relinquished all pretensions of her own, and
recognised the full and sovereign rights of
Spain in the most unequivocal terms. Yet
these pretensions, 80 without solid foundation
in the beginning, and thus repeatedly abjured,
were, at a recent period, revived by Great Brit
ain against the Central American States, the
legitimate successors to all the ancient juris-
diction 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 part of the coast
of Costa Rica; and they are now re asserted to
this extent, notwithstanding 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 &C.
- e O. Il
then in the peaceful possession of the appropri-
ate authorities of the Central American States,
is now presented by her as the rightful exer-
else of protectorship over the Mosquito tribe
of Indians.
But the establishment at. the BaliZe, now
reaching far beyond its treaty limits into the
State of Honduras, and that of the Bay Islands,
appertaining of right to the same State, are as
distinctly colonial Governments as those of ia
maica or Canada, and therefore contrary to the
very letter well as the spirit of the conven-
ton with the United States, as it was at the
time of ratification, and now is, understood by
this Government
The Interpretation which the British Govern
ment, thus in assertion and act, persists in as
cribing to the convention, entirely changes its
character. While it holds us to all our oblga-
tons, it in great measure releases Great Brit
ain from those which constituted the consider.
alton of this Government for entering into the
convention. 1t is impossible, in my Judgment,
for the United States to acquiesce in such
construction of the respective relations of the
two Governments to Central America.
To a renewed call by this Government upon
Great Britain, to abide by, and carry into effect,
the stipulations of the convention according to
its obvious import, by Withdrawing from the
possession or colonization of portions of the
Nnptp 49, e III
ragua, and Costa RIGA, the British Government
has at length replied, affirming that the opera
ton of the treaty is prospective only, and did
not require Great Britain to abandon or con-
tract any possessions held by her in Central
America at the date of its conclusion.
This reply substitutes a partial issue, in the
place OF the general one presented by the Uni
ted States. The British Government passes
over the question of the rights of Great Britain,
real or supposed, in Central America, and as
sumes that she had such rights at the date of
the treaty, and that those rights comprehended
the protectorship of the Mosquito Indians the
extended jurisdiction and limits of the Balize,
and the colony of the Bay Islands, and there
upon proceeds by implication to infer, that, if
the stipulations of the treaty be merely future
in effect, Great Britain may still continue to
hold the contested portions of Central America.
The United States cannot admit either the in
ference or the premises. We steadily deny
that, at the date of the treaty, Great Britain
had any possessions there other than the limit
ed and peculiar establishment at the Balize
and maintain that if she had any, they were
surrendered by the convention.
This Government recognising the obligations
of the treaty. has of course desired to see it ex-
ecuted in good faith by both parties, and in the
discussion, therefore, has not looked to rights
xuhtn oh or,rhf md e Al.
treaty, in consideration of our geographical po-
sition and of other circumstances, which create
for us relations to the Central American States,
different from those of any Government of Eu-
rope.
The British Government, in its last commu-
nication although well knowing the views of
the United States, still declares that it sees no
reason why conciliatory spirit may not enable
the two Governments to overcome all obstacles
to a satisfactory adjustment of the subject
Assured of the correctness Of the construc
ton of the treaty constantly adhered to by this
Government, and resolved to insist on the rights
of the United States, yet, actuated also by the
same desire, which is avowed by the British
Government, to remove all causes of serious
misunderstanding between two nations associ
ated by 80 many ties of interest and kindred, it
has appeared to me proper not to consider an
amicable solution Of the controversy hopeless.
There is, however, reason to apprehend, that
with Great Britain in the actual occupation of
the disputed territories, and the treaty there
fore practically null, far regards our rights,
this international difficulty cannot long remain
undetermined, without involving in serious dan
ger the friendly relations which it is the inter-
est as we'll as the duty of both countries to
cherish and preserve. 1t will afford me sincere
qualification, if future efforts shall result in the
success anticipated heretofore with more con-
fidence than the aspect of the case permits me
now to entertain.
RECRUITMENT
One other subject of discussion between the
United States and Great Britain has grown out
of the attempt, which the exigencies of the war
in which she is engaged with Russia induced
her to make, to draw recruits from the United
States
1t is the traditional and settled policy of the
United States to maintain impartial neutrality
during the wars which from time to time oc-
cur among the great Powers of the world. Per
forming all the duties of neutrality towards the
respective belligerent States, we may reason
ably expect them not to interfere with our law
full enjoyment of its benefits Notwithstanding
the existence Of such hostilites, our citizens re.
tain the individual right to continue all their
accustomed pursuits, by land or by sea- at home
or abroad, subject only to such restrictions, in
this relation, as the laws of war, the usage of
nations, or special treaties, may impose; and
it is our sovereign right that our territory and
jurisdiction shall not be invaded by either of
the belligerent parties, for the transit of their
armies, the operations Of their fleets, the levy
OF troops for their service, the fitting out of
cruisers by or against either, or any other act
or incident of war. And these undeniable rights
OF neutrality, individual and national the Uni |