Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-10

rightful exercise of protcctorship 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 Is
lands, appcrtaining of right to the same State,
are as distinctly colonial governments as those
of jamaica or Canada, and therefore contrary
to the very letter as well as the spirit of the
convention with the United States, as it was
at the time of ratification, and now is, under
stood BIZ this Government.
The Interpretation which the British gov
crnmcnt, thus in assertion and act, persists i'll
ascribing to the convention, entirely changes
its character. While it holds us to all obliga-
tions, it in great measure releases Great Bri,
tain from those which constituted the consldc-
ration of this government for entering into
convention. 1t is impossible, inm 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 ef;
feet, The stipulations of the convention accor-
ding to its obvious import, by Withdrawing
from the possession or colonization of portions
of the Central American States of Honduras,
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the British Govern.
ment has at length replied, affirming that the
operation of the treaty is prospective only, and
did not require Great britain to abandon Oh
contract any possessions held by her in Central
america ut the date of its conclusion.
This reply substitutes partial issue, in the
place of the general one presented by the Uni
ted States. The British Government passc;
over the question of the right 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 rg hts comprchendcd
the protectorship of the Mosquito Indians, tho
extended jurisdiction and limits of the Balize,
and the colony of the Bay Islands, and there
upon proceeds by implication to infer that, il
the stipulations of the treaty be merely future
in effect, Great Britain may still continue tc
hold the contested portions Of Central America
The United States cannot admit either the ln'
ference or the premises. We steadily deny that
at the date of the treaty, Great Britain had any
possession there, other than the limited aud pc.
culiar establishment at the Balizc, and main
tain that, if she hadany, they were surrender,
ed by the convention.
This government, recognizing the obligations
Of the treaty, has OF course desired TO see it
executed i'll good faith by both parties, and i'll
the discussion therefore, has not looked tori "hts
which We might assert, independently of tho
treaty, in consideration Of our geographical po
sition and of other circumstances, which create
forus relations to the Central American States,
different from those Of any government OF Eu
rope.
The. British Government, in its last colnnlu
nication, although well knowing the views o
the United States, still declares that it secs nc
reason why conciliatory spirit may not enable
the two Governments to overcome all obstacle:
to satisfactory adjustment Of the subject
Assured of the correctness of the construc
tion of the treaty constantly adheredto by this
Government, and resolved toinsist on the right
of the United States, yet actuated also by the
same desire, which is avowed by the British
Government, to remove all causes of seriou;
misunderstanding between two nations associa
ted by so many ties of interest and kindred, II
has appeared TO ne proper not to consider al
amicablc solution Of the controversy hopeless
There is, however, reason to apprehend that
with Great Britain in the actual occupation o
the disputed territories, and the treaty there
fore practically null. 50 faras regards our rights
this international difficulty cannot long rcmair
undetermined, without involving in scriou:
danger the friendly relations, which it is the
interest rs well as the duty of both countries
to cherish and preserve. twill afford me sin
ccre qualification, if future efforts shall result
in the success, anticipated heretofore with moro
confidence than the aspect Of the case permit;
Inc now to entertain.
RECEUITMENT.-OncO other subject OF GiS
cuSSion between the United States and Great
Britain has grown cut of the attempt, whicl
the cxigcnccs Of the war in which she is ell
gagged with Russia induced her to make, tC
QIdW lccIullS iIoiH lllc HilCu 'NtitcS.
1t is the traditional and settled policy Of tllt
United States to maintain impartial neutrality
during the walls, which from time to time occu,
among the Great powers Of the world Per
forming all the duticsof neutrality toward; tho
respective bclli i@crcnt States, We may rcaSona
BY expect thcm n"t 10 Interfere with our law
Iul enjoyment Of its bencitS. No;witlSand
nw the existence Of such hc>tiiticS our cit
zcn$ retain the individual right 10 continue a!
thcir accustomed pursuits, by land or BY sea
at home on abroad subject only TO such rcStrlc
tiUns in this relation, rs the laws Of war, th'
usage Of nations, or special treaties, may i'm
pose and it is our sovereign right that ou
territory and Jurisdiction shall not b. invade,
, by either of the bclli.crent parties, for tho
transit of their armies, the operations Of lhcl
fleets, the levy Of troops, for their service, The
ttting out Of cruisers BY or against either, o
any other act OF incident war. And these un
3, deniablc rights Of neutrality, individual an'
national, the United States will under no cir
currstauccs surrender
In pursuance OF this policy, the laws oi th'
United States do not forbid their citizcms t,
sell to cithcrof the bcligercnt powers article:
contraLand of war, or to take MUNITIONS o
war or soldiers on board thcirpriyatc ships 10
tr.,n,,,,rt,ti,n and olthou"l. i'm 50 doing, the