The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-07


early period the Mosquito Indians had been treat
ed by the British Government a separate and
Independent State; had what was called King,
who, by the way, was as much King you or
|; that Nicaragua, having never before been in
possession of San Juan, had taken possession OF
that town, and that the British had driven her
away from it; that the Nicaraguans had, as Lord
Palmerston alleged, in bad faith, granted to
American citizens right to open the proposed
passage through a territory of which she was not
in possession. and that the British Government
had therefore given notice to those grantees OF
its intention to regard the contract as void
one" But he added, d" that a suspicion seemed
to be entertained by some persons in the United
States, that the British Government wished to
plant new Colony on the San Juan; that there
was not the slightest foundation for that susp
cion as Great Britain had already more Colonies
than she could manage; that as to any idea of
her holding exclusive possession OF the mouth
of the San Juan, as the key of the contemplated
inter-oceanic passage, nothing could be further
from her mind; and that if any plan could be
suggested by which Great Britain and the Uni
ted States could unite in promoting, by their
Joint influence and mutual cooperation, the
opening of a great channel by the way of Lake
Nicaragua, and declaring it common highway
for the use and benefit of all nations, it would
receive the most favorable consideration of her
Maiesty's Government
The treaty was fully ratified on the 4th of
July 1850 but took effect from its date, April
9th, 1850. IL recites the purpose OF the parties,
namely to consolidate amicable relations by
setting forth and fixing their mutual views and
intentions concerning any inter-oceanic canal
| that NAV be constructed by the way of the River
San Juan and either one or both of the Lakes of
Nicaragua or Manegua. The stipulations which
| come most directly under review on the present
occasion are
ARrI Neither party will ever obtain or maintain for
itself exclusive control the contemplated canal
Neither Will any iorthc alton com
nsndins the same the vicinity thereof
Neither will occupy forify, colonize or assume
exercise dominion Nicaragua Costa Rica The
Mosquito Coast. o any part OF Central America.
Neither Will Use protection which either ahoius of
may afford any alliance which either has or may have
10 or win any state or People Tor the purpose Va
maintaining such Qualifications or OF occupying or
coonzing Nicaragua Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast or
any part OF Central America or OF assuming OF
any dominion the
Neither will take advantage of any intimacy or use any
alliance connection influence, that either may possess
with any state or People whose territory the canal
may pass for The purpose OF acquiring or holding directly
indirectly. for ais ciillcns or sueclS, amy uea""
rights or advantages OF commerce or navigation
Arr ~ The parties Will use their influence win any
State States Governments possessing or claiming
ur dction right tbs territory through which the
canal -all pass induce them 10 favor ITS construction
aud their good Offices whenever or however may
be most xpedieni procure the establishment OF two
free ports. each end of the canal
ART VI. fhe parties engage 10 LyIie every State IN
friendly with both either Of them, enter
into spualions similar I'D those contained IN this treaty
that all share the honor and advan-
a.es having contributed the construction of the
teinplated canal And each OF the contracting parties
shall enter into treaty stpulaions with such of the Central
American they may deem advisable for the
purposc carrying the object OF the treaty-namely
Inc construction and maintenance of the canal a ship
canal between The Oceans the benefit of mankind
Arr VII. The parties determine TO give their support
and encouracrmeut To the rsons or company who shs
offer build the canal with tho necessary capital
and of the local authorities, and TO any such
company, already existing may have contract which
Is justly unot:ecionable 10 the parties
ART VIII The parties declare that, besides the psrtic
purpose the treaty before stated they have the
further and broader object establish general prnc
pie; AID so they agree to extend Their proecuon by
treaty srpulaons, 10 any other practicable communca
whether by canal or railway, across the lsthnus,
cspccIslly those contemplated 10 be made by the
ways OF Tehuaniepec and Panama
1t was a great treaty, sublime in its concep-
ton generous in its spirit, and benefcent in its
purposes. The two rival members of the British
family, after long and angry alienation met not
within the territory of either, but that foreign
and narrow Isthmus which, while it unites
North and South America, divides the vigorous
Atlantic States of Europe and America from the
immature American States and the decayed Ash
attic nations which on opposite coasts overlook
the broad Pacific, the last remaining one of the
barriers which Nature had erected to hinder the
restoration of the unity of the human race. How
were they changed since they had last met in
conflict. The elder had grown richer, stronger,
| and more imperial than ever before. The young
| err had reached higher and more palmy state
| than any one of years few had ever before at
tanned. They were longer unequal but each
was dominant, although in separate sphere
| The one by the presence of its mercantile marine
| and its armed navy kept the nations of the East
| in their places; the other, by the mere influence
| of its opinions and its laws, was supreme among
!, The newer nations of the West. They met or
dominion o,ot -.r"it not to contend together fol-
lfy-I1p m
,o make it free to each other and equally nv
all mankind They met in the presence OF IN
| feeble and contentious Republics winch tue lhnu
80 of their own institutions had perhaps to
soon organized out Of the runs Q, pnd bG
gate those Republics, and seize the domains ,vhic
they could not hold, but to fortifv them. an
: guaranty their possessions to them forever.
~ not the present, but the future that stamu
upon human transactions their true and lss,ip
character Higher than the fame of Agincour
oil Saratoga. of Waterloo, or of Buena Vista. shat
he the glory of that conjunction of Great Britai
ana America, on the heights that command the re
pose oil the world. The truce they made there wa
not effected without mutual self-denial acquire,
under the discipline OF free government Grea
| pri.aih repreSsed Il constitutional ambition tina
had long convulsed the world. The United State
suou"ed one that Nature prompted and thu
voice OF mankind applauded and ENCOURAGED
|
friendly Powers engage in deadly strife and dis
cord and violence be thus let loose to arrest th
| progress OF the nations. Better for the nride q
each, that the white cliffs that garrison the coas
oil England sink into black and pestilential mo
rass, and that Niagara lose forever its deeptone,
voice, and ooze through a vulgar channel to TIT
sea, than that the great and sonorous eonoac
mus estaohshed between them he rudely BIRD Nn
| | counsel you, Senators and statesmen of tbefp;
| States.
| the love of such land as ours in such an 40,
| As thls-l counsel the Senators and statesme,
| OF Great Britain by all the motives that greatness
| and ambition like her own will not permit tn he
| inactive, to preserve and maintain. at all coat.
and hazards, and through all discontents anC
| Jealousies, this great treaty Let this politica
rainbow stand, stretching from the skies down
| wards on elther side to the horizon, pledge tina
any the nations shall not again be overwhelmed
by atter-coming deluge of human passions.
shall examine first the question concerning
the Mosquito Coast. The United States ipsis
that Great Britain is bound by the treaty to with.
draw from that district. Great Britain denies
| the obligation
The United States take their stand on the fai,
ana natural effect of the language contained in
the treaty. Its stipuations are that Great Brit.
am snail not obtain or maintain any colony OIL
| occupation, or exercise any dominion over Mica.
| ragua, Costa Rica the MOSQUITO Coast or an,
| part OF central America. Great Britain assert,
that the stipulations are only prospective. and do
not take hold upon and terminate any occupation
or colony or dominion of hers which is exi,tinc
at the time when the treaty is concluded. She
argues that such an effect is merely inferential
whereas, II 1t had been intended, It would have
been embodied in the form of an express rennn.
| citation.
1t seems to me that the remuneration does no
rest IN an Inference only, bat is explicitly express
| ed. The treaty is very brief. 1t grasps man,
great interests of the United States. of Grea