The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-02
From the Panama star and Herald.


In our issue Of the 18th took occasion
mind our cotemporares abroad who TO be ignorant Of
the geographical position Of the sthmus Of Panama that 1t
never has been since s emancipation from Spain, geo
graphically or politically included in what denomRaed
the Central American States Il belongs to New Granada
since the period OF It's independence both under the old
Colombian confederation and since It's dissolution. Al
the time Panama declared is independence ii for
time debated whether she should join herself Guatemala
Central Amerca) Colombia and the latter finally
resolved and acted upon and all geographers have since
considered her within the limits Of South America.
That this is the admitted construction Is shown by the
extract gave from Lord Palmerstons official despatch
Sir H. Bulwer dated late a September 1885, and
thus have every believe il accepted BY
the United States in their Interpretation OF the
Clay tou- Bulwer treaty
1t is therefore somewhat strange that any respectable
journal will in the face OF this official admission persist
that the sthmus Of Panama in Central America and
cannot help thinking that many Of these journals have
sinister political object in view when they thus nsstae
the fact
We also in the number Of journal referred TO- show
"A hat Great Britain had actually promised or
Guaranteed any protection New Granada or the Panama
railroad : nter-oceanic route but that in the eighth
e.. r the C!arton.Buwer treaty -.
to do SOL that Is to say she HOLDS " eAaiHS :
extend protection ture day If the two 90 rHcung
parties the United States and herae should mutually de-
termne such step. Therefore the sth clause OF the
treaty merely povisiouary, not absolute and binding
This clear from the nature and scope OF the other pro-
visions Of the treaty. which specific and absolute The
preamble to the convention is in these words:
"The United States of America and her Britannia Ma
jesty being derous OF consolidating the relations Of ami
" which happily subst between them by setting forth
and fixing in convention their views and intentions
with reference any Of communication by ship
canal, which may be constructed between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans by the way Of the river San Juan de
k1tt sc aIalral NiraNa
Managua TO any port or place the Pacific ocean the
President Of the United States and her Britannia Majesty
conferred full powers upon their two respective agents
named in the Instrumentation the aforesaid purpose.
The first article declares that neither power shall
else exclusive control the proposed canal from the
Atlantic to the Pacific
The fourth article provides that the contracting powers
agree facilitate the construction Of the work
And article fifth stipuiaes that the completion of the
canal the contracting parties guaranty its neutrality 50
that il may forever remain open and free.
This shows, rs that the contracting parties in enter
ing into this convention had specific object in view to
wit the of shipcana the sthmus OF
Nicaragua, situated in Central America.
Second That neither party to exercise exclusive
troll the proposed canal.
Third That they both agreed to facilitate the work
Fourth. That the completion Of the canal they both
are to guaranty its neutrality, &c, &C.
Nothing Of this kind however appears in the treaty
regards the ishmus of Panama and trust therefore
that shall hear nothing about the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty prohibiting the United States from extending
protection if she choose this hitherto unprotected
route
PANAMA NOT CONNECTED WITH THE CENTRAL
AMERICAN QUESTION.
The last West India mail brought the intelligence
that the United States papers containing Mr Corwne
report the Panama had been we'd in En-
land and given uneasness lest the pro-
posed therein should tend open again the lately
Central American question Although do thai
any ofthe leading London daily journals aude the sub
ect draw any such inference from Mr. Corwines report
Of the minor and provincial papers take tie
up and descant upon it in that exhibits how ig
they upon the subject and how little they know
Of the geography Of this portion Of the globe.
The isthmus Of Panama IS not in Central America ana
therefore the Central American question Be affected
BY any the American government may think proper
to adopt protect the lives of its citizens and their prop
erty in this quarter Of the globe.
To prove this, il is only necessary quote the following
extract from despatch written by Lord Pamerston Ii
Sir Henry BuEer during the negotiations relative
celebrated Clay Bulwer treaty and published il late
parliamentary Blue Book
"FoaElGS OvFlcl Sept II, $50
al have received your despatch o. the Gtb ulumo and
with reference TO the question Which you cal my
ton, to the meaning OF the Z Central America
have observe that II will be sufficient for the purposes
the convention to the Central America %
comprising tio8e states which formed the republic
known by that name-thal say Guatemala Costa
Rica Nicaragua salvador and Honduras and it ia not
necessary that their boundaries should Be specially
fined"
II i mistake suppose that Great Britain has
tended any protection to New Granada or the Panama
railroad inter-oceAnc route will Be seen by The
following clause Of the Clayton Buwer treaty itself which
only states that the two contracting powers agree
tend &C.
VIII The governments Of Great Britain and the Uni
ted States having only desired in entering into this
establish general principle they hereby agree 70 extend
their protection BY treaty stpulaons any prac
cable Communications whether By canal railway,
the isthmus which connects North and South America
and especially 70 the nteroceanic communications should
the prove be practicable whether ~ canal rail
way which proposed 70 be established BY the
Of TehnantFpec Panama. In granting however their
Joint protection any such canals railways by
this article specified Il IL always understood by Great
Britain and the United STATES that the parties constructing
owning the shall impose other charges
dtious Of Rs thereup0n than the aforesaid government
shall approve Of just and equitable add that the
Of Great Britain and tho United States equal terms
shall alec e. cppn like the subjects and citizens
Of every Cfhr State which willing grant thereto snch
pruecga Great Britain and the United States engage
aECri.'
As . tie conclusions drawn BY Nr Corwine IN hs r.
port vh' m1ny journals have prominently forward
that pat hrh refers the United States taking the pro
tecdou u citizens into hands The qualify Inc
pertgu Il entirely overlooked and 10 better
than gi-s II UNLESS Nf1D Granada AFTER rHE rRoprr