Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-01-04
TpRESIDENT's MESSAGE.

tb Of the session but my convictions Of duty will no
permit me longer ing s0 upon the
the Congress informant Of the state OF the Onon' a
commend to their consideration sucn nc"s"l'S &c ~
Judge necessary and expedient ,, U1,1;o is tram
If Is matter of congratulation that the KepuDpe
gully advancing oxgs4Ra ea
tions amty continue to exist grave questions
and all foreign with some OF idsration of Con
are depending which may require the "a WV
gress' ~ estions the most important that, which has
ot Of the negotiations with Great Britain IN reference
to Ge1ta Aa1Vention concluded the two govern
ts on the 10 of April $780, both parties coYenantea
that neither will ever occupy, ortity or colon1e
assume or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua
Rica the Mosquito coast, any part OF CenaI "a. So
N making this treaty that all the present states OF tne lot
mer republic of Central America, and the enIe d
IL Would thenceforth enjoy complete independence anu
that both contracting parties engaged equally ana -
extent for the present ana iS ortT SmTea such
claim and all occupation authority under 1t, were une
servedy relnquhed ~ the OF the o as
sumed any part OF Central America, by VreaC Dr' VI
This government consented to restrictions in regard to
region Of country wherein had specific and pecua III
teests, only upon the conviction that tne lAP But
for this understanding the and effect OF the conVe
tin Is mid never 6aye been concluded by US.
So clear was this understanding the part OF the
States that correspondence contemporaneous Win
faon Of the convention it was distinctly expressed that
be ns covenants of non occupation not intended to
apply British establishment at the Balze ms
Gdaon is to be acrbod to fact, that in virtue OF sue
essive treaties with previous sovereigns of the country
Great Britain had obtained concession OF the rgn 70 eu
mahogany or dye-Woods BaZe, but with posltVe OK
%sio6 Of ali domain or sovereignty; and thus confirms the
natural construction and understood import OF the treaty
to all the of the region to which the
II however became apparent, early day aftcr enCer
ing upon the discharge of my present Ia lace
Britain still continued in the exercise OF 81 M
authority in all part of Central America commonly car
led the Mosquito coast and covering the eHero @ b rue
State of Nicaragua. and part OF costa IIlca tn @
garded the Baze her absolute domain ana was
ras and that she had formally coonized conSdeaoe l
suar group known the Bay Islands, and belonging u
AM these acts or pretenons of Britain, being con-
trary rights of the States Of Central Amec1 ana 10
the manifest of her stpuations with the United
understood by this government have oeeh laue me ~
iect of negotiation through the American Minister IN Lon
don transmit herewith the instructions to Dim on che
subject and the correspondence him and the British
Secretary for Foreign Affairs. by which you Wlll perez
as to the construction the convention and its effects on
their respective relations to Central America
al bs sp preTo e the Mosquito
coast and different parts of Central America these pre-
tensions to the Mosquito coast are founded on tne as
sumption of political relation between Great Britain and the
tribe of Indians that coast, entered into al
time when the whole country was colonial possession
Spain cannot be successfully controversial that by th
public law of Europe and America no possible act Of Su?L
Indians or their predecessors could confer on re'
Great Britain alege the assent of Spain tn
origin of her claims the Mosquito coast She has, On tn
contrary by repeated and successive treaties renowned
renquhed ali pretensons of her and recognised tn
terms Yet these pratensons So without solid foundation
the beginning and thus repeatedly ahured were at recen
States, the legitimate to all the ancient urls
dction of Spain in that region. They first applied on
defined part Nicaragua, afterwards to tn
whole of Atlantic coast, and lastly to part OF the coas
of Costa Rca and they reas3erted to this extent
notwithstanding engagements to the United States
On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rlea the II
reference OF Great Britain though exered at one time
Norte then in the peaceful possession of the appropriate at
horteS OF the C9htral American states Is new sen H.
her as the ghtu exercise OF protectoshp over inc MO-
But the establishment at the Baize now reaching far
OF
of the Bay islands, appertainng of right to the same Stat
are as distinctly colonial governments as those of Jamaica
Canada and therefore contrary to the letter well
the spirit of the convention with the United States as IL WI
the time ratification, is understood by tn
government
The Interpretation which the British government thus
assertion and act persists in ascrbng to the convention
tirey changes its character. While holds to all Of
legations it in great releases Great Britain fro
those which constituted the consideration of this
for entering into the convention 1t is impossible, i'll
judgment for the United States acquiesce in such
ructon of the respective relations of the two
to Central America.
To renewed call by this government upon Great Brtai
to abide by and carry into effect the stipulaOn of the
vention according to its obvious import by withdrawing
the possession or COLONIZATION Of portions of the Central
mencan States of Honduras Nicaragua, and Costa Rca
British government has longth replied, affirming that
operation of the treaty is prospective only and did not
qure Great Britain to abandon contract possesso
held by her Central America at the date of its concuso
This reply substitutes partial issue, in the place of
general presented by the United States. The Britt
government passes the question of the rights of Gre
Britain real supposed in Central America, and assun
that she had such rights at the date Of the treaty. and tt
those rights compehended the proectorshp Of the Mosqu
Indians the extended jurisdiction and limits of the Bali
and the colony OF Bay Islands, and thereupon proceeds
implication to infer, that, the tpuations of the treaty
merely future in effect, Great Britain may still continue
hold the contested portions of Central America The Uni
States cannot admit either the inference the premises
steadily deny that the date of the treaty Great Brit
had any possessions there, other than the limited and
liar establishment at the Balze, and maintain that if
had any, they surrendered by the convention.
his government, recognizing the obligations OF the tt
ty has of course desired executed good faith
both parties and in the discussion therefore, has not loo
rights which might assert independently of the
consideration of geographical position and of other
cumsances, which create for relations to the Central
merican States, different from those Of any government
Europe
The British government, in its last communication,
though well knowing the views of the United States,
declares that 1t sees why cOnclatOry spirit
not enable the two all obstacle
satisfactory adj ustment of the subject.
Assured of the correctness of the construction of the tr
constantly adhered to by this government, and resolve
insist the rights of the United States yet actuated
the DESIRE which avowed by the British gov
men to remove all of serious misunderstanding
tween two nations associated by ties of interest
kindred, it has appeared to proper not to consider
cable solution of the controversy hopeless.
There is however, to apprehend that with @
Britain in the actual occupation of the disputed terrific
and the treaty therefore practically NULL far regards
rights this international difficulty cannot long remain
ermned without involving in serious danger the friendly
atlons, which it is the interest well the duty of
countries to cherish and preserve 1t will afford sin
qualification, If future efforts shall result in the
tclpated heretofore with confidence than the
the case permits to entertain.
RECRUITMENT.-O othor subject of discussion betv
attempt which the exgencies of the which she is
gagged with Russia induced her to make, to draw reel
from the United States.
the traditional and settled policy the United
to maintain impartial neutrality during the wars which
time TO time occur among the great powers of the
Performing all the duties of neutrality towards the
1--WE oelgeren states, we may rtasonably expect them
to Interfere with our lawful enjoyment of its benefits
withstanding the existence of such hostiltes, cit
retain the individual right continue all their
"a,