The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

| lie, much to the qualification of the Admins.
tration, anxious as it is to turn the eyes of the
People from its war against Freedom in
Kansas. The answer to the despatch of Mr..
Marcy, requesting the recall of Mr.. Champion,
did not arrive by the last steamer. 1t is not
expected that the request will be acceded to
and the Administration will then have to de.
eide whether to dismiss the British Minister, OF
reconsider its policy. Possibly, Lord Claren
don may so shape his reply, as to furnish an
occasion for reconsideration, and in that case,
the earnest representations of Southern Sena-
tors, apprehensive of a collision with England
may induce the adoption of moderate counsels
| by the President. The dismissal of Mr. Cramp.
| ton, however, will not be a cause of war, al
though it may interpose new obstacles to the
| settlement of the Central American difficulty.
This question has perhaps become some.
what more complicated. In the volume of off
cial correspondence on Central American az
fairs, lately submitted to Parliament, is the fol-
lowing despatch, printed generally in the Eng
lish newspapers:
Mr.. Champion to the Earl of Clarendon.
WASHINGTON, March 81, 1856.
1t will be within your loraship's recollection
that Mr.. Clayton was informed by Sir Henry
Bulwer, before the treaty of 1850 was signed,
| that Ruatan was de jure and de factO British
possession and Mr.. Clayton has, on various
occasions since IN conversation aciM me, stated
that he considered Ruatan as much British
possession as Jamaica, or any other British
Vest India island.
Mr.. Clayton availed himself of the earliest
opportunity, last week, in the Senate, to set him
self right on this point. He pronounced the
statement, in every particular, untrue. He had
said nothing like it to Mr.. Champion, or any
| one else. He also stated, that in a converse
ton held by him and Mr.. Champion, in the
presence of Mr.. Crittenden, Mr.. Champion
had declared that there was nothing on record
to commit Mr.. Clayton to the British preten-
| sions respecting Ruatan. Mr.. Crittenden rose,
and confirmed Mr.. Clayton's statement, gene
rally, although he could not remember all that
was said. Towards the close of the session,
the subject being again referred to- Mr.. Fish,
of New York, gave, from recollection, the sub
stance of a conversation he had held with Mr..
| Champion, con6rmatory of the statement of
Mr.. Clayton. The point confirmed by the tes-
timony of Messrs. Crittenden and Fish, seems
to be, that Mr.. Champion had declared that
there was nothing ON record to commit Mr..
Clayton to the British pretensions in respect
to Ruatan. Mr.. Champion, however, in his
despatch, does not say that there is anything
on record, but that Mr.. Clayton had, in CONFER.
sation, committed himself
We cannot but remark how loosely all the
negotiations in regard to those Central Ameri.
can Affairs appear to have been conducted.
The agents intrusted with their management,
on both sides, have been constantly misunder-
standing one another. Lord Clarendon talks
frequently of arbitration, insists that it is the
best mode of settling the difficulty, but, making
no formal proposition on the subjecs to the
United States, Mr.. Buchanan treats it jocularly,
evades the subject, and conveys to his own Gov.
eminent the impression that no overture of the
kind has been made. Mr.. Champion receives
from Lord Clarendon despatch, directing him
to submit the offer of arbitration to our Govern.
ment, overlooks the instructions and not un.
til many months afterwards, discovers his de-
linquency! Then comes this despatch of the
same Minister, declaring that Mr.. Clayton has
admitted, IN conversation, that Ruatan is as
much British possession as Jamaica, followed
by the point blank denial of Mr.. Clayton, with
his witnesses, to prove that Mr.. Champion ad.
United that there was nothing on record to
prove Mr.. Clayton committed in any such way.
1t would almost seem as if it were the intan-
ton of the several agents in this business to
misunderstood one another, and prevent an
amicable arrangement of the controversy.
Finally, new disturbing element is sprung
upon us in the anomalous condition of Mica.
ragua. Like the rest of Central America, this
State has been the scene of continual disorder.
Armed factions have been constantly strug.
Cling for the mastery, placing life and property
In perpetual insecurity. At last, one of the
factions invites Colonel Walker, an American
filibuster, to step in, with whatsoever forces he
can raise, as an auxiliary. In despite of our
Neutrality Laws, and vigorous attempts to en-
force them, he leaves California with armed
emigrants, lands in Nicaragua, marches to the
aid OF the Democratic faction or party, puts
down all opposition, institutes regular, and,
apparently, a stable Government. A native.
born Nicaraguan becomes President, and the
Cabinet generally is composed of natives.
Walker himself is appointed Generalissino of
the forces, and an American is sent to the
United States to represent the new Govern
ment. The Administration, taking exception
to him personally, assuming that the new
Government is of too recent date to be pro-
nounced upon, and unwilling, by undue haste,
to give countenance to revolution, effected
really by American citizens, who had gone
armed from the United States, in violation
OF United States law, refused to receive him.
or to recognise the Revolutionary Govern
rnent. Meantime, Nicaragua goes "ahead. y
exercising all the functions of a well-organized
State, makes treaties with some of its neigh.
bors, war with others; and, owing to the ab-
sence Of any official intercourse with this conn.
try, adops regulations subjecting American
citizens to annoyance and loss. All the while,
too, clamor is kept up by a large portion of
the Democratic party against the Administra-
ton, for violation of the traditional police of
this country, which is, to recognise the actual
Government of a foreign State, without refer
ence to the question, by what right it exists.
At last, the Administration yields its scruples,
and native-born Nicarsguan, Father Angus
tin Vyll, presenting his credentials on the l4th
OF May, as Minister of the Republic of Ncara-
| qua, IS received, and the new Government,