The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-14
Our Difficulties with England.

tiOuf-nis NJ ieHSNH uc'h pNtn w Nlc NbaN-
try. Il is astonishingly yoluminous, en-
bncing, we believe, eight or ten hundred
foolscap pages. After surveying this ava
lanche Of State correspondence, Il does not
appear surprising that the principles involy-
cd baye been buried up and lost sight Of,
that counsel has been almost hopclessly
% darkened by words" that the good tenn
per Of both parties has been exhausted, and
that the whole controversy has been well
nigh involved in inextricablc confusion. II
any OF our readers fancy 1t would BE- pleas
ant or profitable to wade through this drcary
Sahara Of diplomatic prolixity, We shall
have to refer them 10 the heavy journals Of
Washington and New York, for the mems
Of gmtiiying their taste. We connot even
present brief synopsis Of the heads Of the
correspondence, without too great sacrifice
of valuable space, 10 say nothing OF the
.. golden moments" that might be wasted
over il, by our readers. The most we can
attempt Is, 10 notice briefly one or two i'm
portant facts brought out by these docu-
ments. ~
IL will be remembered that the statement
has been made officially in the British Par
lament, that proposition had been offered
10 our government, to refer the Central
American question TO arbitration, and had
been rejected. 1t appears that Lord Clarn-
don, in general conversation with Mr.. Blu
chanan, spoke of arbitmtion, though not in
such a way as 10 lead the American minister
to regard the offer rs distinctly made. These
conversations were reported TO our govern
ment, but not being in shape for action,
I n. a..s ..F L..
fore, Lord Clarendon publicly announced
that the British government had proposed
mediation, Mr.. Buchanan waited upon him,
Feb. 9th, 1867 to inquire when and how
such proposal WAS made. Tho result Of
this interview is thus related by Mr.. Bucba-
nan o
" He replied his statement was founded
on our different conversations, and that in
these he had several times proposed to me
the reference Of these questions a. arbitration,
and he expressed the hope that had COM
inundated his propositions to my Govern
ment. informed him that had faithfully
reported 10 youall the conversations weheld
in reference 10 an arbitration, but had not
believed that what he said ON these occasions
amounted to such an offer rs could be recog-
nized by our government, as n foundation
for specific action ON 80 grave matter.
H. observed that before holding these con-
VIBRATIONS with me, he had consulted his
Cabinet, and spoke their sentiments rs well
as his own. remarked that this fact had
now for the first time been communicated 20
Inc. He said he thought as a matter Of
course, that would consider what he bad
said to me had been said after his consulta.
ton with his Cabinet.
In reply, observed had thought that
when one nation desired 10 propose 20 an
other the submission of an International dis-
pute TO arbitration, IL was done by writing,
in due form. Such had been their own
course when they proposed to arbitnte the
Oregon question. Besides, the President
might, il he thought proper, consult the
Senate on the question, and what would he
thought by that body if such proposition
were presented to them in the loose lprm Of
various conversations between him and my
self, which, after all, might through mis-
take or inadycrtencc not have reported cop
rectly.
told him, whenever hadspOken TO him,
, | had always been careful to assure him that
! was expressing my own individual senti-
ments, without any instruction or IniOma-
ton from my Government, and these remain
ed unchanged. also observed, his last let
tor to mo, finally denying our construction
Of tho treaty, and forcing the issue between
the two governments, might appropriately
have contained proposition forarbiiration, !.
and in this manner the question might have
been brought IN regular form before our
Government.
lie then for the FIRST time, informed me
that hc had addressed dispatch to Mr..
Champion on the subject, with instructions
to him to read it to you, and he informed
cd me that all you had said about It IN Mr..
Champion was, that the matter was in Alr.
Buchanan's hands.
lie proceeded To express decided opinion
in favor of arbitmtion, and said when two
friendly governments disagreed upon the
construction of n treaty, the natural and
most appropriate course was TO refer the
question to third friendly power. lie had
ever believed their construction of the treaty
to be correct. He then requested the 10
communicate TO you their proposals for an
arbitration, and how anxious they were that
the question might be settled In this man
ncr.
told him should chccrfully comply
with his request, but repeated, that my own
individual opinion remained unchanged.
considered the language of the treaty too
clear for serious doubt, and such believe
was the opinion of public men of all parties
in the United States. This had been e,inCed
by recent debate in The Senate on tbc Pres
ident's Message. Besides, the difficulty of
selecting n suitable sovereign as an arbitrator,
seemed insurnountablc; but tins, said,
was a question for my Government, and not
for myself"
The dispatch to Mr.. Cmmpton, referred
10 above, was not communicated 70 our gov
eminent until Feb. 9TH, through an unac-
countable oversight on the part OF that min
ister. SO II appears that Lord Clarendon
was little too fast, in reporting that the
United States had refused 20 accept an offer
Of arbitration. However, the offer Is now
before our government, and will probably
receive due attention. Arbitration would
seem to be the most Appropriate method Of
adjusting the Central American difficulty,
but the trouble will be, TO find power suf-
fcicntly dsintercsted and independent to adj
Jucate upon the matter.
In regard to the enlistment difficulty, the
correspondence which has just been submit
tel To Congress shows that no sufficient apol-
ogy was offered, but rather an attempt was
made to justify, or at least to palliate the
offence. Moreover, Lord Clarendon charges
that extraordinary measures, such as " are
by NIL free and enlightened gov
ernments, have been employed 10 obtain
evidence against Her Majesty's servants in
this matter. He also intimates that the
United States have not been altogether neu-
trail in the war, although they ploiess en-
tire neutrality, large quantities Of arms,
ammunition and warlike stores having been
sent from this country 10 Russia. lir. Mar
cy's reply to these impcriinent charges is as
satisfactory rs il is sharp and pointed. Tho
correspondence close, with note from our
government, demanding the recall Of Mr.
Champion, and Consuls Rowecroft, Mathew
and Barclay, all Of whom are implicated in