The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-29

Our advices from England, a. will be seen else
where enable US to announce the definitive solu-
ton of the Central American Question at
least SO far as concerns the only vital part of the
controversy viz: the Colony Of the Bay Islands"
The remaining issues in the controversy are also
adjusted, as far as circumstances will admit; and
We may now regard the whole question, to all
intents and purposes, settled.
The principles of the adjustment are precisely
those set forth in the HERALD in April last in an
article entitled The Common Sense Solution of
the Central American Question which we re-
produce in another column. This article, at the
time Of its appearance, was copied into the Lon
don Tines and has evidently been followed by
the British government and the various negotia-
tors in their arrangement Of the question. Up
to the appearance of that article, the govern
ments of Great Britain and the United States had
treated the question of Central America as one
affecting themselves alone; forgetting in their
controversies, as they had previously forgotten in
their treaties, that the States of Central America
the parties most deeply interested-were entitled
to be heard as principals in the pending negotia-
TONS The diplomatists of both countries ex-
hausted themselves in the discussion of construc-
tons Of treaties affecting Central America, Who'll
ly ignoring the rights Of that country, and SEEM
ingly blind to the fact that no arrangement from
which those States were excluded, could have any
binding force, or constitute good and permanent
settlement of the questions at issue. The longer
the discussions continued, therefore, the further
both parties receded from settlement Proceed
ing upon vicious principle and however con-
forming to diplomatic ethics, certainly disregard
ing common sense, Mr.. Buchanan and Lord Cla-
rendon carried on their dreary correspondence
until finally they arrived at what is called q
dead lock"-one affirming position which the
other Numerically denied. This state of things
was announced by the President to Congress in a
despairing message, and it seemed as if the field
of negotiation was finally closed, and no solution
open except through the ultima ratio Of arms.
A result like this which placed the two great
maritime nations of the world in an attitude Of
direct hostility towards each other could not fail
to create dissatisfaction and alarm. This alarm
was not diminished when both governments
fastened to augment their squadrons in the Gen.
trail American waters, and the public saw with
establishment the peace of the world risked in tie
discretion Of score or two Of rival naval COM
manders, acting under instructions necessarily of
considerable latitude. Every man of reflection,
both in England and America, felt that in mo-
ment of excitement or Jealousy an unlucky gun
might be fired, on one side or the other, which
would at once bring on a bloody and disastrous
war. The affair Of the burning of San Juan de
Nicaragua, by Captain Hollins, had taught them
that the discretion Of naval commanders was not
always in the proportion Of their responsibilities
and they saw that with every day the question
Of Central America WINS left open, the danger Of
collision and consequent hostilities would in
crease. To such pass had diplomacy brought
the relations between the United States and
Great Britain-the two nations of the world
most interested in the preservation of peace.
Such was the result of five years spent in treaty
making, protocolling, corresponding, and speech
ifying-such the sum total of the labors of the
Claytons and Bulwers, the Palmerstons, Web
sters, Everetts, Marcys, Buchanans, and Claren-
dons-such the latest triumph Of that monstrous
remnant of medieval charlatanry, dgnifed un-
der the name of diplomacy.
1t was then, as we took occasion to intimate
in the article already referred to- that infu-
ences, not originating with either the govern
ment of the United States nor with that of Great
Britain were set to work. under the inspirations
Of common sense, and in a spirit frank and loyal
to adjust question to which diplomacy had con-
fessed itself incompetent. \ was then that in
telligent citizens Of the United States and Great
Britain, unconnected with governments and lega-
tons, having no objects to subserve but the COM
mon interests of both countries united in review
ing the whole controversy, with a view to it's
speedy and honorable adjustment. They pre-
vailed upon the government Of Honduras to
name special minister to England, not to enter
into long and wearisome discussion but to bring
about solution Of the questions affecting that
State, which were understood to be the most i'm
portant in the entire Central American complica-
tion. They urged that he should be instructed
TO represent TO the British government that the
great issue was primarily and legitimately be-
tween England and Honduras, and that no set
Element, by arbitration or otherwise, of construc-
tons Of treaties, as between the United States
and Great Britain, could affect the question
of right, or dispose of the real issue in
the case. Also, that be should represent
that while appealing to the British government
for justice, If such appeals were unheeded Hon
duras would reserve to herself the right, at any
time, and under such circumstances as she should
deem favorable, TO enter into any alliance or
other relationship for regaining possession of the
territories Of which she had been illegally de-
prived. And furthermore, as an evidence Of her
liberality and good faith and with an apprecia-
ton Of the duties as well as the advantages Of
her geographical position on the highway Of ma
tons between the two seas to offer TO Great Bri-
tain and the whole commercial world perfect
freedom Of transit through her territories, over
any route that might be constructed and through
u-binh oba xrac 10 ,,ala e. .sa.X.