The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-25

treaty This mode OF acquisition has been condemned
time and again in England and the transaction character
lied as ii deserved But never heard that pro-
posed by any morast statesman TO redress the
wrong by giving up the country, or oy any other COM
Mr. PEARcE-Mr President, intended some time ago
TO ask the indulgence Of the Senate TO hear the
subject of British relations, or some portion OF hem
but long indisposon detained me from the Senate At
the time when the subject under consideration For
obvious do not desire at present 70 renew the
general discussion but with the permission Of the Senate
propose 10 make brief statement relative TO the most
important point, not the only really difficult question,
in our negotiations with England respecting the Clayton
am about state presented in any OF the dispatches Of
the Secretary Of State or in the correspondence between
lord Clarendon and Mr.. Buchanan. will be recolected
that Lord Clarendon Of his letters to Mr. Buchanan
claims Great Britain the island OF Ruaan as one OF the
dependencies her Belize settlement Now, have seen,
N work Of authority reference to an ofcia letter from
British minister quite Inconsistent with that claim In
November 1885, Sir George Grey then the Secretary O.
Coke ESQ., who connected in some capacity, be-
eve with great corporation, called the "Ccnral Anne
RIGA Commercial and Agricultural Company" 70 which
important grants had been made by the State Of Guate
maa-n which letter the limits Of the Belize settlements
and their island dependencies as claimed by Great Br
tain are definitely stated.
These limits are thus stated
From the Rio Hondo on the north the river sarsocn
south and far NEST as CARROTS Falls on the river rHs e
on the north and the river Sarsfoon on the south
lying between the coast above defined meridian Of The
eastermost point Of Lighthouse Reef
u
book put out by for the company before mentioned
entitled IA brief statement of the important grants con-
coded the Eastern coast of Central America CONNER
cial and Agricultural Company by the State oil Gnatema-
la" published in 1889. find it quoted N me work
called ..The Gospel in Centrst Anterica by the Rev
Frederick Grove British missionary at the Belize ny
inspection Of the map given in this work, ana also OF
the map OF Central America prepared by order OF the
Senate at the Coast Survey Office it will al once be seen
that Roatan and all the colony of the Bay Stands esab
shed by Great Britain in 1850 lie TO the east OF the me-
rdan thus declared by Sir George Grey the eastern
,i,af,b ci0s n he
FORE late November, 1856, these isands were not
claimed by the British crown.
The old missionary, in the chapter on Expansive
limits in which he quotes this letter, adds
Since the time when this promulgated the expansive
propenss of this settlement have by no means diminished
peeed q have reached its fu growth or whereunto its d
mansions will ultimately extend
Orme's work was published in 1856, and we now see
that he did missate the capacity for extension OF the
Belize settlements, which now said to include koaan
and the ether Bay islands. think 1t quite manifest that
this claim Roatan, dependency Of the Belize, Is
utterly untenabe. Indeed, besides the disclaimer neces-
sariy implied in Sir George Greys letter, may be men
toned the fact stated by the same author that when
in 1880 this island seized by the commandment at
Belize and remonstnces were presented on the part OF
the federal authorities OF central america 70 ihe
British government, the seizure was disallowed"
SEINE reference 10 this Is made by Mr. Buchanan in
one of his letters to Lord Clarendon. and ! do not
find that his Lorshp denied the fact How, then,
or when, did il become a dependency OF Belize! BY
what rghttu authority by what act Of even doubtful
prorriety? No answer can be given but one which will
scarcely presented by the government of Great Pri
tain which looks with much disapprobation upon the
lust Of acquisition and thinks the greatest error oil the
American nation be the fbusterng propensity which
leads portion Of people to help themselves to foreign
lands and prompts government 70 wink at such at
temps in the hope Of annexatoni
Notwithstanding these disclaimers, the authorities ofthe
Belize again seized Rotan in 1sl and that act has not
beer davowed, though the seizure was made by haul
ing down the Honduras flag and inmidatng into submits
the single sergeant and four or five Indian soldiers
who maintained the possession for Honduras. Great
Britain pretend any title founded in an act Of
mer
Lord Clarendon seems to have changed his grount by
ayerrinc as he did in later letter statement that
Great Britain had acquired right to those islands by the
voluntary settlement Of some OF her SUBJECTS IN Koaan
These voluntary settlements are the same, presume,
which were made by of the white population a.d
emancipated slaves who went from the Grand Caynan
after the OF Parliament which entranchsed the ne
groes Of her West India possessions.
But surely this voluntary settlement by British sub
jects would Lot give shadow of sovereignty to
the British crown As well might be said that settle
ment made by Bahama fishermen, or turtle catcners on
one Florida Keys would transfer the sovereignty
from the United States TO Great Britain
forbear further remark The Senate OF the United
States has no authority in the conduct Of negotiations
and at the present time particularly, am unwilling TO
say anything which may seem to DC prompted ~
spirit OF hostility and III will to country with winch
there are on both Sides many reasons Tor preserving
merely formal amity, but cordial and sincere good
will.
The facts have mentioned not having found
place the various statements of the negoi!ators have
desired to place them on the records OF our debates
Mr.. CIAY1oy-I intended, when | first rose to-day, TO
make comment the remarks OF tue Earl oil Ga
rendon RET ard to his proposition OF arbitration he
tells the House of recrs-and is calculated to have its
eff ct upon the British public and suppose in this coun
try tootha he has offered to refer the whole Central
American question to some impartial government % nu
Marcy refused to arbtrate the responsibility OF refusing
pacific adjustment OF the controversy Here is what ne
said
then said that however clear the Of the treaty might
appear call il third party an mpartia, Judge to
determine what should be The 81 re
between individuals also added that we certainly had no
desire TO extend our that part Of The world that we
a he sn
BY the decision Whatever that what not
n s pG which could admit
not which government should propose 70
would hsers therefore ss;er iSans by By
no in at g a ee
50 long before the Of the United States
also do further because convinced that
hen the really to BE- crrr ne 10
bear upon upon all other political quesonswwhen the
having extend our territory or our influence in
Central and sincere wish 70 enter into en-
q accommodation viii not be refused uIear. hear)
Now sir when the Secretary Of State has such heavy
responsibility as is devoved him in reference to this
question: and acts ably and fairly as think ne has,
hold TO be my duty to sustain him. fully approve OF
the which he has adopted in reference to this mat
ter and especially his refusal TO arbtrate that part of
the controversy which relates 10 the construction Oh he
treaty. .
know very WELL sir, that nation which, under ordi-
nary circumstances refuses 70 consent to arbtraon
takes upon itself great responsibility Under such cir
in order 70 avoid this last fearful extremity,
ii the duty ofnatons TO refer controversies am Will
ing concede that but here the terms are not equal
Look it. and what is that We are TO refer LOOK
and what will be their condition the decision should
be against them and what would be ours il should be
against US.
Sir the passage through the sthmus is necessity to
usan indispensable necessity we must nave H. or give
up possessions the Pacific but how i with them'
II they retain the entire control of the Isthmus they can
in time Of cut Off from all our possessions on the
Pacific coast and all trade with twothrds OF the globe
They have nothing to lose compared with what must
lose by adverse decision decision against us might
be fatal 10 decision against them would Affect them
but very little II does appear to me- say again, asl
have said before, 10 be insult 10 common sense-~is
an insult the common sense Of this naon-to contend
on the plain words Of the treaty that the government OF
Great Britain did not intend 10 give up any substantial
interest whatever which they had in Central America
Irhnk Cno man ought TO refer the question whether
his hat his coat his shirt, or bis house, his righul
possession We would do better to fight at for what
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