The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-03

Britain, under the Cla3 ton bulwer treaty." ne
thought il world ts desirable to put II ON It's right
footing" lie does 10 by bis CONCLUSIONS fortified by
the opinion o. the Queens Advocate, to which
have already referred. and which proves that q
weak country may lie traverfed by an unressted
srmy, exercising no power, and occupying no
srace; and that such wsrlike expedition is the
iar fuiflmcnt of treaty which sought, with
Jealous, vigilance TO exclude both parties from the
exercise II any influence by one, which might
lie tn,ed to tie injury OF the other Lord Clarendon
in ,hs letter 10 Nj. Champion, went over the
whole matter az d this was my conclusion as to the
courso of the British government They will hold
Oh TO ell their pietensiODs, ind will rot sacrifice their
interest 10 misconceptions that Is Lord Claren.
dous tenn for construction OF the treaty." The
iulfEent has come.
referred few days since, to the anxiety of the
British government to obtain an ascendency in
tie South American country, in order to control
tie great highway across the Isthmus, rendered Of
incalculsble importance by orr acquisitions upon
the Pacific coast. Accident had brought to light
document cOnfrmat0Iy Of these VIEWS 1t is q let
ter fiom the British VceConsul at Granada to Lord
Pslnsrston, dated April 4, ls4o, in which that
fpctionaty speaking of the projects Of the citizens
Of the United States Tn establish a communication
with the Pa rie by the route Of the San juan says
TINT this 81 other circuI ances had Injured the
British interests. and that the country twill
fc o,enJn by North American adyenturers unless
an ananlen eLt is made by negotiation for pro-
tec'orate End transit favorable to the British inter-
esfs," &c. .ttt. tstt.s
Elt the git Of the correspondence Is in the con-
cludie paragraph, where the writer says: " The
welfare # II country and desire of its obtaining
the control Of so desirable spot in the commercial
world, ard free it from the competition Of adven
turesone race az the North Americans, mpels me
TO address Your lordship with such freedom" We
have here key to the whole line OF policy which
dictated Gnd yet dictates the course Of England.
There war little ecessity Tor the Consul to depre-
position vert, no donbt, to the head and heart Of
bis lordslip- perhaps it was followed by promotion.
Tie prospect that a route across the continent by
canal or railroad would be undertaken and accom-
Iisltd ly our citizens, pnqnestionaby led the Bri
tel government, q such portion Of IT a. favored the
measure. to erter into this treaty with view to
insure q participation in the advantages The
parties jointly agleed, IN the words l have
aheady quoted, that neither should occupy
or foriify. or assume, or exercise dominion over
Central America, including Mosquito, &C." OBJ
served On a former occasion, that could not con.
ctiye Why the word occupy would not have fulfilled
nafms were introduced into the treaty rendering it,
perhaps. doubtful by overlooking it with words.
am low enabled TO do justice to our negotia.
tor, tie honorable Senator from Delaware, (Mr.
hini-a,d to soy that this redundancy OF Language
was 10 fault OF his, but that he was placed In BIT
uten which rendered 1t proper to yield to their in
seItion. though inclined against it. But must also
make the omtnGe Ieno' atle. and acknowledge that
in NY opi1icn, formed upon subsequent circum
ftancts whether II pbraseoloey Of the treaty has
leep concise or proix the construction would have
teen tcrepoIe c0nc si0n and Just what It now il
We fhonM have he'd the same prudential interpreta
ton " b Oh is baowed in English diplomacy, and
which, merry years since. was applied to treaty
between Spain Of England in relation to this very
regiop Of country. THIS remarkable or rather re
na,kably dir graceful incident was alluded to the
other day but it will bear repetition as useful les
son in tie nazes OF a toftuous policy.
A treaty was concluded in 1888 between Spain
ard EnglaI D., the sixth article Of which provided
- %Aah Sfrn rnfr a
portion q tie" Continent Espagnol" There was
great rel ctarce on the part OF the British Cabinet
to this witldrawsI and at the same time strong
desi,e to terminate the pending war by the concia
s,on Of treaty. Tie King was honestly inclined
ard hcstita'ed to give his assent. Mr.. Fox, then
ore Of tie ministers, undertook to remove his OBJ
jections. He urged thatit was in their power to pa
their own Interpretation upon the words Continent
Espsgro," and TO determine upon prudential con
sidtiaticnt- IL at is the term" whether the Mos
quito sh, re came under that description or not.
And this exIedient prevailed, and though Mr.. Foz
and lis associates knew full we'll TO speak in plair
| who thought, as everybody else thinks, that tht
wtrcs Sranhh continent meant that portion Of thu
| American continent, yet the treaty was concluded
| ard Iatfed and prudential considerations" ex
cludtd tie Mosquito shore from its operation Tit
kng, while he gave his consent, did so with hest
| tatitn, ard considered the circumstance o very
urtcwmd ene." He might have truly qualified /
by much harsher epithet. am under the i'm
preston that the same prudential rule would have
| besn again applied to retain the same Mosquito
| country even II the words of the Clay ton Bu1we
treaty had leen less equvocal upon this point thar
| tley are, il that in possible.
Mr. President, il is within the recollection of thu
Senate that some two years since had discussion
| With the Senator from Delaware upon this treaty
when tock exceptions to portion Of its phraseoo
Py well to other circumstances connected will
| It. never doubted, nor did ever express doub
OF tie patriotic purpose of the Senator and renew
| sn scklowlt dpmept then made, that during tn
lIcgiess OF the negotiation, he did the honor e
| consult ne as well as other Senators, and that
wainly approved his effort. Now, sir, have nothing
to say as TO these past differences Of opinion. They
| ale gene by. While pending, they embraced ques
tioie relating to internal affairs-to the cours
ard tIduct Of tunctionary OF our own. But nov
We ole drawn into discussion with foreign govern
| mtnt respecting the honest Interpretation OF tn
| treaty, ard the subterfuges-I use the term ad
! viftdly-by which it is sought to avoid it's obi
Cations. And express my full concurrence in thu
vaiicuspoints taken by the Senator from Delaware
and which he has supported with that power of in
tellect ard eloquen,e which is known to tn,
whole country, ard with full knowledge Of tn,
ct, directed by an active and enlightened pa
triotism. have said that the object of this treaty
wns to keep the country from the occupation or in
tence Of The two parties. So far respects u.s. the
object bas been accomplished, and the proof of thai
fact is that no complaint Of failure has been pre-
feTred against US by our cocontrac,or.. We have
not foot OF land in that region, the slightest in
futnce except what results from fair course o.
policy and We are disqualified from ever making ar
acquisition in that quarter. Not 80 with England
The advantage is altogether on her side. She re
tans all she Claimed, while we have debarred our
selves Of the right OF acquisition. It is unequa
Arrangement, rel defed such by prudential con
sidelatons." producing palpable breach Of faith.
What are the complaints we prefer against Eng
land in relation to this treaty. l will enumeratt
them as distinctly as cam
l. We complain as general allegation, that
constructions are put upon it, SO maniesly incon
sistent with It's purpose and language that the very
assumption is felt BY Us to be All insult, and t.
be such by the world.
2. But to cone to specific statements, VIC
farther complain that these constructions are
destructive of The objects of the treaty. 1t is now
said by Lord Clarendon that this instrument il
pros pective in its operation. And it is. lit had
bit retroactive Tearing il would be of but little
yare. IT necessarily operates in the future, like
almost all national arrangements. But by prospcc.
I've operation Lord Clarendon means that in some
most mrortaDt particulars it has no operation at all
lie claims that il passes the British pretensons
l., 80