Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-02-22
'YHE CENTRAL AMERICAN QVEs-
2IODll


jan 3fs 1885.
Mn. PRESIDENT: / desire to concen-
trate the attention Of the Senate and
Of the country upon the Central Amer
lean question; therefore pass over
the controversy about MIR. Champions
violation Of our neutrality laws. as ]
do the more general topic OF the Mon
roe doctrine. both Of which subjects
have been elaborately discussed by
the Senator from Michigan.
The President OF the United States
has caused our case to be fully and
ably presented, and Great Britain has
explicitly refused to comply with our
demands. Itbelongs now to Congress
to determine the course which the
country shall pursue. II Is necessary
therefore, to review our position. II
tits right. we cannot recede without
dishonor. never to be incurred. Ifit
is wrong, we cannot recede too soon.
five shall not iecede, we may involve
our country in no common war--an
evil to be avoided, If possible, consist
ly with duty. | shall, therefore. take
caro- not to say, consciously, anything
that might tend to inhame our coun.
try or TO exasperats Great Britain.
II is no question Of persons or Of
parties, nor is II even domestic ques-
ton. Therefore. / shall refrain now,
as did when spake TO il before,
from bringing any personal or parti.
zan or domestic subject into the &C.
bate. no matter who shall invite OF
who shalll provoke 10 such a course,
The treaty was fully ratified on the
4th Of July, 1850. II reoiles tho pur.
pose OF the parties. namely to consoli.
date amicable relations. by setting
forth and fixing their mutual views
and intentions concerning any inter.
oceanic canal that may be construct.
ted by the way Of the river San Juan,
and either one or both Of the lakes ol
Nicaragua or Manegua. The stipula-
tions which come most directly under
review on the present occasion. arc:
cart. 1. Neither party will ever OBJ
tain or maintain for itself any exclu.
siyc control over the contemplated ca
nal.
Neither will ever erect or maintain
any fortitication commanding the same
or the vicinity thereof.
Neither viii occupy or fortify. OF
colonizo, or assume or exercise any do
minion over Nicaragua. Costa Rica.
the Musquito Coast. or any part OF
Central America.
"Neither will use any protection
which either affords or may afford, OF
any alliance which either has or may
haveto or with any state or'peopla ior
the purpose Of erecting or maintaining
any such Notifications, or OF occupy
ing or colonizing Nicaragua. Costa
Rica. the Mosquito Coast. or any par
OF Central America, or Of assuming
or exercising any dominion over the
same.
"Neithor will take advantage Of an,
intimacy or use any alliance, connee,
ton or influence that either may pos
sess with any State or people through
whose territory the canal may pass
for the purpose Of acquiring or hold
Ing. directly or indirectly. for It's owl
citizens or subjects, any unequa
rights or advantages Of commerce ol
navigasion.g
"Art. 4. The parties will use thei
influence with any State or States
or Governments. possessing or claim
Ing jurisdiction or right over the ter
ritory through which the canal shal
pass. TO induce them TO favor It's con
struction. and TO use their good ollicel
whenever or however II may bo mos
expedient. TO procure the establish
mont Of two free ports, one NJ eacl
end Of the canal
"Art. o. Tho parties 10 invite ever,
State Ia friendly intercourse with botl
or either OF them 10 enter into stipu
lations similar 10 those contained II
this treaty, so that oil other State
may share IN the honors and advan
tages OF having contributed 10 tho con
struction of the contemplated canal
And each Of the contracting partie
shall enter into treaty stipulations will
such Of the Central American State
- they may deem advisable. for III
purpose Of carrying out the object o
the treaty. namely. the construction
and maintainanee OF the canal rs
ship canal between the two oceans
for the benefit Of mankind.
cart. 7. The parties determine Il
give their support and encouragement
to tho persons or company who shal
FIRST offer to build the canal with th
necessary capltl and the consent o
the local authorities and 10 any sucl
company, already existing. as ma,
have n contract which Ia Justly unob
jcctIonable 10 tho parties.
cart. 0. The parties declare that
besides the particular purpose Of Oh,
treaty before stated, they have tn
| further and broader object TO ostablIsI
q general principle; and so they agre
10 extend their protection, by treat
stipulations, 10 any other practicabl
communications. whether by canal o
railway, across tho Isthmus and espe
eIaily TO those contaminated 10 b
made by the ways Of Tohauntepcc anl
Panama"
II wass great treaty, sublime in II
conception, generous In ila spirit AM
beneGcient In its purposes. The tw
rival members Of the British family
after long and angry alienation. met
not within the territory Of either, bu
on that foreign and narrow lsihmu
which. while Il unites North nm,
South America, divides tho yigorou
Atlantic States Of Europe and Ameri
ca from tho immature American
States and the deeayed Asiatic na
tions which. on opposite coasts. over
look the broad Pacidc--the last ro
manning one of the barriers which na
ture had erected 10 hinder the restor
| .f..r of fha u.tt. of fha hu..a, wacs