The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-12-16

,r the purpose, if possible. Of removing these
ifficultics and treaty having this laudable
bicct in view was signed at London on the
7th October, 1856, and was submitted by the
President to the Senate OIL the following l0th
f December Whether this treaty, either IN
ts original or amended Fl RIM. would have ac-
ompli.l,cd the object intended without giving
firth to new and embarrassing omflicationsb be-
ween the two Governments, may perhaps be
vi questioned. Certain it is. however,, it was
cndercd much less Objectionable by the diff,r-
mt amendments made TO it By the Senate
The treaty, as amended. was ratified by me on
he 18th March, 1857, and was transmitted to
London for ratification by the Bri ish Govern
mcnt. That Government expressed its willing
mesa to concur in all the amendments Made BY
The United States, with the ringfe exception OF
tho clause relating to Ruatah and the o'hrl
islands in the Bay Of Honduras. The n tice
in the original treaty. as submitted to the sen
ate, after reciting that these islands and their |
inha bitants shaving been by convention bear. |
ing date the 9th Of August, 1855, between her |
Britanic M,jesty and the Republic Of Hondu |
ras, constituted and declared free territory
under the sovereignty of the said Republ OF
Honduras. stipulated that "the two contrac Ing
parties do hereby mutually engage to recognize
aud respect, in all future time. the indert ndence
and rights Of the said free territory as part OF
the Republic of Honduras"
Upon an examination of this convention he.
tween Great Britain and Honduras of the 9th
Aua ust, 1876 it was found That, whilst dcclar.
ing the Bay Islands to be "a free territory Under
the sovereignty Of the Republic If Honduras"
it der rived that Republic Of rights without
which its sovereignty over thcm could scarcely
tc said to exist. 1t divided them from the re-
nsinder of Honduras, and gave to their inhabi-
tants q separate government of their own. leg.
islatire, executive and judicial officers, elected
by themselves 1t derived tho Government
of Hor duras Of the taxing power in every form.
and exempted the people Of the islands from
tho performance Of military duty, exert for
their own exclusive defence. 1t also prohibited
that R. pu' lie from erecting forti6caticns upon
them for their protection-thus leaving them
open to invasion from any quarter and, finally,
it provided "that Slavery shall not at any time
hereafter be permitted to exist therein
Had Hondu'a a. ratified the Convention, she
would have ratified the establishment of =
State substantially Independent within her own
limits, and a State at all times subject to Brit.
ish influence and control. Moreover. had the
United States ratified the treaty with Great
Britain in its original form, We should have been
bound "to recognize and respect in all future
time" these stipuations TO the'prcjudice Of Hon.
duras. Being in direct opposition to the spirit
rs understood in the United States, the Senate
rejected the entire clause. and substituted in its
stead simple recognition Of the sovereign
rights Of Honduras to these islands in the fol-
lowing language "1hc two contracting parties
do hereby mutually engage to recognize and
respect the islands of Ruatan, Bonaco. Utila,
Barbare,ts. Helena and Morat, situate in the
Bay Of Honduras. as under the sovereignty
and % part of the said Republic of Hondu.
ras.' .'.,.. . ..
Great Britain rejected. this amendment, as.
signing as the only reason, that the ratifications
| of the Convention Of the 9th Of August, 1856,
between her and Honduras, had not been ex-
changed, owing to the hesitation of that Co...
eminent. Had this been done, it is stated that
"Her Majesty's government would have had
little difficulty in agreeing to the modification
proposed by the Senate, which then would have
had in effect the same significationas the origi
nal wording Whether this would have bee,
| the effect whether the mere circumstance 81
the exchange of the ratifications OF the British
Convention with Honduras prior in point Of
time to tue ratification of our treaty with Grea,
Britain would, Gin effect" have had ''the same
Specification rs the original wording,' and thus
have nulli6ed the amendment of the Senate
may well be doubted. 1t is, PERHAPS, fortunate
that the qucsti'n has never risen.
The British Government, Immediately after
! rejecting the treaty as amended. proposed tc
enter into a new treaty with the United States
similar in all respects to the treaty which they
had just refused to ratify, if the United States
would consent to add t. the Senate's clear and
| unqualified recognition the sovereignty o
| Honduras over the Bay Islands the following
| conditional stipulation 'Whenc<er and s.
soon rs the republic of Honduras shall have
concluded and ratified 4, treaty with Grca,
| III ,1~oll
ed, and the republic of Honduras shall hav.
o cepted the, islands, sub :;ect to the provision:
| and conditions contained in the such treaty."
This prof ostion was, of course re eced.-
After the Senate had refused ~ recognize the
British convention with Honduras of the 9th
| August, 1856. with full knowledge of its con.
tents it was impossible for no. necessarily
| ignorant Of "the provisions and conditions,
| which might be contained in a future conven
| venti'n between the same parties, 10 sanction
| them in advance.
The fact is that when two nations like Great
| Britain and the United States. mutually desi
rors, as they are, and trust ever may BE-. o.
maintaining the most friendly relations Will
each other, have unfortunately concl, ded .
treaty which they understand in senses directly
opposite, the wiscst course is to abrogate such o
treaty BY mutual consent and to colnmcnc
anew. Had this been done prom, tly, MI diff.
culties in Central America would most probably
ere this have been adjusted to the satisfaction
of both parties. The time spent in discussing
the meaning of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
would have been devoted to this praise " orthy
purpose, and the task would have been the
more easily accomplished because the intcres,
of the two countries in Central America il
identical. being confined to securing safe tran
sits over oil the routes along the Isthmus.
| Whilst fol piru thncr aop&i oh all
nevertheless not refuse to contribute to any
reasonable adjustment Of the Central American
questions which is not radically inconssten,
with the America interpret alton of the treaty
Overtures for this purpose have been recently
made by tho British Government in friendly
spirit. which cordially rcciprocate but wheth
err this renewed effort will result in success.
| am not yet prepared to express my opinion. A
| brief period will determine.
With France our ancient relations of friend.
ship still continue to exist. The French Gov.
erumcnt have, in several instances which need
| not be enumerated, cvinced a~sririt of good
will and kindness towards our country which ]
| heartily reciprocate. 1t is, notwithstanding
much to be regretted that two nations. whose
predictions are Of such a character rs to invite
the most extensive exchanges and frecst com.
mercial intercourse, should sntinuc to enforce
ancient and OF solete restrictions Of trade against
each other. Our commercial treaty with France
is in this respect an exception from our treaties
with all other commercial na.iom.z 1t jcalously
leyies discriminating duties both On tonnage an 1
on articles, the grJwtl,, reduce, or nranufactrre
OF, the one country, when arriving IN vessels be-
longing to the other sa...
More than forty years Sgo, or the 4 h oi
| M,rch, 1877, Congress passed sm::Hct Offering
to all nations TO admit their vessels laden viii
their national Productions into The ports of the
United States upon the same farms with oul
own vessels rovided they womb rcciprocatc Il
US similar advantages. This act confined the
reel rocity to the productions Of Tie respective
| foreign nations who might tntec into the pro
posed arrangement with the United States
The act Of May "a, 1923, removed this restric.
ton, and offered similar reciprocity to all srcl
vessels without reference to the, origin of their
| cargOes. Upon these prnciplcs, our commerc;a