The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-17

nau inc u. =, ratltled the treaty with Treat
Britain in its original form, we should have
been bound "'to recognize and respect in all
future time'' these stipulations 10 the preiu.
dice of Honduras. Being in direct opposition
10 the spirit and meaning of the Clayton and
Bulwer treaty as understood in the U. S. the
Senate rejected the entire clause and substitu-
ted in its stead simple recognition of the
sovereign right of Honduras TO these Islands
in the following language: The two contract
ing parties do hereby mutually engage to rec
ognlZe and respect the Islands of Ruatan Boz
naco, Trila, Barbaretta. Helena and Morat,
situate in the Bay of Honduras, aud off the
coast of the republic of Honduras, as under
the sovereignty and as part of the said repub-
lie of Hondura asp
Great Britain rejected this amendment as
signing as the only reason, that the ratification
of the convention of the 9th August. 1856,
between her and Honduras, had not been sex
changed, ;" owing to the hesitation of that gov
ernment. Had this been done, il is stated that
''her Maiesty'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 Specification as the
original wording. Whether this would have
been the effect; whether the mere circumstan-
ces of the exchange of the ratification Of the
British convention with Honduras prior in
point Of time 10 the ratification of our treaty
had ''the same Specification as the original
wording'' and thus have nullifed the amend
ment of the Senate, may well be doubted
1t is, perhaps, fortunate that the question has
never arisen.
The British government Immediately after
rejecting the treaty as amended proposed to
enter into a uew treaty with the u. S similar
in all respects TO The treaty which they had
Just refused to ratify. if the u S. would add
to the Senate's clear and unqualified recogni-
ton of the sovereignty OF Honduras over the
! Bav Islands the following conditional sipu-
lation: ''wheneyer and so soon as the republic
of Honduras shall have concluded and ratified
a treaty with Great Britain shall have ceded,
aud the republic of Honduras shall have ac-
copied, the said Islands, Subj nct TO the provis-
| ions and conditions contained in such treaty.n
| This proposition was, of course, rejected.
After the Senate had refused to recognize the
/ British convention with Honduras of the 9th
! Aug, 1896, with full know ledge of its con-
! tents, 1t was impossible for me, necessarily ig-
norant of .'the provisions and conditions''
which might be contained in future conven-
lion between the same parties, to sanction
| them ir advance.
The fact is that when two nations like
! Grea. Britain and the United States, mutually
DESTROYS, as they are, and trust they ever may
be, of maintaining the most friendly relation
with each other, have unfortunately concluded
| a treaty which they understand in senses di-
rectly opposite, the wisest course is to abro-
| gate such treaty by mutual consent, and to
commence anew. Had this been done prompt
| ", all difficulties in Central America would
have 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 10
this praisworthy purpose. and the task would
| have been more easily accomplished because
the interest of the two countries in Central
! America is identical. being Confined to secur-
ing safe transits over all the routes across the
Isthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments I shall
nevertheless not refuse 10 contribute to anv
reasonable adjustment of the Central American
questions which is not practically Inconsistent
with the American interpretation the treafv.
Overtures for this purpose have been recently
made by the British government in friendlv
spirit, which ! cordially reciprocaie b f
whether this renewal effort will result in sac
cess am moi vet prepared to express an opin-
ion. A brief period will determine.
With Frame our ancient relation of friend
ship still continue to exist. The French gov
eminent have in several recent instance:
which need rot be enurn Grated. evinced spirt
of good will and Kindness towards orr country
which heartily reciprocate. II is. notwith-
standing, much 10 be regretted that two ma
ticns whose productions are of such charac
ter as TO invite the most extensive exchanges
and frtest commercial Intercourse. should
continue TO enforce ancient end absolute rn-
srictions of trade AGAINST each other Orr
commercial treaty with France is in This re-
| spect an exception from our treaties wish all
| other commercial nations.
| II iealously levies discriminating drfips hnth
on tonnage and on articles the growth nro
duced or manufacture OF the one country
when, arriving in vessels belonging TO the 9TH
| er.
More than forty years ago, o. the 81 March
! 1875, Congress- passed an act Offering TO AZ ma
Mons % admit their vessels ladened with their
ma iioaal productions into +'tn ports of the u.
| s. upon the me terms with 'our own vessels
provileA they won'A raninro-afe "a us similar
advantages. This art confined the rnciprocity
Ito The nrodrrfions Of the respective foreign
/ nations who might enter into the proposed ar
rangeiaArt with the ". S. The act of Nav
oath 1898. removed this restriction, and sim
liar Teciprostv 70 III such vessels. without ref
erence to the origin Of their cargoes. Upon
| these principles, our continental treaties and
arrangements have been founded except rith
France, and let ms hope that tbls exceptio
NAV not long exist. -sas av
I Onr relations with Russia remain. as they
! have ever been; on the most friendly footing
! The present Emperor, as well as his predeces-
sors have never failed, when the ocraSon Of
fered. to manifest their goodwill to our conn
| try; and their friendship has ALWAYS been
highly appreciated by the government ana
peop!e of the u S. ~
! With all other European governments ex.
cept that OF Spain, our re ati,ns are as peace
ful as we could desire. ] regret TO say that
no progress whatever has been made since the
adjournment, of Congress. towards the settle
,nent of any of the numerous claims of our cit
liens against the Spanish government. Besides
the eutroge committed OH our flag by the Span
ish war frigate Fenolna. on the high seas off
the coast of Cuba, in March, 1855, by firing
into the American mail steamer Ell Dorado
4 and OBTAINING and searching her remains mn
acknowledged and nnredressed The general
tone and temper of the Spanish government
towards thrt of The u. S. are much to be re-
GREETED. Our present envoy extraordinary AMI
minister plenipotentiary to Madrid has asked
to be recalled; and ir IS my purpose to send
out a new Minister 10 Spain. with special in
structions on all q ,estions pending between
| the two governments, and with determine
tion to have them speedily and amcablv adj
| iusted, if this he possible. In the meantime
! whenever our Minister urges the lust claims
of our citizens on the notice of the Spanish
4 government, he is met with the objection that
/ Co gress has nerer made the appropriation
recommended by President Polk in his annual
message of December lS47; s'to be paid to the