Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-12-24


Il dominion over any part Of Centri
America, it is eontended by the Br
| tish Government that the trus cor
structionof thielsDguage has left tber
in the rightf:l possession OF ali cha
portion of Central America whie
was in their occupancy at tie date {
the treaty; in Fact. that the treat
is virtual recognition Oh the par
lofthe United States OF the right Q
Great Britain either as owner or pro
stector. 10 the whole extensive coast Q
Central America, sweeping from tb
the Rio Hondo to.tbe port and harbo
of San Juan del Nicaragua, tegethe
with the adjacent Bay Island, excep
the comparatively small portion o
this between the Sarstoon and Cap,
Honuros. According to their con
struction, the treaty does no NOR,
than simply prohibit I hem from ex
tending their possessions IN Cenfra
America beyond the presents limits
1t is not too much to assertIthat If il
the United States the treaty hat
been considered susceptible of sucs
a construction, it never would bavs
been negot;ate': under the authority
Of the President. nor would it hav,
receivedtbe appreciation of tho Sen
ate. 95l - tf
The universal conviction ia the q
nited States was,tbatwhen our govern
ment consented to violate its tradition.
al and time honored policy and to S ip
ulate with foreign government nev-
er to occupy or acquire territory iu
the Central American portion of cur
continent, the consideration for this
sacrifice vas that Great Britain
should, in this respect at least, be
placed in the same position With our
selves. Whilst We have no right 10
doubt the sincerity Of the British
in their construction Of
the treaty, it is at the same time my
deliberate conviction that this con-
structioD is in opposition both to its
letter and spirit
Under the late administration ne
gotiations were instituted between
the two governments for the purpose.
# possible, OF removing these diffi-
culties- and a treaty having this
audable object in view, was signed
at London on the 18th Of October,
1856. and was submitted by the
President to the Senate on the fol-
owing 10th OF December. Whsth-
sr this treaty, either in its original or
form, would have accom-
olished the object intended without
giving birth to new embarrassing
between the two govern
nents, may, perhaps, be we'll qaes-
ioned. Certain it is. however, it
vas rendered less Objectionable by
he different amendments made to it
,y the Senate. i
The treaty, as amended. was ra-
flied by me on the 18th of March,
1857. and was transmitted to London
or ratification by the British gov
'rnment. That government express
ed its willingness te concur in all the
Imen1ments made by the Senate,
With the single exception Of the
lause relating to Ruaton and The
'ther islands in the Bay Of Honduras.
The article in the original treaty, as
admitted to the Senate, after recit-
ng that these islands and their in
labitants "having been by a conyen.
ion bearing date the 9th day of
August, 1856, between her Britannia
dajesty and the republic OF Hondu-
as, constituted and declared free
erritory under the sovereignty of
he said republic, Of Honduras
itipulated that '.the two contracting
powers do hereby mutually engage |
o recognize and respect in all fa-
ure time the independence and rights
f the said free territory as part of
te republic Of Honduras"
Upon an examination Of this con-
'euiion between Great Britain and
Honduras of the 9th August, 1856,
t vas found that whilst declaring the
Bay islands to be 'a free terrific
y under the sovereignty OF the re-
public Of Honduras it deprived
hat republic Of rights without which
It's sovereignty over them could
scarcely be said TO exist. 1t divi-l
fed them from the remainder of Hon
duras, and gave to its inhabitants a.
separate government of their own,
with legislative, executive and judi
cial officers elected BY themselves