The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-12-15

them could scarcely be said to exist. 1t
divided them from the remainder of Hondu-
ras. and gave to their inhabitants a separ-
ate government of their own, with legisla4
tive, and judicial officers, elected by them
selves. 1t deprived the government of
Honduras of the taxing power in every
form, and exempted the people of the islands
from the performance of military duty ex-
cept for their own exclusive defence. 1t
also prohibited that republic from erecting
Notifications 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 Honduras ratified this convention,
she would have ratified the establishment
of State substantially independent within
her own limits, and State at. all times
subject to British influence aud control
Moreover, had the United States ratified
the treaty with Great Britain in it's origin
al form, we should have been bound "to re-
cognise and respect in all future time" these
stipulations to the prejudice of Honduras.
Being in direct opposition to the spirit and
meaning of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
as understood in the United States, the
Senate rejected the entire clause, and sub
stituted in its stead simple recognition of
the sovereign right of Honduras to these
islands in the following language: THE
two contracting parties do hereby mutually
engage to recognise and respect the islands
of Ruatan, Bonaco, Utila, Barbaretta, Hele.
ma, and Morat, situated in the Bay of Hon
duras. and off the coast of the republic of
Honduras. as under the sovereignty and as
part of the said republic of Honduras
Great Britain rejected this amendment,
assigning as the only reason. that the ratifi
items of the convention of the 9th August,
1856. between her and Honduras, had not
been exchanged, owing to the hesitation of
that government 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 Specification as the original wording"
Whether this would have been the effect :;
whether the mere circumstance of tho ex
change of the notifications of the British
convention with Honduras prior in point of
time to the ratification OF our treaty with
Great Britain would, .'in effect" have had
1.-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 af
ter rejecting the treaty as amended. pro-
posed to enter into new treaty with the U.
States, similar in all respects to the treaty
which they had just refused to ratify, if the
United States would consent to add to the
Senate's clear and unqualified recognition
of the sovereignty of Honduras over the
Bay Islands the following conditional stipu-
lation: Whenever and SO soon as the re-
public of Honduras shall have concluded
and ratified treaty with Great Britain, by
which Great Britain shall have ceded, and
the republic of Honduras shall have accept
ed, the said islands, subject to the provisions
and conditions contained in such treaty"
This proposition was, of course, rejected.
After the Senate had refused to recognise
the British convention with Honduras of the
9th August, 1856, with full knowledge of
its contents, it was impossible for me. ne
cessarily ignorant of 1.-THE provisions and
conditions" which might be contained in q
future convention between the same parties,
to sanction them in advance.
The fact is that when two nations like
Great Britain and the United States, mutu-
ally DESTROYS, as they are, and trust ever
may be, of maintaing the most friendly re-
concluded a treaty which they understand
in senses directly opposite, the wisest course
is to abrogate such a treaty by mutual con-
sent, and to commence anew. Had this
been done promptly, all difficulties in Cen
trail America would most probably ere this
have been adjusted to the satisfaction of
both parties. The time spent in discuss
ing the meaning of the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty would have been devoted to this
praisworthy purpose. and the task would
have been the more easily accomplished be-
cause the interest of the two countries in
Central America is Identical, being confiil-
ed to securing safe transits over all the
routes across the Isthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments.
shall nevertheless not refuse to contribute
to any reasonable adjustment of the Central
American questions which is not practically
inconsistent with the American interpreted
ton of the treaty. Oyertures for this pur-
pose have been recently made by the British
government in friendly spirit, which cor
daily reciprocate but whether this re-
newed effort will result in success am not
yet prepared to express an opinion. A
brief period will determine.
For the want Of space, we here omit two un-
important paragraphs which states that we are on
friendly terms with France and Russia.]
With all other European governments,
except that of Spain, our relations are as
peaceful as we could desire. regret to say
that no progress whatever has been made,
since the adjournment of Congress towards
the settlement ofany ofthe numerous claims
of our citizens against the Spanish govern
ment. Besides, the outrage committed on
our flag by the Spanish war-frigate Ferro-
lana on the high seas. off the coast of Cuba
in March. 1855. by firing into the Ameri-
can mail steamer Ell Dorado, aud detain-
ing and searching her, remains unacknow-
lodged and unredressed. The general
tone and temper of the Spanish government
towards that of the United States are much
to be regretted. Our present envoy ex-
traordinary and minister pleni potentiary to
Madrid has asked to be recalled and it is
my purpose to send out a new minister to
Spain, with special instructions on all
questions pending between the two gov
ernments. and with the determination to
have them speedily and amicably adjusted,
if this be possible. In the mean time,
whenever our minister urges thejust claims
If oiti1opS tha &C Tho Il