The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-24
NEW SERIES-NO. 1l3

| ate, The treaty. ~ amended. was ratified
by me on the l?th March. 1887, and was
transmitted 10 London for ratification by
the British government. That government
expressed It's willingness 10 concur in all tho
amendments made by tho Senate with tho
single exception Of the clause relating 10
RuaiAn and tho ether islands 10 the bay Of
Honduras. The article In the original treA.
ty, ~ Submitted 10 the Senate. after rcci-
ting that these Islands and their inhabitants
having bcn by convention bearing date
the 27th day Of August, 1886. between hcr
BriiAnic Majesty and the Republic Of Hon.
duras, constituted aud declared free terri.
tory under tho sovereignty Of the said IT.
public Of Honduras" stipulated il,as "the
two contracting parties do mutually engage
10 recognize and respect, In all futnrv time
the indepcateuco and rights Of the said FREE
territory ~ part Of the republic Of lion.
duraA."
Upon an examination Of this convention
between Great Britain and Honduras OF the
21th August, 1856. Il was found that whilst
declaring the Hay Islands 10 bc ~ fire. ter.
ritory under tho sovereignty Of the republic
Of Honduras" Il deprived that republic Of
rights without which Ito sovereignty over
them could scarcely be said TO exist. Il di.
yiled them from the remainder Of nondu.
rus. and gave 10 their Inhabitants . separate
government Of their own, with legislative
executive, aad judicial officers elected by
themselves. II deprived tbs government Of
Honduras OF the taxing power ip every
form and exempted the people Of tie
islands from the performance OF military
duty except for their own exclusive defence.
II also prohibited that republic from erect.
ing fortiications upon them for their protec.
tioa--tbus leaving them open 10 invasion
from any quarter and, finally, Il provided
" that slavery shall not ut sny time hcreaf
ter, be permitted 10 exist therein
Had Honduras ratified this convention.
she would have ratified tho establishment OF
State substantially independent within her
own limits. and State al all times subject
TO British iuiuenoc and control. Moreover
had the United States ratified the treaty
with Great Britain In its original form, We
should have been bound ito rscognizs anil res
pcct In all future time these stipuations TO
the prejudice Of Honduras Being 10 dircc,
opposition TO the spirit aud meaning oi the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty On understood in
tho United States, the Senate rejected the
entire clause, and substituted In IL stead a
simple recognition Of the sovereign right Of
Honduras 10 these slands Ia the following
language: The two contracting parties d.
hereby mutually engage To recognize aud
respect tle islands Of lluatan. Bonaco Utila,
Barbaretta. Helena, and Mornt situate in
the BAY Of Honduras, and oil the coast Of
the republic oi Honduras. ~ under the soy.
cIs'gniy and ~ part Of the said republic Of
ll0Ddnras.'
Great Britain rejected this amendment.
assigning ~ the only reason, that the ratiG.
cations 0f the 9th August, 1856, between
her and Honduras. hnd not bccn exchanged.
owing t0 tho hesitation Of that government.
Had this been done, II is stated that her
Majriys government would have bad little
difficulty IN agreeing 10 the modification
proposed by tbe Senate which then would.
have hal IN effect the same Specification ~
the original wording" Whether this would
have lsen tho effect; whether the mere cir.
cumstance Of the exchange Of the ratiGca-
lions of the British convention with II0Ddu.
ras prior in point 0f time 10 the ratification
Of our treaty with Great Britain would "in
effect. /" have had 3" the same Specification as
the original wording. and thus have puiGed
the amendment u the Senate, may well be
doubted. 1t is. perhaps fortunate that the
question has never arisen.
The British Government, Immediately
after rejrting the treaty NJ amended. pro
posed 10 enter into new treaty with the
United States. similar In all respects TO the
treaty which they had just refused TO ratily
II the L. s. would coDsn, 10 add 10 the Ser
ste's clear and unqualified recognition vi
the sovereignty Of Honduras over the Bay
Islands the following conditional stipulation
Whenever and as sOon ~ the Republic of
Honduras shall have concluded and ratified
treaty with Great Britain, by which
Great Britain shall have ccded, and the Re-
public Of IIopdura. shall have nc, ebted the
said lslaDls subject to the provisions and
conditions contained in such treaty"
This proposition was, Of course. rejected
Aftr the Senate had refused TO recog.
nizs the British Convention with Honduras
Of the 9th 0f August, 1856, with full
knowledge ol its contents, II was impossible
Tor me, peo-~arly ignorant Of the proyis-
loss and conditions" which might be con-
tanned In 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. mu-
tnally desirou.. as they are, and ] trust ever
may be, Of maintaining the most friendly
relation with each other, have unfortunately
concluded q treaty which they understand
10 ssnss directly opposite, the wisest course
IL 70 sbrogate such treaty by mutual con-
sent. and 10 comIneuee anew. Had this
been done promptly. al difficulties In Cen