Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-05-09
THURSDAY, MAY I, 1857.
THE DALLAs-cLARENDoN TREATY.

turallY led 10 many SurnlseS respecting the prODa-
Bile motives and considerations which have infuene-
ed the English Government in coming to the deci-
sion thus announced. All such conjectures, more
over, are rendered doubly vague and unsatisfactory
by reason Of the absence of any authentic statement
of the exact purport and terms of the amendments
added to the Treaty by the Senate.
From significant intimatioas, however, which
have transpired in different public journals, whose
correspondents are supposed to have to official
sources of information it is thought that the princi
pal objection taken By the British Government to
the treaty as amended by the Senate relates to the
alleged refusal of the latter to join in any agreement
between Great Britain and Honduras for the prohi-
bition of slavery within the territory of the Bay
Islands, upon which condition alone, it is stated the
British Government agrees to cede to the State of
Honduras her claim of sovereignty over the islands
in question. And this projct of treaty between
Great Britain and Honduras relative to the cession,
by the former to the latter of the sovereignty of
the Bay Islands, has not yet been ratified it is con-
jectured that the British Government, by refusing
10 accede to the treaty amended, has sgnifed its
determination to make the prohibition of slavery not
only as agreed upon between Honduras and Eng
land, but also guaranteed by the United States,
sine qua non Of the ratification of the Dallas and
Clarendon Treaty; falling in which, it is further
conjectured the British Government viii proceed to
reassert It's claim to the possession of Ruatan and
the Bay Islands.
Without venturing to pronounce definite or
final opinion respecting points upon which all our
information is at best rather conjectura than posi-
amendment of the Senate, in refusing to enter into
any joint convention for the prohibition of slavery
in the territory ceded to Honduras seems to us
equally wise in itself and confornable to the ira
ditiona policy of the country which has heretofore
preserved us from assuming any control over or
responsibility for the internal affairs and domestic
institutions of foreign States. Nor can we regard
it either just generous to ascribe this caution
Of the Senate to disposition, its part favorable
to the extension of slavery in Territories now Free
when an explanation so much more easy and natu-
raj may be found in the whole history of the Re-
public from the days of Washington to the present
time, intoxicating, as the maxim of prudent states
ton with the internal affairs of other States
The Senate it's believed also proposed some unim-
portant notifications of the treaty with respect to
tain claims advanced by the British Government I'M
der the color of the Mosquito Protecorate which
dicasions not supposed to have eontri-
buted materially to the rejection of the tre& tie
present shape. Upon the whole, we should perhaps
70 Al,
subject, and await the receipt of that more definite
intelligence which may be expected by the next
mail from Europe. And in the mean time while
al must regret the threatened reopening of the vex-
atious controversy which has SO long been waged
between the two Governments over the Central
American Question, we do not permit ourselves to
doubt that it will receive in the end peaceful solu
ton, without interrupting even endangering the
peace which exists between the two countries.
As perhaps throwing some light upon the motives
which have prompted the present Ministry to re-
jeet the treaty in Its amended FORM the subjoined
article, copied from the London Post, understood
to be the official organ of the Palmerston Cabinet,
may be not unworthy of the readers perusa, though
we may take occasion to renew our protest against
the imputation which it seems to affx upon one of
the supposed amendments of the Senate.
FROM THE LONDON POST OF APRIL Is.
The amended Dallas Clarendon Treaty-Action of
the United States Senate
The American newspapers, which appear to possess
extraordinary of fathomng the mysteries of
diplomacy have recently published the amended version
Of the Clarendon treaty The object of that treaty
1t Is well known, to settle, in friendly manner the
various questions which have arisen between the two
countries relative to Central America. The American
Minister at the Court of St James applied himself the
task In most copsiderae and concatory spirit, and
the treaty as originally prepared was credable to the
moderation and justice Of both contracting parties But
the Senate of the United States possess power of
nrning rejecting, altering treaties; and this power
f We are accept the version Of contemporaries ap
pears TO have been exercised by that body spirit not
altogether 50 friendly to this country in England
have Alright expect The general scheme of the treaty
was TO settle the boundaries of the States of
ana COSTA nca 70 set apart 81 eornisson
carry the provisions of the treaty into effect By
article three the Mosquito Indians within the territory
limited to them to be empowered make laws and
exercise the ordinary powers of AGENT with respect
oapersons WITHIN the same, such persons who had
connected themselves with them The Senate have
introduced words which qualify the clause by exelud
ing British influence, provision which seems to be
unnecessary and mpolitic when the long which
has subssed between England and the King of Mosquito
Is considered Next the clause which proposed to con-
firm all bona tide grants made by the Government of Mos
quito of lands heretofore possessed by the said indians
and lying beyond the limits of the prescribed territory
is srnck out and also the article by which Great Britain
and the United States were to bind themselves in case
the Republics of Nicaragua and Costa RIGA should re-
fuse TO accept the arrangements made by the treaty not
to propose other ARRANGEMENTS more