The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-12-16


were irslluled between the two governments
for The purpose, il possible, of removing these
difficulties and a treaty having this laudable
object in view was sisned at London on the
17ih Ociober, 1856, and was submi,led by
the President TO the Senate on the following
ION Of December. Whether Ibis Treaty,
either in lis original or amended iofIn, would
have eaccompishedihe object Intended with
out giving hirlh 20 new and embarrassing
complications between lheslwo governments,
may perhaps be well questioned. Certain
/. is, however, ii was rendered much less OBJ
jeciionable by ahe difetent amendmsnts
rnadato ii by tie Senate. The treaty, as
amended, was ratified by me on the l2th
March, 1857 and was asuansmited 10 London
for raiifica,i6nsby The British goyernmen,.--
That sosernmeut expressed iis willingness
80 concursiu all the amendments made by
tahe Senate with The single exception OF the
clause relating TO Rualan sng Aoiher isl,
t4luts in the Bstg OF noudut,ss4 Tie srtieIe
IN the original treaty, as sabmitled 10 the
Senate, after Tecihns that these islauds and
their Inhabitants .hayiGg been by a Gonyeu-
ton bearing date lhe 27th day OF Augas,,
1856. between her Bfiianuic Majesty and
the Republic OF Houduras, constituted and
declared a free territory under The sovereign
~ of The SAID Republic Of Honduras siipn-
lated that "tbe TWO contracting pattIes do
hereby mutually engage TO recognize and re-
snect in all future time, the Independence
and rights OF the said free ierrory, as q part
OF The Republic Of Honduras"
Upon an examination oil this convention
between Great Britain and Honduras on The
27lh August, 1886, il was fonnd that whilst
declaring tue Bay lsants 10 be "a tree Ter
rilorv under the sovereignty Of the republic
of Honbaras,s il deprived thai republic of
rights without which It's sovereignty over
Them could scarcely be said 10 exist. II di-
videdt them from The remainder OF Honduras,
ard gave 10 their inhabitants sepafaie gov
ernrnent of their own, with legislative, exec
ufiye, and judicial officers, elected BY Them
selves. II deprived the government Of Hon
juras OF the taxing power in every form, and
exempted the people of the islands from the
performance of military duty except for their
own exclusive defence 1t also prohibited
that republic from erecting Qualifications upon
them fot .heir pfotection.--ihus leaving them
open to invasion from any quarter; aad, final
ly, il provided .ihal slaveryyshall nol AT any
time hereafter be permitted 10 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 snb-
jecl 10 British influence and control. More
over, had the Uuiied States ratified Inc lrea.
ly wih Great Britain in lis originate form, we
should have been bound ITO recognize and
respect in all future limep these sipulatons
10 HE prejudice of Honduras. Beng 10 dl-
rect opposition The spirit and meaning of
The Clayton and Buwer treaty as uuder.
stood mlhe United States, the Senate rejected
the eHtre clause aud substituted in It's stead
simple Recognition OF i've sovereign right
OF Honduras 10 these islands in the follow
ing lannusbe; "T'hs two contracting parties
do hereby mutually engage 10 recognize aud
respect The islands OF Ruaian, Bonacp, Utila,
Bar6afetta Helena and nj oral, situate in the
Bay OF Honduras. aud off tbe coast of the re-
public nf Honduras, as under the s0Veteign-
ly and as part of tteTepublic Of Honduras
Great Britain elected this amendment, as.
signing as The only reason, that the ratifica-
lions of the convention OF the 9Th August,
1855 between her aud Honduras, had not
been exchanged, pwiug TO the hesitation oil
the government Had This been done, i, is
stated that ''hef Malesty's government would
have had little difficulty in agreeing 10 the
modification pIop9sa,iby the Seuaie, which
tlen weuld have had IN effect The same sign-
fcauou as the nrigiEal wording" Whether
this would have been the eaecl; whether The
mere circumstance oil the exchange of the
of the Blush convention with
Honduras paor 10 the point OF time 10 The
ratification Of our treaty with Great Britain
would, ssin effect" have had s.lile same
sighfcation as the original wording,n aud
Tins have nulied The amendment of the
Senate, may we'll be doubted. llis, perhaps,
iortonate that the question has never arisen.
The British government, iEmediaely after
rejecting The tresty as amended, proposed 10
enter into nsw treaty with the United
Sates similar in all respects 10 The treaty
which they had refused TO ralify, If the u.
s. would consent 10 add TO the Senate's clear
and unqualified recognition Of the sovereign.
ty Of Honduras over the Bay islands the fol-
lowing conditional slipnlalions: "WheEever
and so soou az the republic OF Honduras
shall have concluded and ratified treaty
with Great Britain, by which Great Britain
shall have ceded, and The republic of Hon
duras siiail-hsre accepted, The said Islands,
subject 10 the provisions aud conditions con-
tanned in such reaty."
This proposition was, OF course, rejected, !
Afiet the Senale had refused 10 recognize
The British convention with Honduras OF The
eth August, 1856, win fullknowiedse Of IFS !
contents, il was impossible FOR me, necessa- !
rily ignorant Of ''the provisions aud eondi-
lions" which rniSht be contained ID utufe !
convention beiweHn the same parties, to |
sanction them in advance
The fact is, when Two lations like GIea.
Britain andlhe United Siates, mutually de-
srous, as they are, and rusl ever may be,
of maintaining The most friendly relations
with each. other, have unfortunately conclu-
deJ atreaty which they understand insens-
es directly opposite, The wises course is 10 |
such a Iieaiy by mutual consent,
and 10 commence anew. Had this heen done
all diflicnllies IN CeniralA America
would mos. probably ere This have been adj |
lusledio The satisfaction Of both pafties.
The time spent 10 discussing The meaning
Of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty would |
bave been devoted 10 this pfaisewotfiy pur.
pose, and the task would have been ihe |
more easily accomplished because tho inter-
ests Of life two couuifiss in Genital America |
is identical, being confined TO securing sale /
iransits,ev ALI routes across the 18th. |
mus. eSf
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, |
shall HeveTtheiess not refuse 10 conlsibne 70 I
any reasonable adjustment OF the Central /
American qgesiious which is not practically /
with fhe American Interpretation +
Of lhe ueaiy. -0venpres fer this pnfpose /
have beer recently made by the British gov: /
q ~ -, f Il. :. f,l.,.ft,f e.,ift which rnrifat-