The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1857-12-17


: British government.
That government expressed lis willingness
to concur iu an the amendments made by the
Senate, with the single exception Of the clause
relating TO RuHtau, and the other islands 0I
The Bay Of Honduras. The article I'm the ori-
ginu treaty as submitted to the Senate, after
reciiing that these islands and their inhabitants
"haviug been by a convention bearing date the
2'th day Of August, 1856 between her Brit
fannie Majesty aud the Republic Of Honduras,
constituted and declared a free territory under
the sovereignty Of The said Republic Of Hm-
durasi" stipulated that "tho two contracting
parties do hereby mutually engage 10 recop-
nize and respect in all future time the inde-
Ipendence and rights Of the said free territory
as part Of the Republic OF Honduras"
Upon the examination Of this convention
'hetween Great Britain and Honduras, of the
Eilh OF August, 1856, 10 was found that whilst
declaring the Bay Islands TO be- Ca free terri
tory under the sovereignty oil the Republic Of
Honduras" 20 deprived that republic Of rights
Without which It's sovereignty over them
could not be said TO exist. 10 divided them
from the remainder Of Honduras, and gave TO
their inhabitants a separate government Of
their own, with legislative, executive and iu-
dicial officers, elected by themselves. 10 de-
priVed the government Of Honduras 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
defense. lt 8lso prohibited that republic from
erecting Notifications upon them for their own
protection-thus leaving them open 10 invasion
| from any quarters and, finally Il provided that
"sIavery shall not at any time hereafter be per
mitted TO exist therein"
Had Honduras ratified ihis convention, sho
would have ratified the establishment Of a
state substantially Independent within her own
limits, and State at all times subject to Bril-
1 tish influence and control. Moreover, had the
otutcs ratified the treaty with Great Britain in
| It's original form, we should have been bou nd
"to recognize aud respect in all future time"
these stipulations to the prejudice Of Uondu
ras, Being in direct opposition to the spirit
aud meaning Of the Clayton and Buwer treaty
us Understood in the United S tates, tho Senate
rejected the entire clause, and substituted in
us stead simple recognition of the sovereign
right OF Honduras TO these islands iu the f0l-
lowing language; "The two contracting par
ties do hereby mutually engage 90 recognize
aud respect the islanus Of Runtan, Bouaco, Uu-
| Ia, Blrbaretta, Helena, and Morat, 81 tua ted
the Bay Of Honduras, and of the coast of the
Republic OF HOnIuras, as under the sover-
eighty aud as part ofthe said Republic Of Hon
duras."
Great Britain rejected this amendment, as
signing as the only reason, that the rutilict-
lions OF the convention Of the 9th August,
1856, between her aud Honduras had not been
exchanged, owing TO the hesitation of that
government" Had this been dour, it is stated
That cher Mgesty's government would have
had little difficulty n agreeing 10 the modif.
cation proposed by the Senate, which would
have had in effect the same Specification as the
original wording" Whether tlis would have
been tie effect; whether the mere circumstance
Of the ratification Of the British convention
with Honduras, prior in point Of time 10 the
ratification of our treaty with Great Britain,
would Elm effect have had "the same siguif
cation as the original wording" aud thus have
nullihed the amendment Of tie Senate, may
we'll be doubted. j is perhaps fortunate that
the question has never arisen
Tie British government, Immediately after /.
rejecting the treaty as amended, proposed to |
enter into new treaty with the u. States, |
similar i'm all respects TO the treaty which they /
had just refused to ratiIy, If the United s states
would consent TO ada to the Senate's clear aud .
unqualified recognition Of the sovereignty of /
Honduras over the Bay Islands the following .
conditional stipulation: "Whenever and as
soon as the republic of Honduras shall have .
concluded and ratified a treaty with Great Bril-
tain, by which Great Britain shall have coded
ana the republic Of Honduras shall have nc
cepted, the said islands, subject to the provis-
ions and conditions contained In such treaty" |
This provision was, Of course, rejected. After |
the Senate had refused TO recognize the British
convention with Honduras ON the 2lth August
1856, with full knowledge Of its contents, it |
was impuss BILE for me, necessarily ignorant Of /
the "provisions aud conditions" which might !
be CUutIiued ia future convention between |
the same parties, to sanction hem in advance. |
The fact is that when two nations like Great |
Britain aud the United States, mutually desir /
Gus, they are, and trust ever may be, Of
maintaining the most friendly relations with |
zach other, have unfortunately concluded a
treaty which they understand i'm senses directly |
opposite, the wisest course is to abrugate such |
a treaty by mutual consent, and TO commence
anew,
Had this been done promptly al! difficulties
in Central America would most proba-
bly, ere this have been adjusted to the satisCac-
ton Of both parties. The time spent in discus
slug the meaning Of the Clayton and Bulwur
treaty would have been devoted to this praise |
worthy purpose, and the task would have been /
the more easily accomplished bccausl the IN
terest Of the two countries IN Central America /
is identical, being confined to securing safe /
trunsits over all the routes across the lslhmus. |
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, / shall |
nevertheless not refuse TO contribute TO any |
reasonable adjustment orthe Central American .
question which is not practically inconsistent |
with the American Interpretation Of the treaty. |
Overtures for this purpose have been recently |
spirit,whch cordially rcciprOcate; but wheth |
er this renewed effort will result in success |
am not yet prepared TO express an opinion. A |
brief period will determine.
FRANCE.
With France our ancient relations Of friend |
ship still continue TO exist The French gov |
ernmont have In several recent Instances,
which need not be enumerated, svinced spirit |
Of goodwill and kindness towards our coun- /
try, which heartily reciprocats. Il Is, not l
withdrawing, much 10 be regretted that two !
nations whose productions are Of such char ]
hcter as TO invite the most extensive exchanges |
aud lFeest commercial Intercourse, should con- |
tinue TO enforce ancient and obsolete rsstrC-
tions Of rado against each other. Our COM
merciu treaty with France is, i'm this respect
an exception from our treaties with all other
nations. II jcaIOusly levies discriminating
duties both on tonnage and on articles, the
growth, produce, or manufacture of the one
country, when arriving Ia vessels belonging 10
the other.
More than forty years ago, on the 2rd Of
March, 1915, Congress passed an act offering
10 all nations TO admit their vessels laden with
their national productions into the ports OF the
/ u. States upon the same terms as our own
vessels, provided they would reciprOcate 10 us
similar advantages. The act confined the re-
ciprucity to tie productions Of the respec live
/ foreign nations who might enter into the pro-
posed arrangement with the u. States. The
act Of May "a, 1925 removed this restriction,
aud offered a similar reciprocity 10 all such
vessels without reference TO their curgoes- -
| Upon these principles our commercial treaties
and arrangements have been founded except
with FranCei and lot as hope that this eAcep-