Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-12-19
PcEENs COURT HOUSE, g. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 49, 1857

y
which the excesscs of the banks have hith-
erto inflicted upon the country, it would
then be far the lesser evil to deprive them
altogether Of the power to issue a paper
currency and confinc themto the functions
OF banks of depositc and discounts.
Our relations with foreign governments
are, upon the whole, in a satisfactory CON
dition
The diplomatic difficulties which exist
cd between the Government of the United
States and that of Great Britain at the ad-
journwcnt Of the last Congress have been
happily terminated by the appointment of
q British Minister to this country, who has
been cordially received
Whilst it is greatly to the interest / am
convinced it is The sincere desire, of the
governments and people of the two coup-
tries to be on terms Of intimate friendship
with each other, it has been our misfortune
almost always TO have had some irritating,
Fit not dangerous, outstanding question with
Great Britain.
Since the origin of the government VIC
have been employed in negotiating treaties
with that power, and afterwards in discuss
ling their true intent and mcauing. In
this respect the convention of April 10,
1850, commonly called the Clayton and
Bulwer treaty, has been the most unfortu-
nate ofall; because the two governments
place directly opposite and contradictory
! constructions upon it's first and most i'm
portant article. Whilst in the United
States, we believed that this treaty would
place both powers upon an exact equality
I by the stipulation that neither will ever
OCCUPY, or fortify, or colohizc, or assume
For exercise any dominion over, any part
of Central America, it is contendcd by the
British government that the true copstluc-
tlon of this language has left them mlthe
rightful possession of ali that portion of
Central America which was in their occr-.
pancy at the date of the treaty in fact,
that the treaty is a virtual recognition on
the part Of the United States of the right
of Great Britain either Ss owner or protcc-
! tor, to the whole extensive coast of Central
America, sweeping round from the Rio
llonde to the port and harbor of San Juan
dc Nicaragua, together with tile adjacent
Bay Islands, eXceptthe comparatively small
portion of this between the Sarstoon and
Cape Honduras According to their con-
struction, the treaty does no more than
simply prohibit them from extending their
possessions i'll Central America beyond the
present limits. 1t is not too much to as
sert, that if in the United States Che treaty
had been considered susceptible of such a
constructio4, it never would have been, ne
gotlatcd under the authority of the Presi-
dent, nor would it have received the appro-
baton of She Senate The. universal con-
yiction inthe United States was, that when
our government consented to violate its
traditional and timc-honored policy, and to.
stipulat0 with a foreign government never.
to occupy or acquire territory in the Cen
tral American portion Of our own continent,
the consideration for this sacrifice was that
Great Britain should, in this respect, at
least, be placed i'll the same position with
ourselves, Whilst we have no right to
doubt the sincerity of the British govern
lnent in their construction of the treaty, it
is at the same time my deliberate convic-
tion that this construction is in opposition
both to its letter and its spirit
Under the late administration neaotia-
tions were instituted between the two gov
ernments forthe purpose, if possible, Ore
moving these difficulties; and a treaty, hav-
ing this laudable object in view was signed
at London on the l7tb October, 1856, and
was submitted by the President loihe SEN.
! ate onthe following 10th Of December.---
Whether shis treaty, either its original or
amended form, would hayo ACCOMPLISHED
the object intended without giving birth to
newand embarrassing complications, between
the two governments, may perhaps be well
| questioned, Certain il is, however it was
rendered much less Objectionable by the
different amendments made To it by the
Senate. The trerty,as amended was rati :.
fled by me on the 10Th March, 1851, and
was lransmitted to london for ratification.
by tie British government. The govern
ment expressed its Willingness toeoncur in
alIthe amendments made 6Ly the. Senate
with the single exceplion of the clause re-
latiug 10 Ruatan and the other islands in,
the Say of Honduras The articlein the
original treaty, as submitted to The Senate,
after reciting that these islands aud their
inhabitants having been by convention,
bearing date lhe27th day of August, 1856.
between her BrilaGDic AIfjesly and the re-
public Of HopduFap, jeonstitpled and de-
| clared free tafritoryi nn,ler thesossfeig1.
Y ef the said republic of Honduras" stipus
lated that thet@o contracting parties do,
beYeby mutually engage 10 recognise and.
respstt i6all future time the Independence
EapdFigbts of the said free territory Us a part
r EoflheSepublicot nontlVrss. gte go
Dpapsae eg9,piuatien of This c6ise6tiobs
bhtween Great Rriinin and Hotdurae &c fl.sas
2ah August, 1856. itwas son0d tllat,Ylilse