Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-22

December. Whether this treaty, either in its original or amended form, would have accom- plished the object intended without giving birth to new and embarrassing complications between the two governments, may perhaps be we'll questioned. Certain it is, however, it was ren- dered much less objectionable by the different amendments made to it by the Senate. The treaty, as amended. was ratified by me on the 18th March, 1857, and was transmitted to Lon- don for ratification by the British government That government expressed it's willingness to concur in all the amendments made by the Sem ate, with the single exception of the clause re- lating to Ruatan, and the other islands relating to the Bay of Honduras. The article in the original treaty, as submitted to the Senate, after recitiny that these islands and their inhabitants having been by convention bearing date the 27th day of August, 1856. between her Britain nic Majesty and the Republic of Honduras, con- stituted and declared free territory under the sovereignty of the said republic of Honduras" stpulating that !" the two contracting parties do hereby mutually engage to recognize and respect in all future time the independence and rights of the said free territory as part of the republic of Honduras
 Upon the examination of this convention be- tween Great Britain and Honduras, of the 27th of August, 1856, it was found that whilst de- caring the Bay Islands to be "free territory under the sovereignty of the republic of Hon. duras," it deprived that republic of rights with out which its sovereignty over them could scarcely be said to exist. It divided them from the remainder of Honduras, and gave to their inhabitants separate government of thelr own, with legislative, exc u,ve, and judicial officers elected by themselves. Itdeprived the gevern- ment 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. It also pro- hibited that republic from erecting Notifications upon them for their protecton--thus leaving them open to invasion from any quarter; and, finally, it provided "that slavery shall not at any time hereafter be permitted to exist there in"
 Had Honduras ratified this convention. she would have ratified the establishment of a State substantially independent within her own linn its, and State at all times subject to British influence and control. Moreover, had the Unit ed States ratified the treaty with Great Britain ill its original form, we should have been bound ito recognize and respect in all future time '" these stipulations to the prejudice of Honduras. Being in direct opposition to the spirit and meaning of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty as understood in the United States, the Senate re- jected the entire clause, and submitted in stead a simple recognition of the sovereign right of Honduras to these islands in the following lan- guage: "The two contracting parties do hereby mutually engage to recognize and respect the islands of Ruatan, Bonaco, Utla, Barbaretta, Helena, and Moras situate ill the Bay of Hon duras, aud off the coast of the Republic of Hon. duras, as under the sovereignty and part of the said Republic of Honduras"
 Great Britain rejected this amendment, as- signing as the only reason, that the ratiicatlons of the convention of the 27th of August, 1856, between her and Honduras had not been eX- changed owing to the hesitation of that govern ment. Had this been done, it is stated that her Majesty's government would have had little difficulty in agreeing to the modification proposed by the Senate, which then would have had in effect the same sgnihcation as the origi- nal wording" Whether this would have been the effect, whether the mere circumstance of the exchange of the ratifcations of the British convention with Honduras prior in point of time to the ratification of our treaty with Great Bri- tain would "in effect" have had "the same signifcation as the original wording" and thus have nullifed the amendment of the Senate, may we'll be doubted. It is perhaps fortunate that the question has never arisen.
 The British government, immediately after rejecting the treaty as amended, proposed to en- ter into new treaty with the United States, similar in all respects to the treaty which they had just refused to ratify, if the United States would consent to add to the Senates clear and unqualified recognition of the sovereignty of Honduras over the Bay Islands the following additional stipulation: "Whenever and as soon as the Republic of Honduras shall have con- cluded and ratified treaty with Great Britain, by which Great Britain shall have ceded, and | .L- ID u; l,al ,+>l the said islands, subject to the provisions and conditions contained in such treaty."
 This proposition was, of course, rejected. After the Senate had refused to recognize the Briti-h convention with Honduras on the 27th August, 1856, with full knowledge of its con- tents, it was impossible for me, necessarily ig- norant of the "provisions and conditions D which might be contained in future conven- ton between the same parties, to sanction them in advance.
 The fact is, that when two nations like Great Britain and the United States, mutually de>i- rous as they are, and l trust ever may be, of maintaining the most friendly relations with each other. have unfortunately concluded a treaty which they understand in senses directly opposite, the wisest course is to abrogate such treaty by mutual consent, and to commence anew.
 Had this been done promptly all difficulties in Central America would most probably ere this have been adjusted to the satisfaction of both parties. The time spent in discussing the meaning of the Clayton Bulwer treaty would have been devoted to this praiseworthy pur- pose, and the-task would have been the more easily accomplished because the interests of the two countries in Central America is identical being confined to securing safe transits over all the routes across the lsthmus
 Whilst entertaining these sentiments, 1 shall nevertheless not refuse to contribute to any req sonable adjustment of the Central American question which is not practically inconsistent with the American interpretation of the treaty Overtures for this purpose have been recently made by the British government in friendly ' spirit which cordially reciprocate; but whe. ther this renewed effort will result in success, am not yet prepared to express an opinion. A brief period will determine.
 With France our ancient relations of friend. ship still continue to exist The French gov. ernment have in several recent instances, which need not be enumerated, evinced a spirit o good will and kindness towards our country which 1 heartily reciprocate. It is, notwith. standing, much to be regretted, that two na tions whose productions are of such character as to invite the most extensive exchanges and freest commercial intercourse, should continue to enforce ancient and absolute restrictions O. trade against each other. Our commercial Urea ty with France is, in this respect, an exception from our treaties with all other commercial ma tons. It jealously levies discriminating duties } both on tonnage and on articles, the growth t product or manufacture of the one country 3 when arriving in vessels belonging to tn, other.
 3 More than forty years ago, on the 3d March 1Q1E ConurpSS DaSSpd an act offprinU all m ation to admit their vessels ladened with their na tonal productions into ports of the United State upon the same terms with our own vessels provided they would reciprocate to us simila t advantages This act confined the reciprocit, to the productions of the respective foreign ma tons who might enter into the proposed ar rannement with the United States The act a