The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-15
From tho Now York H.rn

With the rejection by Lord Palmerston of the anend
Dallas-C Clarendon treaty. relations with England M
corning the affairs of Central America have been tbro
into a more unsatisfactory and embarrassing condit;
than at amy period of the cntangemont during the ,
twenty years. Since last summer, when Lord PalmerS
asked nothing, wanted nothing, and willing to cn
cede anything touching the bays, rivers nles island,
territories States and tribes of Central America H.
mind has undergone complete revolution. The now
Anglo French movement for the wholesale reduction ana
opening of China to the commerce of the world has given
a value TO all the American isthmus transit rout
from Tehuantepec TO Panama. in reference TO the pros
pecve Chinese trade these routes and henc.
upon reconsideration Of the subject since the late m
ish elections my Lord Pamerston, instead of recetnr
from Englands usupations occupations, and projects h
Central America for the sake OF peace has resolved Of
all hazards, to hold fast.
The English journals, however siding with Lord PA,
merston and supposed to speak by authority, give alto
gether different explanation of the for the re
ton of the Dallas-Clarendon treaty Thus appean t
the British cabine entertans the suspicion that the Amer
lean amendments introduced in spirit unirendlv
to England Ia spirit comprehending the ancient Ango
phoba of General Css and the filibusering dogmas N
the 0send manifesto. But let briefly inquire into s
matter.
The first point raised by the British government is that
the original Dallas Clarendon treaty gave the MOSQUITO
Indians general powers of legislation and control over an
immense territory extending 100 miles along the coast
most extensive grant to little band OF Indians which
estimates at than 900 and which our con-
sui at San Juan estimated at 800 This large reservation
the Senate agreed 10 TO these Indians but nm
serving the governmental jurisdiction of Nicaragu,
them-a mode of proceeding adopted by tbo
French and British and American governments sinco
the first settlement of the country. "But' saws INV
Lord Palmerston, the Senate have introduced words
which qualify the clause, by excluding British influence
Aye, there is the rub The question il not as to the s
pcriorty Of the white race and the wise practice Of all
civilized nations but what effect will be produced upm
British influence Then, again, the Senate struck ont
the clause confirming land grants made by the Mosquito
Indians, and this is another offence But when in any
case, did England or France, or the United States az
knowledge the right of the Indians to convey their lands
to any but the government All who have the laa
knowledge of the Indian character know that such th
improvidcncc and liability to be imposed that they
could not keep their country year but for this unif
prohibition, and the American Senate and wisely too
chose to apply this principle to tho Mosquito Indians and
to Nicaragua But the American Senate likewise struck
out the provision that in the event Of the rejection Of o
treaty by Costa Rca on Nicaragua no more Favorable
terms should be proposed consented to those are tina
Words by the United States England Who here will
doubt the propriety of the rejection of this provision
The Senate very properly did not undertake presumpu
ously to feter the future, but chose to leave the parties
to act the exigences of that future might require
Those all the objections of the British cabinet pub
cly avowed, so far regards the Of the United
States seLate, and they adduccd evidence to sup
port the charge that our government is mainly DESTROYS
of supprcssing British influence in Central America ''nd
only in the Mosquito territory but in Central Amcla
generally" But then come, we are informed Che L
true objections Of Lord Palmcrson which prevented The
ratification of the treaty by the British government
treaty had been negotiated between England and Hon
duras, by which England rcnqushod to the latter Tho
sovereignty of the Bay Islands, providing in the ccsiCl
that there shall never be any slavery there Now with
this engagement the United States have concern Hon
duras has the right 10 establish prohibit slavery her
territories 1t is act of internal legislation with which
other nations have nothing to do England relmquish
to Honduas portion of its territory which she never
had the slightest just claim and it was an act Of pre-
sumptuous arrogance to annex this any other such
condition to what mere restoration of orebly
withheld property. Nor has the experiment Of Eng II
land in the emancipation of her West Indian coons
been so fortunate justly to lead her to force her &
example upon other powers In the original draft Of The
DallasClarendon treaty, further advised thee
was clause which declared that convention having
been entered into between England and Honduras which
provided that the Bay Islands should be "flee ter
tory, as part of the republic of Honduras the contract
ing parties England and the United States should |;
spect the said convention in regard to the rights and
rsdiction of Honduras. According to the English HCS
of the subject, " the convention between England and
Honduras expressly declared that slavery should
exist in the said free territory. The United States Sen
ate, however, has introduced words which provide that
the governments of England and the United States may
recognise the sovereignty of the Bay Islands without
ing bound by the express condition OF the conventm
which prohibits slavery. Upon this point, with thdh
usual procvity towards the abuse of the United States
the leading London journals diverge to the bred Scott n
case and to the Supreme Court condemning the supreme
judicial tribunal of friendly nation and its solemn de-
csons upon local questions Of constitutional law in no
measured terms.
Next, we ON this side of the water are told that H.
rests with the government of England to detemN N
whether it will permit the solemn engagement into
which it has entered with Honduras to be ignored at R
dictation of the Senate of the United States. lgno
and dictaton, indeed Can such stuff deceive the Eng
fish people What have the United States to do with
abolition Of slavery provided for in convention betwG
England and Honduras just nothing at all Ihel& a
ted States have neither the right nor the disposition
dictate to Honduras what political or domestic nitr
tons she ought to have. But every lover Of natioa
independence through the world will regret that Hcnr
ms did not percnptorily reject this arrogant nercpt
with her internal concerns Turn the tables and maxi
such demand of England as to the abolition in any IN
her possessions of any of her peculiar institutions and
English people would be filled with indignation hH I'M
Johnny Groat's house to Lands End Our Senate gRE3
vided that the sovereignty of the Bay Islands should
in Honduras and there stopped leaving to that State
its rights under the usaecs Of nations If h@I&
duras renqushed an essential portion OF them upon
dictation OF u powerful protector while this eounu
would regret it would not oppose, this sedcsraau@
Then, to the fact has this refusal Of the United stat
to become party 10 this stipulation between Engn
and Honduras affected its validity in the slightest dcg
No. IL has just the force that it had eio,
The convention between Honduras and England who
was published in the Now York Herald contains no
erencc whatever to this country and its stipulaios
wholly independent of the United States.
But, after ALL there is degree of assurance in tbs
mand of England which ought TO excite the indgnalla
of every man having drop Of American blood IN D,
veins. II passes the usual boundaries Of EngnA
presumption. We are asked to become parties to uX
limitation of the independence of feeble State and
cast reproach upon own domestic institutions,
,, with Fnoland that tlera shall a nc
very in Honduras. The United States are asked 70
this, onc-Ialf of which slavery existing, n E&