The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-12-23
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
l9 Concluded
'RLLow CITIZENS OF THE SENATE
AND HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVE.

81 Concluded
FRLLow CITIZENS OF THE SENATE
AND HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,:
lF Great Britain rejected this amendment,
(assigning as the only reason that the rat
ifcation ofthe convention Of the Nth Au-
gust, 1856, between her and Honduras
had net been exchanged, owing to the
hesitation of that government Had this
been done, it is stated that "Her Majes.y's
government would have had little difficult
! ty in agreeing to the modification propo-
sed by the Senate. which then would have
! had in effect the same Specification as the
original wording" Whether this would
have had the effect; whether the mere cir
cumstance Of the exchange of the ratifca-
tions of th. British convention with Hon.
jusas prior in point Of time to the ratif-
cation Of our treaty with Crest Britain
would. sin effect" have had "the same
signiGcation as the original wording" and
thus nullifed the amendment of the Senate,
may well be doubted. It is, perhaps, for
innate that the question has never
arisen. sa sAS ~
The British government, Immediately
after rejecting the treaty az amended,
proposed to enterinto . 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 con-
fsent to add to the Senate's clear and un-
lqualifed recognition of the sovereignty of
/ Honduras over the Bay-Islands the fol-
flowing conditional stipaiations: '.Whenev-
er and so soon as the republic of Honduras
lshall have concluded and ratified q treaty
with Great Britain. BY which Great Brit
] ain shall have ceded, and the republic of
Honduras shall have accepted, the said
islands; subjectto the provisions and con-
Editions contained in such treaty." a}
This proposition was, of course, re-
1jected. After the Senate had refused to
recognize the British convention with
Honduras Of the 9th August, 1856,
with full knowledge Of its contents, it was
timpossibie forme, necessarily ignorant
4 of '.the provisions and conditions which
might be contained ia = future convention
i between the same parties. to sanction
them in advance. 80.
;. The fact is when two nations like
Great Britain and the United States, mu
TALLY desirous. as they are. and trus'
ever may be. of maintaining the mos
s {. eicly relations wi each ttier, have
unfortunately concluded treaty which
the. an lers tand in senses directly opposite
the wisest ecu Sc is to ahrogate such
: treaty by mutual consent, aud commenc
!. anew. Had this been done promptly
all difficulties in Central America woul
most probably ere this been adjusted +
the satisfaction Of both parties
4Ii Tie time spent in discussing the mean
ring Of the Clayton, and BIlwer treat,
!, would have been devoted to this praise
r-Eworthy purpose, and the task would hav
d been more easily accomplished becaus
1.-THE interest of the two countries in Ger
= trail America is identical, being con6ne
to securing safe transits over all the reut,
II across the Isthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentinents,
, shall nevertheless not refuse to contribu,
e to any reasonable adjustment of the Cel
ce1 trail American questions which is not pra
Il. ticaly inconsistent with the American il
e3terprctation of the treaty. Overtures f,
this purpose have been recently made |
the British government in friendly spiri
Dlwhich cordially reciprocate; butwheth
this renewed effort will result in success
/ am not yet prepared to express an OPT
= ion. A brief period will determine.
With France our ancient relations
n Friendship still continue to exist. II
p' French government have in several r
u cent instances which need not be enume
: ated. svinced spirit Of good will al
kindEess towards our country which
heartily appreciats. It is, notwithsla
u ding much to be regretted that two n
tions' whose productions are Of such
character as to invite the most extensi
exchanges and freest commercial inte
course, should continue to enforce an a
!, cieM and obsolete restriction trade again
each othe:.
Our commercial treaty with France
IT. in thisrespect an exception from our tire
m tieswith all other commercial natious.-
eIIt jealousy leyies discriminating duti
both on tonage and on articles, the grow
inraduce, or manufacture of the one cou
Try, when arriving in vessels belonging
IL lshe other. So siz 9ga 81
MoreEthau forty years ago, on the
March 1873, Congress passed an a
q, offering to all nations to admit their v,
sells laden with their national productio
me- into the ports of the United States MP
ing the same terms with oar vessels, provid
i they yeald reciprocate to us similar .
- yantagea, This set confined the recipl
er city to the productions Of the respect
foreign nations who fBfght.enter into I
proposed arrangement With the Unit
Statesa The act of May a, 1875
moved the restriction. and offered a 81
"a liar reciprocity to all such vessels witht
ne reference to the origin of their cargo
u Upon these principles, our commerc
ttreaties and arrangements have be
AZ funded, except with France; and let
S..'sf hot v;ll 1op