Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-10

1900
as to escape the penalty and preserve its life
The existence of banks and the circulation OF
hank paper are so identified with the habits OF
our ueopIe that they cannot at this day be sud
denly abolished without much immediate inJu-
~ to the country. If we could confine them to
their appropriate sphere, and prevent them from
to the spirit of wild and reckless
speculation by extrayagant loans and issues,
they might be continued with advantage to the |
public. |
But this say, after long and much reflection; |
If experience shall prove it to be impossible to !
enjoy the facilities which well-regulated banks
might afford without at the same time suffer |
ing the calamities which the excuses of the
banks have hitherto inflicted upon the country, !
it would then be far the lesser evil to deprive
them altogether OF the power to issue paper
currency and confine them to the functions OF
banks Of deposits and discount.
Our relotions with foreign governments are,
upon the whole, in satisfactory condition
The diplomatic difficulties which existed be-
tween the government of the United States and
that of Great Britain at the adjournment OF the
last Congress have been happily terminated by
the appointment of British minister to this
country, who has been cordially received
Whilst it is greatly to The interest, as am
convinced it is the sincere desire, ofthe govern
ments and people of the two countries to be on
terms of intimate friendship with each other, it
has been our misfortune almost ways to have
had some irritating, if not dangerous, outstand-
ing question with Great Britain.
Since the origin Of the government we have
been employed in negotiating treaties with that
power, and afterwards in discussing their true
intent and meaning. In this respect. the con-
vention of April 10, 1850, commonly called the
CLAYTON and Bulwer treaty, has been the most
unfortunate hf all; because the two governments
place directly opposite and contradictory con-
structions upon its first and most important ar
ticle. Whilst, in the United States, We believe
that this treaty would place both powers upon
an exact equality by the stipulation that neith-
er will ever occupy, or fortify, COLOMBO, or
assume or exercise any dominion" over, any
part of Central America, it Is contended by the
British government that the true construction
of this language has left them in the rghttul
possession of all that portion Of Central America
which was in their occupancy at the date of the
treaty; in fact that the treaty is virtual recOg
milton on the part of the United States of the
right of Great Britain, either as owner or pro
tector, to the whole extensive coast of Central
America, sweeping round from the Rio Hondo
to the mort and harbor of SSn Juan de Nicara-
gua together with the adjacent Bay Islands, ex-
cept the comparatively small portion Of this be-
tween she Sarstoon and Cape Honduras. Ac-
cording to their construction, the treaty does no
more than simply prohibit them from extending
their possessions in Central America beyond the
present limits. 1t is not too much to assert,
that if in the United States the treaty had been
considered susceptible Of such construction, it
never would have been negotiated under the au-
thority of the President, nor would it have re-
ceived the appreciation of the ST. ate. The uni
versal conviction in the United Statos was, that
when our government consented to violate its
traditional and time-honored policy, and to Stip-
uate with foreign government never to occupy
or acquire territory in the Central American
portion of our own continent, the consideration
for this sacrifice was that Great Britain should
in this respect at least, be placed in the same po
sition with ourselves. Whilst we have no right
to doubt the ncerity of the British government
in their construction of the treaty, it is at the
same time my deliberate conviction that this
construction is in opposition both to its letter
and its spirit
Under the late administratO negotiations were in
if possible of removing these difficulties; and treaty
London on the 18th of October s6. and was Submit
ted BY the President to the Senate on the following
original amended form. would have accomplished
complications between the two govern
nents may perhaps be we'll questioned Certain 1t Is,
however, IL was rendered mach leSS Questionable by
The treaty, amended ratihed BY me on the 18th
idcation by the British government That government
mems made by the senate With the single exception
the clause relating Ruatan and the other islands
in the Bay of Honduras The article in the original
treaty. submitted to the Senate after recting that
these islands and their inhabitants shaving been by
bearing date the eth day of August 1856
between her Britannia Majesty and the republic of
constituted and declared free territory
under the sONereienty of the said republic of Hondu
stipulated that 'the contracting parties do
future time the Independence and rights of the said
free territOry part of the republic of Honduras
Upon an examination of this convention be-
tween Great Britain and Honduras of tho 9th
August 1885, it was found that, whilst decla-
ring the Bay Islands to be "a free territory uu-
der the sovereignty Of the republic of Hondu-
rsS'' it deprived that republic Of rights without
which its sovereignty over them could scarcely
be said to exist. It divided them from tie re-
mainder of Honduras, and gave to their inhab=
itants a separate government oftheir own, with
legislative executive and judicial officers, elect
ed by themselves. 1t deprived 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 defence. 1t also prohibited that
republic from erecting Notifications upon them
for their protection-thus leaving them open to
invasion from any quarter; and finally it provi-
ded chat slavery shall not at any time hereaf er
be permitted to exist therein
Had Honduras ratified this convention she
would have ratified the establishment of State
independent within herown limits.
and State at all times subject to British influ-
ence and control Moreover, had the United
States rItified the traatv with Great Rr;ta;1