Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-10
ONO, THURSDAY, Deem Der 10, 1861.

ed by themselves. Itdcprived the government
of Hcaduras Of the taxing power in every form,
fand exempted the people of the islands from the
performances of military duty except for their
own exclusive defence. 1t also prohibited that
republic fr6m erecting fortificstions upon them
fr their protection thus leaving them open TO
invasion from any quarter and finally it provi-
ded thatAaavery shall not at any time hefsaf er
be permitttd to exist therein"
Had Honduras ratified this convention. she
veuid M ratified the establishment of a State
sdbstantQkly Independent within her limits
md a state at all times subject to British infiu-
Fence and control. Moreover, had the United
States ratified the treaty with Great Britain
in original form, we should have been bound
$40 recognize and respect in all future time.
Misrepresentation 10 the Prejudioe ct Honduras.
Being m direct opposition to the spirit ard
meaning Of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty as
understood in the United States, the Senate re-
jected the entire clause, and substituted in its
stead asimple recognition ofthe sovereign right
of Honddras to these islands in the following
language: The two contracting parties do
hereby mutually engage to recognise and respect
the islands Of Ruatan, Bonaco, Ttila, Barbaret-
ia, Helena, and Morat, situate in the Bay of
Honduras, and off the coast OF the republic of
Honduras, as under the sovereignty and as part
of the So republic of Honduras"
Great Bri ain rejected this amendment, as
signing as the oply reason, that the notifications
Of the convention Of the 9th August, 1856. be-
tween her and Honduras, had not been SEX
changed, owing to the hesitation of that govern
ment." Had this been done, it is stated that
'her Meiesty's government would have had
little difficulty in agreeing to the modification
proposed BY the Senate, which tn would have
bad in effect the same Specification as the origi :
nal wordshgg's Whether this would have been
the effect wh-ther the mere circumstance of
The exchange of the notifications of the British
convention with Honduras prior in point of
time to the ratification of our tr-aty with Great
Britain would, .in effect" have had ''the same
Specification as the original wording and then
Nave nuliiied the amendment Of the Senate,
may weltbe doubted. 1t is. perhaps, fortunate
that the question has never arisen.
The British government, Immediately after
rejecting the treaty as amended, proposed to
enter intoa new treaty with the United States,
similar IN all respects to the treaty VIII Oh they
had Just refused to ratify, if the United States
would consent to add to the Senate's clear and
unqualified recognition of the sovereignty Of
Honduras over the Bay Islands the following
conditional stipulation Whenever and SO
soon as the republic of Honduras shall have con-
eluded and ratified a treaty with Great Britain,
by which Great Britain shall have ceded, and
the republic of Honduras shall have accepted,
the said iiSja ds, subject to the provisions and
loordH5ec nntaiped IN such treaty
This J position was. of course, rejected
After the Senate had refused to recognize the
British convention with Ho duras of the 9th Of
August. 1856, with full knowledge of its con-
tents, it was impossible for me, necessarily ig-
norant of the "provisions and conditions which
might be contained in q future convention be-
tween the same parties, to sanction them in ad-
vance.
The fact is that VIII, IN two nations like Great
Britain and the United States, mutually desi-
rouS, as they are, and | trust ever may be, of
maintaining. the mos, friendly relations with
each,other;have unfortunately co cluded a'treaty
which they understand in senses directly oppo-
site, the Nisest course is to abrogate such a
treaty by mutual consent, and to
anew. Had this b en- done promptly, all diff.
culties in Central America would most probably
ere this have been adjusted to the satisfaction of
both parties. Tn time spent Ii discussing the
meaning of the Cl ,yton and Bulwer treaty
would have been devoted to this praiseworthy
purpose, and the task would have been the more
easily accomplished becau-e the interest of the
two c~ouaLries in Central America is identical,
DelnS CUIHucu " scCufC SdlC dho OfSi ehS
routes across the Isthmus.
Whilst entertaining these | shall
nevertheless not refuse to contribute to any rea-
sonable adjustment of the Central American
questions 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 a friendly
spirit, which l cordially reciprocate; but wheth-
err 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
eminent have ia several recent instances which
need not be enumerated, evinced a spirito of good
will and kindness towards our country which |
heartily reciprocate. 1t is, Notwithstanding,
much to be regretted that two nations whose
productions are of such Il character as to invite
the most extensive exchanges. and freest COM
merciai intercourse, should continue to enforce
ancient and obsolete restrictions Of trade against
each other. Our commercial treaty with Franco
is in this respect, an exception from our treaties
with all other commercial nations. 1t j~ealously
~levies discriminating duties both on tonnage and
on articles, the growth, produce or manufacture
of the one country, when arriving in vessels be-
longing to the other.
More than forty years ago, on the Sd March,
1915, Congress passed an act offering to all IA
tions to admit their vessels laden with their ma
tional productions into the ports of the United
States upon the same terms with our own YES
sells, provided they would reciprocate to us SIM
liar advantages. This act confined the recipro-
city to the productions Of the respective foreign
nations who might enter into the proposed ar
rangement with the United States. The act of
May "a, 1928, removed this restriction, and Of
fered a similar reciprocityto all such vessels with
out reference TO the origin of their cargoes.-
Upon these principles, our commercial treaties
and arrangements have been founded, except
with France; and let us hope that this exception
may not long exist.
Our relations with Russia remain, rs they
have ever been, on the most friendly footing.