The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-12-16

Under the late administration nsgotia-
tions were instituted between the two gov
ernments for the purpose, if possible, OF
removing these difficulties; and a treaty
having this laudable object in view was
signed at London on the II. .h of October,
1856, and was submitted by the President
to the Senate on the following 9th of
December. Whether this treaty, either
in its original or amended form, would
have accomplished the object intended
without giving birth to new and embar-
RAISING complications between the two
governments, may perhaps be we'll ques-
toned Certain it is. however, it was
rendered much less Objectionable by the
different amendments made to it by the
Senate. The treaty, as amended, was rat
flied by me on the 18th of March, 1857,
and was transmitted to London for rati
| 6cation by the British government. That
government expressed its willingness to
concur in all the amendments by the SenS
ate with the single exception of the clause
in the Bay of Honduras.
The article in the original treaty, as
submitted TO the Senate, after reciting
that these islands and their inhabitants
''having been by a convention bearing
date the 9th day of August, 1856, be-
tween her Britanic Majesty and the re-
public of Honduras. constituted and de-
clared free territory under the sover-
eighty of the said republic of Honduras, !"
stipulated that 1.-The two contracting par
ties do hereby mutually engage to recog-
mise and respect in all future time the
Independence and rights of the said free
f territory as part of the republic of Hon.
duras."
}, Upon an examination of this eonven-
ton between Great Britain and Honduras
on the 9th August, 1856, it was found
that, whilst declaring the Bay Islands to
be "a free territory under the sovereignty
, of the republic of Honduras,"it it deprived
f that republic of rights without which its
sovereignty over them could scarcely be
! said to exist. 1t divided them from the
q remainder of Honduras; and gave to their
= Inhabitants separate government IA ro
,
: judicial officers, elected by. themselves. ~
h 1t deprived the government of Hondura.
It Of the taxing power in every form, ant
It exempted the people of the islands from
;. the performance of military duty excep
j. for their own exclusive defence. 1t als'
l. prohibited that republic from erectin,
& Notifications upon them for protectiel
d thus leaving them open to invasion
l. from any quarter; and, fin: lly, it provide
"that slavery shall not at any time here
h after be permitted to exist tn ,rein."
to Had Honduras ratified this convention
h she would have ratified the estsbhshmer
ut of a State substantially independent will
es in her own limits, anda State at all time
h. subject to British inauence and centro
Id Moreover had the United Statct rattle
IN the treaty with Great Brtaia in its orig
er nal FORM we should have been bound "l
ns recognise and respect in all future time
these stipulations to the prejudice of Ho
its duras.
n Being in direct OPPOSITION to the spil
and meaning of the Clayton and Bmlw
St treaty as understood in the Un:tei State
ed the Senate rejected the entire clause, al
he substituted in its stead a simple recogr
we tion of the sovereign right of Honduras
nt- these islands In the following languag
ry, "The two contracting parties do here
mutually engage to recognise and resoe
s l the islands Of Ruatan, Bonaco, Uti
.he Barbaretta, Helena, and Morat situat
IN in the Bay of Honduras, and of the eoa
aip of the republic of Honduras, as und
or the sovereignty and as part Of the So
ri republic of Honduras
es + Concluded nert aceek.
- 8 p ECI A l. O II [ C. E S