True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-16
STEVBENVILLE, OHIO, WEDNESDAY pecenber is la5z

the single exception of the CLAUSE relating
to Ruatan and the other islands in the Bay
of Honduras. The article in the origina
treaty, as submitted to the Senate, after
reciting hat these islands and their inhab-
itants " having been by convention bear.
ing date the 9th day of Aug st, 1856, De-
tween her Britanic Majesty and the Re,
public Of Honduras, constituted and de-
clared free territory under the sovereign
ty of the said Republic of Honduras -
stipulated that the "two contracting par.
ties do hereby mutually engage to recog.
nize and respect, in all future time, the in-
dependence and rights of the said free ter
ritory, as part of the Republic of Hon
duras."
Upon an examination of this convention
between Great Britain and Honduras of
the 9th August, 1856, it was found that
whilst declaring the Bay Islands to be ga
free territory under the sovereignty Of the
Republic of Honduras" it deprived that
Republic of rights without which its sover-
eighty over them could scarcely be said to
exist. 1t divided them from the remain
der of Honduras, and gave to their inhabi-
tants seperate government of their own,
with legislative, executive, and judicial
officers; elected by themselves. 1t depri-
we'd the government of Honduras of the
taxing power in every form, and exempted
the people of the islands from the perform
ancc of military duty except fer their own
exclusive defence. 1t also prohibited that
republic from erecting Notifications upon
them for their protection-thus leaving
them open 10 invasion from any quarter
and, finally it provided "that slavery shall
not at any time hereafter be permitted to
exist therein"
Had Honduras ratified this convention,
she would have ratified the establishment,
of State substantially independent within
her own limits, and State at all times
subject to British influence and CONTROL
Moreover, had the United States ratified
the treaty with Great Britain iu its origi
nal form, we should have been bound "to
recognize aud respect in all future time
these stipulations, to the prejudice of Hon
durasY Being in direct opposition to the
spirit and meaning of the Clayton and
Bulwer treaty as understood in the United
States, the Senate rejected the entire
clause, and substituted in its stead sip :
pie recognition of the sovereign right Of
Honduras to these islands in the following
language: "The two contracting parties do
hereby mutually engage to recognize and
respect the islands of Ruatan, Bonaco,
Utila, Barbarctta, Helena and Morat, stu.
ate in the Bay of Honduras, and off the
coast of the republic of Honduras, as un.
der the sovereignty and as part of the said
Republic of Honduras"
Great Baitain rejected this amendment,
assigning as the only reason, that the rati.
.fcations of the convention of the 9th Of
August, 1856, between her and Honduras,
had not been exchanged, owing to the
hesitation Of that government" Had this
been done, it is stated that cher Majcsty's
government would have had little difficulty
in agreeing to the modification proposed
by the Senate, which then would have had
in effect the same Specification as the origi.
nal wording" Whether this would have
been the effect; whether the mere circum-
stance of the exchange of the ratifcations
of the British convention with Honduras
prior in point of time to the ratification Of
our treaty with Great Britain would, Sin
effect" have had "tho same signifcation as
the original wording" and thus have null
lifted the amendment Of the Senate, may
well be doubted. 1t is, perhaps, fortunate
that the question has never arisen.
The British government, Immediately
after rejecting the treaty as amended, pro-
posed to enter into new treaty with thu
United States, similar in all respects to thu
treaty which they had refused to ratify, i
the United States would consent to add t
the .Senate's clear and unqualified recOg
milton of the sovereignty of Honduras oveI
the Bay Islands, the following conditioua
s.ipulations -" Whenever and so soon a
the republic of Honduras shall have con
cluded and ratified treaty with Grea
Britain, by which Great Britain shall hav,
cedcd, and the republic of Honduras shal
have accepted, the said islands, subject t.
the provisions and conditions contained il
such treaty."
This proposition was, of course, rejected
After the Senate had refused to recogniz
the British convention With Honduras, o
the 9th August, 1856, with full kuowl
edge of its contents, it was impossible fo
me, necessarily ignorant Of "the provision
and conditions" which might be contained
lin future convention between the sam
parties, to sanction them in advance.
The fact is, that when two nations lik
Great Britain and the United States, mu
tually desirous as they are, aud 1 trus
ever may be, Of maintaining the mos
friendly relations with each other, hav
unfortunately concluded a treaty whic
they understand in senses directly oppC
site, the wisest course is to abrOgate sue
treaty by mutual consent, and to con
menco anew. Had this been done promp
} ly, all difficulties in Central America woul
I most probably ere this have been adjuste
to the satisfaction of both parties.
II The time spent in discussing the meaI