The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-01
THE CLAYTON AND BULWER TREATY.

C)untyt Ap~s-A
THE CLAYTON N ULWER TREATY.
An attack on the President has appeared in an
evening cotemporary which demands a passing no
tice. It is full Of Misrepresentation We shall not
quote its insulting and offensive language, but shall
refute it by the statement of a few plain and indis-
putable facts.
LIST. The President never did change his policy in
regard to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. From the time
he went to England as minister of the United States
until the present moment, 1t has been always the
same. He went to England for the purpose of con-
vincing the British government that their ~construc-
ton of this treaty was unfounded. They were in
possession of the whole coast of Central America,
with the exception of a small portion, and they con-
tended that this treaty authorized them TO continue
in possession. It was commended by the United
States that this treaty obliged them to abandon all
their possessions in Central America, including the
Mosquito protectorate and the Bay Islands. The
issue was thus fairly joined. In the Presidents first
annual message in December, 1857, in what then APP
peared to be the irreconcilable difference of opinion
between the two governments, he employed the fol-
lowing language The fact is, that when two ma.
lions ike Gfcat tfltaln ana inc OIllcu Glllcs,
mutually DESTROYS as they are, and / trust ever may
be, of maintaining the most friendly relations with
each other, have unfortunately concluded a treaty
which they understand in senses directly opposite,
the wisest course is to abrogate such a treaty by
mutual consent, and to ommence anew" At this
very time, however, he added that whilst enter
tanning these sentiments, l shall nevertheless not re,
fuse to contribute to any reasonable adjustment Of
the Central American questions which is not practi
cally 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
whether this renewed effort will result in success ]
am not yet prepared to express an opinion. A brief
period will determine" After much negotiation,
these "overtures' have led to q satisfactory result.
The American construction of the treaty will be
substantially carried into effect. The Mosquito pro-
tectorate and the Bay Islands viii no doubt be sur
rendered to Nicaragua and Honduras respectively
and Sir VIM. Gore 0useley has gone to Central
America with instructions to conclude treaties to
carry this policy into effect.
The substance of his instructions has been com
municated to this government, and we have full
faith in the loyalty of the British government. If he
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government have never heard from him, either oral
ly or in writing, IN relation to the matter until the