The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-03
THE CLAYTON AND BULwER TREATY.

The CLAHION AND bULWEh lhEAI1'.
A few more words concerning this treaty. This,
not in spirto of controversy, but to afford reliable
information to the public.
l. The dangerous controversy, which has so long
existed between the two governments in regard to
the true construction of this treaty is now in the
process Of satisfactory adjustment The principles
Of this adjustment have been finally settled between
the parties, and Sir William Gore ouseley ia in
Central America to imbody these principles in the
form of treaties with Nicaragua and Honduras. The
sovereignty the Mosquito territory is to be sur
rendered by Great Britain to Nicaragua, on terms
which were satisfactory to the Senate of the United
States when they had the Dallas Clarendon treaty be-
fore them. The sovereignty over the Bay Islands is
also to be surrendered to Honduras, to which they
have ever rightfuly belonged. Thus, the American
construction of the treaty has substantially pre-
vailed
The great object of this treaty the part of the
United States was to Great Britain from the
coast of Central America, which was then almost
entirely in her possession. We thought this had
been accomplished by the treaty in plain and inte
gible language This was strongly contested by the
British government In this position of affairs, it
was the policy of General Perce's administra-
ton to hold fast to the treaty until the object
accomplished and it to vindcate
the American construction of it that the pres
emit President of the United States was sent
Minister to England. 1t to carry this policy into
effect that the Dallas-C Clarendon treaty was concu-
ded. The policy fully endorsed by the
Senate of the United States when this treaty
lao Jx,a o,ol I,r4 l,o
Senate effectualy to carry out this policy i'll
regard to the Bay Islands, caused the treaty TO be
rejected by Great Britain The present President has
steadily pursued this policy, now crowned with
cess, from the beginning. He never thought of alb
rogating the treaty, unless it should be finally
tanned that the difference between the parties in
gard to its construction irreconcilabe. At one
moment there was cause to apprehend this result !;
and then the serious step, amounting almost to a
declaration of war might have been recommended
of annuling the treaty by act of congress.
2. In regard to Sir William Gore Ouseley, we
shall say nothing moro than repeat that he had no
connexion whatever with the negotiation, and took
no part in it. Indeed, it not brought to a con-
cusion until some time after he had left Wash
ington.
g. But reports have been in extensive circulation
that Lord Napier had offered during the tendency
OF the negotiation, in behalf of the British govern
ment, to abrogate the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
The fact, however, has been carefully suppressed
that, connected with this OFFER or rather suggestion
Britain would hold on to the possession of the Bay
Islands. This proposition, with the condition an
nexed, was promptly rejected by the President
And why2 Ruatan the principal of the Bay Islands,
is one of those commanding positions which the
British government have appropriated to themselves
all over the earth. Mr.. Buchanan in his statement
to Lord Clarendon of the 9th January 1854, speaks
of this island in tho following terms Ruatan is
known to be island of great value and importance
on account of its excellent harbors which are rare
along that coast. Indeed, it has been described by
Spanish author as the key of the Bay of Hon
duras and the focus of the trade of the neighborne
countries Such is its commanding geographical
position that Great Britain, possession of it, could
completely arrest the trade of the United States in
its passage to and from the Isthmus. In vain may
the convention have prohibited Great Britain from
erecting maintaining any Notifications command
ing the Nicaragua canal, in other portions of Cen
trail America if she shall continue to exercise do
minion the Bay Islands,"
Let the American people judge whether the ad-
ministration ought to have received favorably any
proposition TO abregate the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty, subject to the condition of allowing Great
Britain to remain in possession of the Bay Islands
If this proposition had been accepted the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and the subsequent negotiations con-
corning it would only have resulted in concession
by the United States to Great Britain of clear title
to the Bay Islands The abrogation would not even
have left the Central American questions in the same
condition in which they were before the convention
was made, because it would have been coupled with
condition that Great Britain was to retain its most
important possessions in all that region.
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THE MORAIIST AND THE STATESMAN.