The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-30
WhD Owns SOmbrerOs
no THE EDITOR Of THE HERALD.


In the number Of the London Ilasrated Nescs datet
July there is view of the island of Sombrcro-one
the leeward islands--about which, appears there ha
lately been correspondence between the English
government and that of the United States-the former
ella inning il British possession and the latter conced
ing the claim.
This valuable island has been in our possession since
1855 when IL purchased by an cnterprising New
York house from who claimed TO be its discoverer
Our government notified Of the purchase and Of the
circumstances attending it, and agreed certain
dtons protect the purchasers in the possession One
Of the conditions that all the phosphate Of mcat
tmes called guano-should be sold in and for the benefit
81 this country alone; which condition complied
with till the breaking out of the rebellion, when the
market here being cut of, the owners obliged to
send the lime TO Eng land At length the British govern
ment put forth preiensons to the ownership Of SOM
hrero, and The Neps be correct have been successful
The following extract from that paper shows the basis Of
sheir claim
The island was drst visited by English gentleman
about the JS4 and again by him In 1896 which
sccason report was made 10 the British government but
prove 70 have deserved In 1856 the americans
q the S aa Of II e Of G
able fertilizer TO resusctae the exhausted lands of the
the attention Of British surveying expedition that
% sosy HSsas By
a s wno IN me college,
Muchson holding The island of sombrero 10
sood substitute for the gasno OF Pcru.h
FROM TINS knRlisn statement tOf the appears
that our government have given up this island and its
treasures, on claim founded upon two visits by
English gentleman In 1914 and 1926 the
important fact admitted that the British govern
ment paid attention TO the discovery when IL was
brought 70 their notice, and permitted the island
main unoscupied and unclaimed from 1926 I'LL the open
ing OF ule correspondence with our government not
great while II the right based upon priority Of dis
cssery belonged 20 the English they must have lost IL
~ failing 10 take the usual steps confirm and establish
their sovereignty. A Simple discovery, according 10
Vattcl, Is not sufficient when therefore says he
n chap. xviii, 207 "a nation finds a couptry unn
AAoited and without master 1t may lawfully take pos
eosss0n of II; And after N has sufficiently made known
~ will In this respect cannot be depged u by an.
sther Thus nsvigators going the discovery fur
nished with q commission from their sovereign aud
meeting with issnds other desert countries have
taken possession Of them In the OF their nation
and this title has been commonly respectful provided
vas soon after followed BY a real possession
To compste the right Of property right the thing
md the possession OF the thing must be untae.
This general law OF property appes the right territory
10 less than 20 other rehts.-ksk
10 dificvlt TO upon what principle this island
has thus been surrendered 10 the English sncc ap-
pears from the only satenentof the yet published
that their title not perfected by the necessary
formaites There nay b. other controlling circuni-
stances known to the public but II the leading facts
hard resist the conclusion that Mr. Seward has reck
lessly and nocdlessy thrown away Invaluable treas
nre which would have been of irlmense advantage TO
eur agricultural interests
Our fellow citizens too, sao have been FOR years
working this mine win suffer great wrong a., unless
their rights have been protected this transfer OF
eighty will necessarily deprive them OF the ownership
shall await Mr. seward's explanation Of this matter
I'd imlatiencr