The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-02

lor's message, which has Just been made public,
transmitting to the Senate. on April22 1856, the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty. over which there has
been SO much contention during the discussion of
the treaty with Nicaragua. The document shows
that the treaty was ratified by avote of forty two
to eleven. jeff Davis voted against the treaty,
because, the Republicans would aEege- it did
not more completely yield to England the nat
ural influence of tho United States over Central
America. The treaty is Democratic landmark
President Taylor had some very radical views
on the subject. Speaking of the grasping dis
position of England in connection with
Nicaraguan matters, he said:
when / came into Office found the British
government in possession of the port Of San
Juan which it had taken by force Of arms, after
we had taken possession Of California, and while
we were engaged in the negotiation OF % treaty
for the cession of it. and that no official remon-
STRANGE had been made by this government
against the aggression, nor any attempt to resist
it. Efforts then being made by certain
private citizens of the United States to procure
from the State of Nicaragua, by contract the
right to cut the proposed ship-caDal, by the way
of the river San Juan, and the lakes
OF Nicaragua and Managua TO Realejo,
on the Pacific ocean. A company OF American
citizens entered into such contract with the
ter of great Importance 10 the people OF the
United States, resolved to- adopt the policy of
protecting the work and binding the government
OF Nicaragua, through whose territory it would
pass also to protect it. Iconsider the interior
ence of the British government on this con
tinent IN seizing the port of San Juan, which
commanded the route Believed to be the most
eligible for the canal across the fsthmus, and
occupying 1t at the very moment when it was
known as | believed, to- Great Britian, that we
were engaged in the negotiation for thu purchase
Of California, as an unfortunate coincidence,
and one calculated to lead to The Inference
that she entertained designs by no means III
harmony with the interests of the United
States"
It was this feeling expressed by President
Taylor that brought about the Clayton Buiwer
treaty. which simply guarantees protection to
the interests of Americans in. enterprises in pos
sessions controlled partially mainly by the
British. The Nicarag1lan treaty, now under
consideration by the Senate-or rather which
the Senate has practically refused to ratlfy--
looks to the construction of this canal, linking
the two oceans by the aid of this government.
The Democratic senator's, looking after the ira
dItlons of their party, and the principles
enunciated In the Clayton Bulwer Treaty.
which virtually yields up all right to
enterprise, so far as this government Is con-
cerned, in the state of Nicaragua. opposed the
recent treaty on the ground that it, was in con-
fict with the Clayton Bulwer treaty. If this
position is always held good, the United States
government will n9ger become interested, dr.
-rrCtly or Indirectly in Improvements affecting
commerce with other countries. The opponents
Of the Nicaraguan treaty hold that so far as en-
terprises promulgated aided by this govern
ment'are concerned they should never extend to
other countries, matter whether they be. CO.
operate with or independent of other countries,
The fear that the Nicaraguan treaty might lead
to war with England was based, therefore, upon
tile belief that her Majesty's government would
hold that the Clayton Bulwer treaty gave up
control of or claim over the coasts of Nicaragua.
President Taylor was very positive in his dis
approval of any move the Senate might desire to
take toward Selling annexing any portion of
the territories of the weak Central American re-
publics. or of extending our dominion over them.
The defeat of the Nicaraguau treaties. it is be-
lieved here, settles the matter of the United
States contending, for the present, at least with
England for any of the trade or shipping inter
ests with foreign countries. For the present we
threw up our hands.