The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-12-29
C-layton-Bulwer Treaty.

Clayton-BulweF Treaty.
FroIa he Chicago Journal.
Washington, D.C.-The Clsyton-Bul'
Wer treaty and why and how Il came
TO DO made nearly . half . century
since are told In some old memoranda
Of Stepeen A Douglas that within the
past week have been brought TO the
notice Of senators In the struggle TO
amend the Hay Pauneefote treaty 50 a.
to vest in the United States control in
dependen, OF all the foreign countries
Of the proposed Nicaraguan canal.
1t Is memoranda that tended to en-
courage the senate to dsnounce the old
treaty and the information it conveys
Is interesting Of this time.
The BolIze settlement, dividing
Nicaragua and Honduras on the one
side and the Mexican state OF Yucatan
on the other b the oldest British
possession In Central Americs. When
the war between the United States and
Mexico was brought to . close, England
used all her powers Of diplomacy to
persuade Mexico not 10 cede any terri
tory TO the United States.
On the very day the treaty was sign
cd which ceded New Mexico and Call
tOrnia 10 the United States IN English
aset sailed from VOrA Cruz and pro-
cesded 10 the mouth OF the San Juan
river, in Central America, and took
possession Of the town Of San Juan, ct
the mouth Of the river. changed lis
name TO GreytOwn, and established
tbs British authority.
The United States protested against
this act q being an aggression upon
the territorial rights Of Nicaragua, aud
as beng prompted by hostile motives
toward the United States, il having for
Its object to close up tbs only channel
through which the United States could
establish and maintain communication
between the Atlantic states and orr
newiy-acquired possessions on the
Pacific.
The controversy growing out Of this
seizure led to the Csyton-B ulwer
treaty. Clayton was President Tsy-
lor's secretary Of state. During the
last year Of Poik's administration,
which preceded Tsylor's an American
envoy negotiated . treaty with Nicara.
qua BY which the United States was In
vested with The exclusive right Of con.
structIng q ship canal between the At
lantie and Pacific through the San
Juan river and Lake Nicaragua, to-
gsther with The right OF terrifying II,
and placing the whole line Of the canal
under the exclusive control Of the
United States.
Secretary Clayton rejected bis treaty
and sent another envoy to Nicaragua,
who made . new tres,y, which pro.
vIded that the canal should be placed
undsf the JOINT protection Of Great
Britain and the United States. Clay
ton then negotiated with Sir Henry
Bulwer the Clayton treaty, By which
his scheme Of . Joint protection to the
transit route wa recognized and Q pro-
vision inserted BY which Great Britain
and the United States pledged their
faith, each to the other, that neither,
Of them could coloniEe, annex, fortify
or exercise exclusive dominion over
any part Of Central America. The
treaty was ratified, although Douglas
made q hard fight to have Ii elected
BE opposed Il on the ground that be
wanted no partnerships with Great
Britain in respect to the transit route;
that such q partnership would be pro-
ductive OF constant misunderstandings
and disputes, instead Of being q bond
Of peace. And that the United States
should have the exclusive control over
the transit route and might open it to
the world on such terms Is we're CON-
pAtible with Americas interests.