the whole spirit of the resolution of the Senate of the 3rd of March 1835, referred to by President Polk, and with the policy adopted by President Jackson (immediately after the passage of that resolution), who dispatched an agent to Central America and New Granada, "to open negotiations with those Governments for the purpose of effectually protecting, by suitable Treaty stipulations with them, such individuals or companies as might undertake to open a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by the construction of a ship-canal across the isthmus which connects North and South America, and of securing for ever, by such stipulations, the free and equal right of navigating such canal to all such nations on the payment of such reasonable tolls as might be established to compensate the capitalists who should engage in such undertaking and complete the work. I also communicate herewith a copy of the correspondence between the American Secretary of State and the British Plenipotentiary at the time of concluding the Treaty. Whatever honour may be due to the party first proposing such a Treaty justly belongs to The United States. My predecessor, in his Message of the 10th of February, 1847, referring to the Treaty with New Granada for the protection of the Panama Railroad, observes that, "should the proposition be rejected, we may deprive The United States of the just influence which its acceptance might secure to them, and confer the glory and benefits of being first among the nations in concluding such an arrangement upon the Government either of Great Britain or France. That either of these Governments would embrace the offer cannot well be doubted, because there does not appear to be any other effectual means of securing to all nations the advantages of this important passage but the guarantee of great commercial Powers that the isthmus shall be neutral territory. The interests of the world at stake are so important that the security of this passage between the two oceans cannot be suffered to depend upon the wars and revolutions which may arise among different nations. Should the Senate, in its wisdom, see fit to confirm this Treaty, and the Treaty heretofore submitted by me for their advice in regard to its ratification, negotiated with the State of Nicaragua, on the 3rd day of September last, it will be necessary to amend one or both of them, so that both Treaties may stand in conformity with each other in their spirit and intention. The Senate will discover by examining them both that this is a task of no great difficulty. I have good reason to believe that France and Russia stand ready to accede to this Treaty, and that no other great maritime State will refuse its accession to an arrangement so well calculated to diffuse the blessings of peace, commerce, and civilization, and so honourable to all nations which may enter into the engagement. Z. TAYLOR. Mr. Clayton to Sir Henry Bulwer, April 19, 1850. Sir Henry Bulwer to Mr. Clayton, April 19, 1850. THE Convention itself it is deemed unnecessary to publish, as it was promulgated when ratified in July, 1850. IN SENATE, May 9, 1850. The following message from the President of The United States was received, read, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be printed in confidence for the use of the Senate: To the Senate of The United States: Washington, May 8, 1850. With reference to the Convention between The United States and Her Britannic Majesty, relative to interoceanic communication by the way of Nicaragua, recently submitted to the Senate, I transmit a copy of a note, under date the 29th ultimo, addressed to the Secretary of State by Sir Henry L. Bulwer, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister here, and of Mr. Clayton's reply, under date the 30th ultimo. Intelligence received from the Chargé d'Affaires of The United States in Central America, and from other quarters, having lead to an apprehension that Mr. Chatfield, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister in that country, had concluded a Treaty with the Government of Costa Rica, placing that State under the protection of the British Government, I deemed it my duty to cause inquiries upon the subject to be addressed to Her Majesty's Government, through Sir Henry L. Bulwer. The note of that functionary communicates the answer to those inquiries, and may be deemed satisfactory, both from the denial of the fact that any such Treaty had been concluded, and from its positive disavowal, on behalf of the British Government, of the policy intended to be subserved by such Treaties. SIR, Sir Henry Bulwer to Mr. Clayton. Z. TAYLOR. British Legation, April 29, 1850. I HAVE the honour to inform you that Her Majesty's Government have entirely approved of the language which I held to you with reference to your inquiry as to whether it was true that Mr. Chatfield had made a Treaty with Costa Rica, taking that Republic under British protection, and of the assurance I then gave you that I did not believe, from the opinions which I had heard Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs express, that he could have authorized Mr. Chatfield to make any Treaty placing the Republic of Costa Rica under the protection of Her Majesty. I have been furthermore instructed to state to you that the British Government has not made, and has no intention of making, any Treaty or arrangement with Costa Rica for taking that State under British protection. I am also desired to add, that it would be contrary to the fixed and settled policy of Great Britain to entangle herself by any engagement to protect distant States, over whose policy and conduct it would be impossible for the British Government to exercise any effective control. Such a protectorate would confer no possible advantage on Great Britain, and might become the source of many embarrassments to her. I avail, &c. The Hon. J. M. Clayton, &c. SIR, H. L. BULWER. Mr. Clayton to Sir Henry Bulwer. Department of State, Washington, April 30, 1850. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 29th instant, informing me that Her Britannic Majesty's Government have entirely approved of the language which you held, and the assurance which you gave to me, with reference to my inquiry as to whether it was true that Mr. Chatfield had made a Treaty with Costa Rica, taking that Republic under British protection; that you have been furthermore instructed to state to me that your Government has not made, and has no intention of making, any Treaty or arrangement with Costa Rica of that kind; and that you are also directed to add, that it would be contrary to the fixed and settled policy of Great Britrin to entangle herself by any engagement to protect distant States over whose policy and conduct it would be impossible for her to exercise any effective control. I take pleasure in expressing the satisfaction with which this Government has received this friendly assurance from that of Her Britannic Majesty, the more especially as it cannot fail to strengthen the bonds of amity now existing between our respective countries. I avail, &c. The Hon. Sir H. L. Bulwer, &c. JOHN M. CLAYTON, IN SENATE, May 22, 1850. The following resolution was under consideration: Resolved (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring), that he Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the Convention between the United States of America and Her Britannic Majesty, concluded at Washington the 19th day of April, A.D. 1850. And the vote being taken thereon, resulted-yeas, 42, nays, 11. So the Senate advised and consented to the ratification of the said Convention. No. 146. Mr. Crampton to Lord John Russell.--(Rec. February 14.) (Extract.) Washington, January 30, 1853. I HAVE the honour to inclose a newspaper containing the copy of a resolution offered in the Senate of The United States by General Cass on the 25th instant, to the effect that the Committee on Foreign Relations should be instructed to inquire "whether any measures should be taken by the Senate, and if any, what, in relation to the declaration on the part of Great Britain annexed to the ratification of the Treaty of 19th of April, 1850." This resolution, after a debate, was carried by a majority of 29 to 17 votes. Lord J. Russell. JOHN F. CRAMPTON. (Inclosure.)-Resolution. RESOLVED. That the Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire and report whether any measure, and if any, what, should be taken by the Senate in relation to the declaration annexed to the ratification on the part of Great Britain of the Treaty concluded between that country and The United States, April 19, 1850, and to the letter of the Secretary of State to the British Minister on the exchange of the ratifications. No. 147.—Mr. Crampton to Lord John Russell.—(Rec. February 14.) (Extract.) Washington, January 30, 1853. WITH reference to my despatch of the 10th instant, in which I had the honour to inform your Lordship that a resolution had been passed in the Senate of The United States to request the President to communicate to Congress any correspondence which had taken place between the Governments of Great Britain and The United States, or other documents, relative to the affairs of Nicaragua and Mosquito; I have now the honour to inclose a copy of a message of the President in reply to that resolution, declining to communicate the correspondence or documents in question at the present time. Lord J. Russell. JOHN F. CRAMPTON. (Inclosure.)-Extract from the " National Intelligencer" of January 29, 1853. Congress, Friday, January 28, 1853. IN SENATE. THE following message was received from the President of The United States: "To the Senate of The United States : Washington, January 27, 1853. "In answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 13th instant, requesting a copy of correspondence and other documents relative to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the territory claimed by the Mosquito Indians, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, to whom the resolution was referred." "MILLARD FILLMORE." Report of the Secretary of State. After reciting the resolution of the Senate, the Secretary reports as follows: "Department of State, Washington, January 27, 1853. "The Secretary of State has the honour to report, that as the negotiations on the general subjects referred to in the resolution are still pending, the production of the papers would tend to increase the difficulties which attend the settlement of the questions in discussion; and that for this reason it would not be for the public interest that they should at this time be communicated. Respectfully submitted, "EDWARD EVERETT." No. 148. Mr. Crampton to Lord John Russell.-(Rec. February 23.) IN obedience to the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch of the 13th ultimo, I have set on foot inquiries in regard to the real condition and intentions of the Interoceanic Canal Company, and with regard to their competency to carry into execution their plan for the construction of a ship-canal for vessels of large burthen, such as is contemplated by the Treaty of April, 1850, as a line of communication for the commerce of the whole world. Although I have not, as yet, been enabled to obtain information of an exact and authentic nature in regard to this subject, I think I may state, as matters of fact which admit of little doubt: 1. That the Company are not at present in a condition to enter upon the construction of the proposed canal; and 2. That they have sent a special agent (a Mr. Edmonds) to Nicaragua, in order to propose to the Nicaraguan Government the construction of a canal of smaller dimensions. |