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    ; THE CENTRAL AMERICAN QUESTION. V,;.A s...

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    In the course of the debate in the Senat...

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    THE BANKRUPTCY OF AfARK BOYD. The adjour...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    jiUinatioai of ; the . f « ct :- ^ I ; avail myself of thig yocc * - s < BOn to add thatdue attention will be cheerfully- ' given PJl tft ; imy , communications addressed to' this department Joom her Majesty ' s Government affecting the relations jtetsreen . Great Britain and the United States , which r . jiay be forwarded to this Government through any other ^{ hanael . Should it be your pleasure to retire- from the , CEnited States , the President directs me to furnish you jjwth the usual facilities for that purpose . I consequently ' inclose herewith- the passports in . such cases . I avail m yself , of this opportunity to renew to you , sir , the Assurance of my respectful consideration . " The letter is signed by Mr . Marcy .

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    ; The Central American Question. V,;.A S...

    ; THE CENTRAL AMERICAN QUESTION . V , ; . A second letter from Mr . Secretary Marcy to Mr . D & Uaa has reference to the matters in dispute consequent tOBthe different interpretations put by the English and American Governments upon the Bulwer-Clay ton Treaty w ith , respect to the non-occupation of Central America . j After , adverting to , and utterly though courteously repudiatang , the construction put forward by the Earl of XJlarendon—namely , that the engagement on the part of . £ ngland not to occupy territory in Central America was j s imply ) prospective—Mr . Marcy alludes to the informal . statement by Lord' Clarendon to Mr . Buchanan that JSqgland was disposed to refer the matter to arbitration . ; He also glances at the omission of Mr . Crampton to

    .. convey , a similar intimation from the English Foreign Minister to the American Government until upwards of three months after he had received the despatch containing the proposal . The President regrets that the suggestion waff not made in a definite shape at an earlier stage , but he now . inquires' — " What is it which shall be submitted to arbitration ? " The United State 3 Government does -not agree with Lord Clarendon in thinking that the difference between the ' two countries merely has reference to the interpretation of the Convention of April 19 th , 1850 . If the matter were referred to arbitration , and jthe result were favourable to the United States , " then ,

    ; indeed , such determination would conclude all existing { differences . But , on the other hand , it is not easy to see ihow the adverse construction , if it were adopted by an . arbiter , could terminate the difference . " In contradistinction to what Lord Clarendon " assumes , without cdistvnctly asserting , " the United States Government . M does not understand that , at the date of the Treaty , Great Britain had any possessions or occupied any terriitory in Central America . " If she had any right of "Occupation , " it must have consisted either in her relation to the Mosquito Indians , to Belize , or to the Bay Islands . " Mr . Marcy then exnmines these implied claims :-

    —> ' •* ' Firstly , —As to the Mosquito Coast , it is not understood that Great Britain now lays claim to any possesiforis or any territory there ; all she is supposed to claim fa the right to protect the Mosquito Indians . It cannot be alleged by her that those Indians constitute , or are Competent to constitute , an independent State , admissible as such into the family of sovereign powers . " It is true that Great Britain took possession of San Juan , and expelled the authorities of the State of Nicaragua ; but ' ihe has declared herself " ready and desirous to be relieved of the duty" of protecting the Indians "in any Wanner which shall honourably assure their future condition . " No difficulty , therefore , is anticipated on that

    point . i" •« Secondly , —As to Belize , it being conceded that in pursuance of explanations interchanged between Sir Henry Bulwer and Mr . Clayton , Great Britain is not precluded , by any stipulation with the United States , from Continuing to exercise at that establishment all the rights which ah ' e acquired from Spain , it would seem also that there is nothing in that part of the subject which it Would become the two Governments to , say to the world they cannot settle by themselves ; for , although it is tiommon in English books of geography and others to give to Belize tho ^ appellntion of British Honduras , still it &\ k > o well known " to admit of dispute that Belize is not , Htofl never was , any part of Honduras . "

    As to the question of the Bay Islands , " there is more if controversy , at least in appearance . It is due to perfect frankness to say that the act of her Majesty ' s Go-< farnment , establishing , so late as the year 1852 ( and in apparent contradiction to the express letter of the con-Wntion of 1850 ) , a colony at Bay Islands , hns left a dis' afereeable impression on the minds of the Government tod people of the United States . Possessing , as Great Britain does , numerous colonial establishments in all parts of the world , many of them in the West Indies , it baa not been readily scon what inducements of interest she

    fcanhave had to establish a now colony under tlio peculiar circumstances of the time in the insignificant territory of thtfBiiy Islands Occasional acts of military authority by captains of British ships of war , or of civil authority by the Superintendent of Belize , are insufficient , it ty obvious , to determine the claim of the title as against the counter claims of the Republic of Central America or 8 tate of Honduras . No relinquiahinont of title by tho Utter la alleged , except in certain declarations reported tb'have been made by the Central American Commandant of Tr , uxilo , who , whatever ho may have Baid , could *» W nopower to cede away the territory of Honduras . "

    Of Ruatan , we are told that the English Government claims its right to occupy it on , the ; ground that it " has been , without " any instigation on the part of her Majesty ' s Government , spontaneously occupied by British subjects . " But contends Mr . Marcy , " this is a mere act of invasion by unauthorized private persons , " and "it cannot have escaped the attention of her Majesty *^ Government that the political condition of Belize , as fixed by the Treaty , is not in itself one of territorial sovereignty . " Reviewing all the circumstances of the question , Mr . Marcy observes that if the right of Great Britain to colonize Central America could be established , " while the United States are restrained from all such rights of control and acquisition , that , in the estimation of the

    President , would be to deprive the Treaty of moral-force , both because it would thus cease to have reciprocal effect , and because the United States did riot intentionally enter into any such engagement . If such were a possible construction , pt would remain to consider } whether it would not then become the duty of the United States to seek for the most honourable means of being discharged from such obligations , and render themselves perfectly free to re-establish their proper relation as an American power to the transit routes of the American isthmus and the general independence of America . " The President , however , is not unwilling to refer some of the disputed questions to arbitration . " Of this class of objects of inquiry is the question , what are the

    rightful limits of establishment at Belize on the side of the State of Honduras , the question whether the Bay Islands do or do not belong to that Republic , and the question as to what extent of country is embraced in the term ' Mosquito Coast , ' or is in actual occupancy of Mosquito Indians , as Indians , and with such territorial rights only as that description of persons are entitled to claim according to the established public law of Great Britain , of the United States , or of the independent States which have succeeded Spain in America , remembering no power exists on the part of Great Britain and the United States to dispose of the sovereign rights of Nicaragua or of any other State of Central America . " But the President " would greatly prefer that , in a controversy like the present , turning on points of political geography , the matter should be referred to . some one or

    more of those eminent men of science who do honour to the intellect of Europe and America , and - who , with the previous consent of their respective governments , might well undertake the task of determining such questions to the acceptance as -well of her Majesty ' s Government as that of the United States . " Mr . Dallas is therefore directed to ascertain if direct negotiation be not possible , and , if not , "to discuss the conditions of arbitration upon those points of difference as to which alone thia method of settlement seems requisite or applicable ; it being assured that other points of difference would , after that , yield , as a matter of course , to conference between the Earl of Clarendon and yourself , conducted in the spirit of cordiality and frankness which belongs to your personal relations , and which is dictated by the true interests both of the United States and Great Britain . "

    In The Course Of The Debate In The Senat...

    In the course of the debate in the Senate on the first of these two despatches , Mr . Toombs , the Senator from Georgia , contended that England had not in any degree violated the laws of the United States . Senator Pratt entertained the same opinion ; but the feeling was for the most part the other way . The New York Tribune censures Mr . Marcy for having withheld all notification of the dismissal from the dismissed until after the Asia was safe beyond Sandy Hook , and out of reach of the telegraph ; and even then Mr . Crampton was not informed that the Consuls had also been dismissed , but

    was left to learn that important fact from the newspapers tho next morning . The New York Times says that a disgraceful attempt was made on the Saturday night previous to Mr . Crampton ' s departure to insult him by setting up a serenade of tin kettles and implements of that class in derision beneath tho windows of tlie English Consul ' s private residence . It was frustrated , however , by the active vigilance of the police . This is denied by another journal , which says tho only serenade was by a band , which played " God save tho Queen" oil the previous night . A strange story is told by tho Ifew York ht to bo known that

    Herald , which states : — "It oug some days ago , when the dismissul of Mr . Crnmpton wan under consideration in tho Cabinet , the President sought an interview with him , and proposed an amicable susponsion of the relations between himself and tlio Secretary of State . This Mr . Crampton promptly declined ; indeed its absurdity would seem to bo Buflicient to discredit tho proposition . After this , not contented with his position , the President Bounded Mr . Crampton upon the question of closing tlio embassy , which was thought to bo a point of vitality in tho relations of tho two countries . Mr . Crampton was equally non-committed upon

    thin point . " It is stated that Mr . Crampton has all along acted under tho advice of tho French Minister . Mr . Brooks , the mombor of tho House of Representatives who attacked Senator Sunnier , has addreascd to tho President of the Senate a letter of apology , disclaiming any intention of committing a breach of tho privileges of tho Upper House , but defending Iub assault on Mr . Surancr , who , according to hie ( Mr . Brooks '*) account , had m-

    sultedhim . . ' . 'I . hadrea 8 on , ''he states , "to believe the senator from , Massachusetts did not acknowledge thai ptneoal responsibility for wrongs in personal deportment , which would have saved me the painful necessity of the collision which I sought ; and , in my judgment , therefore , J . ' had no alternative but to act as I did . '' I ^ e Senate . having complained of Mr . Brooks ' s conduct to the House ol Representatives , a committee of t ^ e laftef botfjr ias decided on the expulsion of the offended . ' " ^ ; A , The Democratic National Convention at CiSdnnati has had a very stormy gathering , at which there ; waa some fighting and considerable violence . It was ultimately decided , however , to nominate Mr . Buchanan for the Presidency . " , " , * . ' . ' J '' , ' ,, ['**'

    Eight pro-slavery men have been Killed by the Abolitionists on Potawotainie Creek , in Kansas . The Costa Rican army ( according to American accounts ) has evacuated Nicaragua owing to tlie prevalence , of sickness , and Walker has entered Virgin Bay . It is , said there was no British blockade , Captain Tarleton . of the British frigate Eurydice , not having instructions to interpose any interruption to the landing of . passengers or munitions of war . The Presidential election " in Nicaragua has been conducted in an orderly . and peaceable manner , and terminated in the return of Pairicfo ^ Kivjijs , the Provisional President . The French ship of war Penelope has left for San Juan , and a commissioner has been despatched to confer with the Costa Ricaiis . An agent has been sent to Spain in order "to submit to the home Government the necessity of immediate action ' against General Walker as a means of preserving Cuba' to the Queen .

    An insurrection is reported to have broken out at Hayti against the Emperor Souloiiqiie . Kilio , in the Sandwich Islands , is no longer threatened with the jBow of lava . The King is about to be married to an Englishwoman named Rook . In the Hew York money market , the supply of money considerably exceeds the demand . There has nearly been a rupture between America and France . " Count de Sartiges , " says the New York Journal of Commerce , " received through the posC-office a letter from a Washington correspondent , treating of the settled antipathy of foreign Governments towards

    the United States , as now manifested by the conduct of foreign representatives in their intercourse with society and our }) uWic men . This letter was superinduced by alleged indecent and insulting language against our Government , and especially against the Secretary of State , at a . dinner recently given by Count de Sartigefl . The envelope enclosing the letter in question bore the seil of the State Department . " The Count indignantly Complained to " hit . Marcy , who disavowed all knowledge of the authorship ; and subsequently the author , who was a Government employe , but who had not sent the letter to the Count , resigned his post .

    The Bankruptcy Of Afark Boyd. The Adjour...

    THE BANKRUPTCY OF AfARK BOYD . The adjourned certificate meeting in the affairs of Mark Boyd was held on Monday , when Mr . Lawrance , addressing the Court on behalf of the bankrupt , said tha t " for thirty years he bad conducted his affairs with mercantile integrity , and during that period no one had impugned his conduct . He had exercised no inconsiderable influence , and was held in universal respect and esteem . As a stockbroker , he had not dealt in a single time bargain , and during the memorable years of speculation no man had stood higher . His brother Benjamin and himself had started tho Union Bank . They had also succeeded in establishing the North British Insurance Company . These were flourishing concerns . Benjamin Boyd and his brotherassisted by Mr . Sutherland , Mr .

    , Connell , and other gentlemen of equal position , had promoted tho formation of tho Royal Bank of Australia . Benjamin Boyd was a man of extraordinary energy , and was there anything surprising that success should be anticipated from borrowing money in thia country on the company ' s debentures at live per cent ., and lending it m Australia at ten per cent . ?—that being the usual rate of interest in tho colony . The capitul of tho bank wna large , and there was evory prospect of success . There was no scheme on its part to get money from tho nnwary . On tho contrary , the Scotch banks wore its largest lenders . The unfortuuuto failure of the Australian Bank was the cause of the bankrupt's misfortunes . Tho personal debts of tho bankrupt , apart from his liabilities to the bank for calls upon his share , were only a not

    few pounds , and the debts of B . and M . Boyd , were largo . The perverse ingenuity of counsel had ( suggested that tho bankrupt hud been guilty of an offence against the statute by Uia rcprcBontationa to Mr . Borthwicfe . Those representations were made in 1849 , and the act only referred to representations made from and subsequent to the month of April , 1850 . The learned counsel had thus proved himself ignorant of an act which He professed to expound . But no reasonable man would uav that Mr . Borthwick had been deceived at all by tne representatio n * of the bankrupt . Why had he not been put in the box if they thought this charge could be substantiated ? " In concluaion , Mr . Lawranco contended that there never wan a case In which a man was more deserving of tho certificate for which he then applied . Tho Commissioner deferred judgment .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 21, 1856, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21061856/page/5/