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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
pose of Mr Belly to carry the enterprise into successful execution- then we will have to consid.er the measure in other points of view.- I have already manifested, as· I hope to the satisfaction of Your Excellency that there is no moral obligation on the part of Your Excel- lency to present that Contract for ratification against Your Excellency's conviction of its policy. Should Your Excellency, therefore, persist in this course, it must be with some view of practical good-it must be with the hope of contributing in some way to the furtherance of the great work; for if its ratification does not tend to this end, then it is but an idle act, so far as the enterprise is concerned. Allow me then to enquire-What are the goou results proposed to be gained? And what are the exigencies that demand this unexpected and precipitate action?- Your Excellency will have to satisfy the public mind upon these points or expose the government to the suspicion of some hidden motives;- for many will perceive the impolicy of the measure; and none perhaps the necessity of it; in which case, discontent will be engendered at home, and disconfidence abroad. Permit me then to repeat the quest.ion- What reasonable motive can Costa Rica have for desiring to ratify that contract in the present inauspicious moment- and in what possible manner can her .interests be promoted by it?- I hold that, as the Signature or union of Costa Rica was not neces- sary in the first instance to the validity of said Contract; so neither is her ratification of it necessary to its validity now. As between Nicaragua-when she ratifies it-and Mr Belly it is as perfect with- out, as with the intervention of Costa-Rica; and of consequence all action on her part is unimporta_n.t, supererogatory, and without any practical utility. Her ratification does not place Mr Belly in posses- sion of the route. He cannot go to work. The route belongs to Nic- aragua-it lies within her territory-it is under her sole control and jurisdiction; and not the first step can be take,n towards opening it until the contract shall be presented to the Constitutional Authorities of the nation and be duly ratified by them. Then why not leave it where it properly belongs, in the hands of that Governme,nt. Does Costa-Rica hope by ratifying the Contract to impose upon Nicaragua the necessity of doing the same? This she cannot do. She has neither the power to veto or to enforce said Contract so far as that Republic is concerned. And even if she possessed such power-where is the ;neces- sity of her assuming a guardianship over her welfare. Nicaragua is competent to take care of herself. The route-as I have just observed- belongs to her; and as her rights and interests are alone involved in the enterprise-why not leave her to take her own, free and unbiassed course with respect to it. If she thinks it best for herself to ratify that Con- tract, she will certainly do it; and if otherwise, what right or interest: can Costa Rjca have in forcing her into the measure? Surely it would be more decorous and respectful, if Costa Rica should wait the action of that Republic before taking any herself. When that State shall have, actually ratified said Contract, and shall call on Costa Rica to do the the [sic] same, then it will be time enough for this Republic to take the matter into consideration. Until then, all action in the matter on. the part of this, will only expose her to the imputation of improper· motives, without producing any possible good, either to herself, to Nic- aragua, or to any human being-unless perchance it might lend a little>
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