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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
the name-whether Central, South or North- to shield and protect the word from dishonor.- Let me recapitulate. We have seen that the Ratification of the Contract alluded to, by Costa-Rica can in no wise promote the execu- tion of the contemplated enterprise, even if the work were practicable, because the Route lies in Nicaragua-belongs to her exclusively and cannot be opened without her consent. The Contract as it now stands is an unfinished negociation, and not binding on either of the States until it shall be ratified by them. If Nicaragua abstains from its rati- fication, she avoids its obligations; while on the other hand, if Costa- rica shall ratify it by herself, she voluntarily assumes its responsibili- ties; and if unable to place Mr Belly in possession of the ceded rights, she exposes herself to reclamations for pledges unfulfilled. We have also seen, that as the connection of Costa Rica with the Contract in the first instance imparted no additional validity to the concessions of Nicaragua, so neither can her ratification of the Contract be necessary now to the validity of those concessions. Their validity depends en- tirely upon the action of Nicaragua. If that Republic accepts the Contract, Mr Belly obtains all he asks; but no independent action on the part of Costarica, can in any marrner compromit Nicaragua, or place l\Ir Belly in possession of the Route; and of consequence all such action is not only unnecessary, idle and void of utility as connected with the enterprise, but it is hazardous to this Republic, disrespect(ul to Nicaragua, who is the party mostly interested iin the matter, and can be useful to l\Ir Belly only for purposes of fraud.- Now if Costarica, in the -face of all these considerations, should actually ratify that Contract independent of Nicaragua-and do it too, so immediately and precipitately upon the reception of the intelligences allutled to, from Paris-She necessarily forces upon the public mind the irresistable conviction, that it is done for other purposes than the mere advancement of the enterprise-that the policy of this Government is still under the direction and control of foreign influences, and that l\Ir Belly is no less omnipotent in its counsels now, than he was at Rivas. No disclaimer on the part of this Government can weigh against such powerful circumstances-except with those who may chance to have the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Your Excellency ;-and even in despite of this, I fear that any attempt on my part to allay the suspicions of my government and to inspire con- fidence against such an accumulated array of fact and argument, would be attributed rather to the influence of private predelictions than to the operations of an unbiassed Judgement. Will Your Excellency tell me that the ratification of that Contract is a mere domestic matter-a business transaction-in which the United States can have no concern.- This, indeed, might be true if it were certain that said contract did not conflict with others of similar char- acter now pending between the Citizens of the United States and the Government of Nicaragua; and provided also that it was certain that it was a necessary measure to the security of l\fr Belly in the rights and privileges granted him by Nicaragua, and without which it was impossible for him to proceed in his enterprise. But this, we have seen, is not the case. Far to the contrary. It is a matter too obvious to be doubted or contested, that if it is truly the intention of Mr Belly
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