The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-20
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTy-sEcoND CONGRESS SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
MONDAY, JANUARY 10.


Mr. Pearce rose and replied at length to the
remarks of Messrs, Csss and Downs of Thurs
day last upon the Bulwer and Clayton treaty
He said he understood the treaty precisely as
Mr. Clayton had and voted for it with that
understanding He also said he was authorized
to say that the exchange of notifications with
respect to the explanatory letters were fully
known to President Taylor and his Cabinet.
He gave the history Of the British claims in
| Honduras and contended that the treaty never
admitted or denied these claims the treaty
excluded Great Britain from the political Cen.
trail America, and not the geographical Cen.
trail America He referred to the appointment
of Consul at Belize, by Mr. Polk, as an ao.
acknowledgement Of the right of dominion in
| Honduras by the British.
| He was satisfied that Mr. King WAS a man
h )se truth and honor could not be questioned,
| and he attributed the statement made to Mr..
| Cass as the result of memory impaired by i'll
health
Mr.. Seward followed, in an earnest and ami
mated defence of Mr.. Clayton, and defence
of the honor and integrity of General Taylor's
Administration.
Mr.. Stockton reported bill providing for
the reorganization of the navy.
Mr. Davis submitted resolution calling for
correspondence relative to the affairs of Central
America adopted
Mr. Cass followed in reply to Mr. Seward,
and repeating his views that he and others
voted for the treaty under the belief that it
would exclude Great Britain from all Central
America, and that he did not know Of any ex-
PLANTATION of it till the publication of these pa
pers.
Mr. Downs also replied to Messrs. Seward
and Pearce, and repeating the views expressed
by him on Thursday last.
Mr. Boriand said he would never have voted
for the treaty, did he not suppose it excluded
Great Britain from the whole of Central
America.
Mr. Soule commenced an address, stating
that before treaty was negotiated, he and
some dozen other Senators were invited by Mr.
King to his room, to hear the project of the
treaty read He called the attention of his
friends to the obscurity Of the term Central
America and was told by Mr.. King that
whatever obscurity was in the language of the
treaty, it was intended TO cover and protect the
national pride and honor of the British Minis
ter who was unwilling to make the surrender
in palmer or broader terms; and that out OF
regard to his Keen susceptibiities, Mr. Clayton
consented to the language employed.
He was about TO state what occurred in Ex-
ecutive session on the treaty, when he submit
ted to the Senate his right to do So.
The Chair decided it was not in order and
the Senate went into Executive session.
Shortly after the doors were opened, and the
Senate adjourned.
TUESDAY, JANUARY IL.
Mr. Mason presented the memorial OF tho
members of the Legislature Of Virginia, pray
ing the repair and reconstruction of tho bridge
over the Potomac river also, the memorial Of
the Common Council to the same effect.
The various private bills passed by the House
on Friday last we're taken up and referred.
House bill to cede TO Ohio the unfinished
portion of the Cumberland road in that State
the House bill for the relief Of the heirs Of
Joseph Arnold, deceased and the bill to con.
firm certain private land claims in Louisiana,
were passed.
The joint resolution authorizing contract
for two ice mail boats on the Potomac, at a
cost not exceeding $4,000 per annum, was tn
ken up and passed.
Mr.. Cass then, mt a quarter past one, said,
with view to remove the injunction of secrecy
on the subject debated yesterday, he moved nm
Executive session, which was agreed to. Ats
o'clock, doors were opened, and the Senate sd-
journed.
The injunction OF secrecy was removed from
the Nicaragua treaty during the Executive SEES
sion