Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-11

be ready, if in our day, to urge Uncle Sam to
gather ii in his basket.
MR.. CLAYTON AND HIS ASSAILANTS.
Tho way in which Mr.. John NJ. CLAYTON has
turned the tables on his revlers would be the
best joke of the season, if so grave Il matter
could be regarded as fit subject for merri:
ment.
The Washington Union of Saturday last ac-
companed the publication of the debate in the
Senate on the Cayton-Bulwer treaty with the
following outburst of virtuous and patriotic indig-
nation:
No man who feels that delicate sensibilty to anv re-
proach upon the honor OF his country which is nsepara
bic from true patriotism contemplate without shame
and regret act of dupcity bad faith on the part of
official persenages in the government Under the nlu
ence OF this sentiment, feel unfegned reluctance
to expose In its enormity the conduct of Secretary
clayton respect to the ratification othe treaty between
rea Britain and this government. of the 4th of july
$500. NO American read the exposition of the CON
duct 1.-THE exSecretary in this affair." made in the pro-
of Thursdays debate in the Senate wtbonta blush
Tor the furnished honor of his country.
In the debate referred to, it app cared that Mr..
Clayton, in an official note to Sir H. Bulwer, had
made the following statement
The Chairman ofthe Committee of Foreign Relations
OF the Senate, Hon. VIM King, informs that the
Senate perfectly understood that the treaty did not in.
cude British Honduras 1t was understood to apply to-
and does include, all the Central American States of
Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua and
Costa Rico with their just limits and proper dependen
cies.
Whereupon Gen. Cass rose in his place and
made the following declaration
Mr. Clayton states in his letter that after the Treaty
had been re urned from England with this quasi.raa-
ton, he called upon Mr. King, then Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations in the Senate aud in
formed him OF it, and that Mr.. King told him that the
he Traaty
cude British Honduras There a mistake upon this
point. He (Nr CassJ had called Mr. King his NOR
ntHe rho sad that he made such statement Mr..
Ctayton On tie contrary, when Mr. CIayion showed
lem Mecond4tont TO The ratification By Great Britain and
asked him if should be sent to the Seaate he mr. KING
t2fd ClaYon that II ii aeere sent to tie Senate Nth
that qualification to 1t, ii could 7eceee a single cote
Col King further stated to him Mr. Cass that he told
Mr. Clayton he had better DISMISS the qualification alto
geher for it would defeat the whole Treaty and that he
Mr. King supposed till this morning that such had been
done.
Messrs Downs aud Chase also testified that
| they had understood the treaty, as including
British Honduras, and would never have voted for
it fthey had supposed that it was intended to
bear different Interpretation.
This is the exposition which, according to
the Union, brings disgrace on Mr.. Clayton and
furnishes the honor of the country. The afore-
said journal says in conclusions
We need offer comment upon the position ia which
Secretary Clayton placed by the disclosure the Sc
cret understanding between himseand the British min
lister For the honor of the country we could wish
that the deporabe transaction were yelled from the eve
OF the world, tor it exhibits American Secretary of
State in light which citizen contemplate with
out unspeakabe shame and regret In the private trans
actions OF men such conduct would incur the reproach Of
duPicity and would justly subject the party to the indg
nant censure OF public opinion. Nay, contract
between individuals brought about by the means employ
ed by Secretary Clayton to the sanction of the
Senate to his treaty with Mr. Buwer would by the
equitable decision of the law be held of obe alton
and effect We suppose this government is bound by the
act Of athess minister, and must consent to Bri
hsh usurpation in Central America, because Secretary
OF State violated his trust and baered away the most
cherished principle of American policy.
The reader has already seen Mr.. CIayton's
despatch to the National Intelligencer, and the
accompanying correspondence between himself
and Mr. King bat as the letter of the latter GEN
tleman is very brief, we reproduce it.
Mr. King to Mr.. Clayton
July 4, 1850.
:, Ny Dear sir-7Ae Senate perfectly understood that
the Treaty did not include British I4onduras Frank
ness becomes our Government but should be careful
not to use expression which would seem to recoe
n'ze the right OF England to any portion OF Honduras
VIM. R. KING.
This is certainly a beautiful CONNIE ntary on
the speeches of Messrs. Cass, Downs and Chase,
and the editorials OF the Union We leave to the
democracy the agreeable task of reconcling the
fragrant discrepancy between Mr.. Kings letter
and the statements of Democratic Senator'S
Mr.. King was chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and it was his province to ex-
plain to the Senate the true import of the treaty
before it was ratified. If any one member of
that body had better opportunity than another
OF knowing what the understanding of the Senate
IN ba Nv
tionably that man. His testimony is directly to
1he point aud furnishes most conclusive and
triumphant vindicatiou OF Mr.. Clayton against the
charge of having by ''private understanding
with the British Minister excluded Honduras and
its dependencies from the operation of that clause
OF the treaty of 1850, which forbids British colo
nization in Central America. The conflict be-
tween Mr.. Kings letter to Mr.. Clayton and Gen.
Cass's statement of what recently passed. between
himself and the Vice President elect, is singular
to say the least of it, and can only be accounted
for on the superstition that the declining health
OF Mr.. King has impaired his memory of past
transactions.
But see the preleament in which the Wash
ington Union, General Cass & Co., have placed
themselves by their premature denunciations of
Wing Secretary of State. They charge that
by a secret understanding between this Secre-
tary aud Sir II. Bulwer, 1.-THE honor of the coun-
try has been tarnshed, and cherished princi.
pie OF American policy bartered away" Now
what does MIR. Kings letter to Mr.. Clayton show!
1t shows that our Democratic Vice President
elect eoas party TO this secret understanding, if
such a one existed, and that if the honor of the
country has been furnished and the Monroe doc
trine ''bartered away" by the treaty of 1850, Mr.
King must bear his full share of the blame
Grant that he was mistaken in saying that the