The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-12
CONGRESSIONAL.


lbe SENATE blaTch 1898, reply Mr
Mason and MT DoUeLAs. in vindicalion OF the Centra
American treaty cJacl adei with Gfeat Britain the
10Th OF April, 1880.
Mr.. DoUGLAs having replied 10 Nj CLAYTON. and Mr
MIR CLAYTON said. rhe senator from South Caro-
lima lMr BUTLERl viii Iecollect how this discussion
open session. was forced upon me II was introduced
here by the member IRON Illinois, Mr. DOUGLAS on The
18th OF February, and compelled defend my sell
in open session. because the Senae permitted the attack
TO be made IN open session wish concealment and
do not mean To permit the member from Illinois escape
an exposure 10 public Of Lac mssstemens he has pub
icy made. He shall not avoid the nolice of his own
changes OF position by charging the same things
The senator from South Carolina justly considers the
Hse treaty absurd It's face that President
would have been justified in submitting to the Senate
for ratification. Such course would have implied his
appreciation OF It In The event that Eng land had refused
all proposals for eguo right OF passage he mig
have to the Sanae. if he had deeed exped,en,
TO ascertain whether his constitutional advisers desired
exclusive privilege 10 be acquired Bnt II could not pos
sbly have any event been confirmed, without chang
Ing il 10 make an entirely new treaty
The senator from illinois has net yeatursd 10 deny
that The treaty unconstitutional II stood He
evades that point because he knows he cannot defend
his favorle Hlse treaty constitutional measure Tor
moment. He dared not attempt TO defend Il after hsi
exposed it Yet he had committed himself IN favor OF 1t
by at least four five eectioneeng speeches last
mer, Zone OF which he made and published al Richmond }
and by his speeches here IN the Senate often, that he
knew no, how 10 retreat without discredit When read
his Hse treaty TO the Senate, not only shocked the
honorable senator from South Carolina, who has just
given uerance his feelings bat will venture to say
Il asionshed nearly every oher senator present, that
any man should have been reckless 10 have main
tanned for years past that such treaty should have been
sent the Senate for confirmation. Now he is driven,
by the exposure made here TO desert everything he
said in favor OF il before, with this solitary exception
that he still in favor of the tIcusre privilege prov ,ied
for in il, All his defamation in lis favor has ended in
that
Sir, j, was not only Objectionable on the ground that
was violation OF the Constitution, but the ground
that it was gross political and enangng alliance.
The very remarks which the senator has made so often
opposition to the treaty which Mr. SqHer negotiated
and the treaty OF the 10Th of April, 1885, lie justice,
with all their force, TO the treaty OF Mr.. Hse but
not one of them had any justice whatever when applied
10 the treaties 10 which he has objected. Neither OF
them provided for any political connexion en,angng
alliance.
quoted, on a former OCCASION the names OF some of
the mos, disDgush statesmen OF this country in favor
OF the principle which had adopted, OF opening lbe
night OF way TO all nations the terms-that is,
on condition oil protection from all But The senator will
be satisfied with nothing but an exclusive right or mo
nopoly vested in He msrepresents the contract oh
aDed by American czens and intended 10 be protected
by the treaty OF MIR Squler when ne says tina, giant
was gran. to English as well as American capitalists
II was y grant to American capitalists.
Mr. DOUGLAS. The senator misunderstood me. |
did not speak of the specific terms OF the treaty of Mr.
Squer for The that the Injunction OF secrecy has
mol yet been removed, although | saw some papers
friendly TO the senator putting some sections OF in the
Mr. CLAYTON. What paperss
day. only sloke OF the general terms used by Mr..
Sqaer. and published by The in 1850 But when
sad that opened 10 Engia and 10 us jointly. spoke
Of The senator having provided for that IN the Clayton
MI CLAYTON The whole con,rac, protected by the
Sqoier treaty, OF which was speaking, published
two years ago. aud is in document before Congress
Mr.. DOUGLASS. l was speak ing Of The treaty.
shr. CLAY AON. Then, why did you interrupt me /!
You knew was speaking OF the contract or grant, AID
not OF the treaty The substance OF the treaty as pub
al ast " wear
and there is not anything IN II or the grant about a
psIne rshlp between European and American capitalists
Mr. DOUGLAS. Will the senator say that the Squier
treaty has been published by authority
Mr. CLAYTON. No, sir; but you know the sub.
stance OF /, was published long and the injunction OF
secrecy has long since been taken of the teay of the
18Th Of April 1850 which dscoses the principle Of both
The senator has shown that he has not the slightest diff
hculy IN speaking OF either OF these treaties or OF any
thing connected with either OF them
The senator presents issues for discussion and
changes his ground in his reply But mean 10 bring him
back to the points from which he seeks 10 escape. He
has not attempted, IN his reply to fasten on me- be
deayoIed 10 do 10 the beginning OF the debate, and he
did in his speech OF The lsh OF February the charge that
had, in negotiating the treaty OF the 10Th OF April $780,
seneEaied as be expressed It, The Monroe doctrine.
No, SIR he has abandoned that, and he will not ven
ure 10 touch IL He has good TO shun it,,
or il burnt his fingers He has fled from il He cannot
now yiodcae word he uttered on that subject. He
Mr. DOUGLAS No, sir; the senator ia mistaken
Mr.. CLAYTON. Then, he is not willing to retreat,
alter he has become totally sienoed the subject, and
ceased to make battle.
Now, word TO bis favorite exclusive privilege II
had II. would involve ia controversies with all
oiheT nations, and wond prove curse instead OF a
biessing. In the event ef war between this country
and any great naval power The canal would be seized
The senator fears Dothing-oh no, mol he He would
oriiy II at both ends Yes, sir build fort both
ends fort al San Juan de Nicaragua and fort the
Pacific. And then we must garrison them, and keep a
standing army there How many soldiers would II take
10 sarnson foressh England and France, or either Of
them, should go 10 war with usl How many would the
senator have at San Juan How many on The Pacific :
Does he suppose that any force that this country could
possibly send there that distance from u.s. could resist
the other great powers OF the world ia war Z tie is
fond OF boas,ing (and love to hear i is quite fiat.
sell rs said 10 bea little giant lLaughter Yes sr
quite gan and everyib that he talks about IN these
latter days Is gigantic. lLaughter.l He has become so
magnhcent OF late that he cannot consent TO enter into
partnership on equal terms with any nation on earth
moi he He must have the exclusive right IN himself
and our noble selves We must oun the canal Why
not demand the same exclusive privilege at Gibraltar
What is the difference IN principle Why should we not
seek TO obtain The xeusive right Of passage into the
Mediterranean as well as the passage across the 18TH
mus
Mr.. DOUGLAS Win the senator permit me -
Mr. CLAYTON II he is anxious TO make more re-
marks, ao willing TO hear him when have done.
ht DOUGLAS | do not wish 10 interrupt the sens-
lot; but understand him to ask me- and look for
swer.
M. CLAYTON Let him be quiet. He meant TO say
wa. one Is European and the other an American pas
i ,nat " All he had TO say. And as be distinction
ua'', ou, dlneteBce, do not desire to bear hun.
"ovns ny s ne was about to say, thought could say
gu,1 - wen myself Laughter
IL. - - -, 10 u nol me principles oil toe American Senate
~ as aV' ~ % he principles OF the fory-two men who,
gnss no saIy , ,ooo, fallhed the ueay. The senator
n9 mercy aIagn me- he atraivns all those const-
uuonai advisers OF the President M ,Ss tn;,ea s,ate.