Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-03-19

ES~ The following remarks by Mr.. Mason of
Virginia, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate, delivered on Monday last
will meet the cordial approval of the country:
The Senate resumed the consideration of MIR. Clay
TONS resolution calling the President for certain
correspondence connected with the Clayton and Bull
wer Treaty.
Mr.. MASON addressed the Senate on the subject.
lie referred to the history of the treaty, and 10 the
recent report of the Committee Foreign Relations
respecting questions growing of its construction,
and the conclusions at which the Committee arriv-
ed upon the subject. AS to the question whether
the British settlements at the Belize are, or are not,
in Central America, they declared as their best
judgments from the information before them, it
fact that those settlements within the limits of
Central America, and, therefore, any attempt to
tend colonization, the part Of the British Govern
ment, would be in contraventon Of the treaty of 1850
The Senator from Delaware Mr.. Clayton, acquiesced
in all the conclusions to which the Committee came,
save the one above stated, and in of anci-
pated triumph, said in effect, join issue with the
Committee, and am prepared to show that the Brit
ish settlements at the Belize not in Central Amer
lea, but in Mexico, in the province of Yucatan. He
was surprised at the decided tone of the Senator, the
Committee having presented the question in alter
native strcty-if those possessions are within Cen
trail America, then the extension of British domain
there is in violation of the treaty-i not, the treaty
will not apply to 1t. He was surprised at the Sena
tor joining issue with the Committee Foreign
Relations, because it utterly inconsistent with
the letter which the Senator Secretary of State,
wrote TO the British Minister. Then he refused to
make the admission which he now does, viz that
the Honduras settlement is not in Central America.
MIR. Mason referred to various maps making comment
upon them to show the British settlements within
Guatemala and that Guatemala claims the territory.
For the present. therefore, until he should be further
informed, he should claim that the British settlement
is in that Republic or State. He should rely Qua
temaia himself, and take it prima acie Great
Britain is not TO COLOMBO or assume greater authority
than she had when the treaty made. 1t was due
to Guatemala shat she should believe the British pos
sessions are in her territory. When the question
we must answerit then. Looking exclusively to the
interests of this country the Government of Great
Britain is TO be held absolutely and unqualifedly to
every engagem ent in the treaty in relation to Central
America. Peace between England and our own coun-
try, above all others, be preferred, but at the
sacrifice of National safety and National honor That
statesman that man who would precipitate his
country in a recklessly rashly, any misa-
ken opinion deserves to 60 down to posterity with
eXecraticn, and the statesman man who would sac
rfce the national honor safety from any fear of
war, would go down 20 poslerity with deeper exc
Grafton. Ii other nations permit England to seize
their territory, be it SO, but this continent she has
gone far she can. to preserve peace. He made
charge of bad faith against Eng land for violation
of the treaty, because he had no such information,
but just certain the seasons return, and the
earth revolves in her orbit, this continent, and the
whole of it, far the welfare and safety of the
United States concerned must be free from furth
er British aggression.