The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-11

Senators from New York and Maryland in their
argument, because he had not the means at his
command, nor did he possess the like facilities for
obtaining information to enable him to defend
British rights and interests. The Senator from
New York had pronounced the intimation that
this ofthe treaty had been made without
the Presidents knowledge, as a wanton assault.
He made no wanton assault on any one. He had
made no attack on any he had merely intimated
: lnat such thing was probable, judging from the
other circumstances. The Senator ought to be
carefui, while repelng wanton attack, that he
ana not make one on others. The Senator
tenoed That those who denied all knowledge of this
construction placed ON the treaty by MIR. Clayton,
dld 80 understand it. He would tell the Senator
mat Tor one he did not understand it, and if he
mad would never have voted for it. When he said,
on thursday, that no Senator had 30 understood
the treaty why did not the Senator then rise and
say ne mad! Had the Senator's memory been re-
freshed lately?
I Mr.. SEW ARD said he endeavored to get the
noor on Thursday, but failed. He relied on Mr.
Kings letter that the Senate understood the
treaty.
MIR. DOWNS said that if the Secretary of State
did inform Mr. King of this circumstance, it did
not follow that the whole Senate knew it. He diff
| tered from the Senator, who supposed the whole
object OF the treaty was in reference to the canal.
He thought there was another object to be accom-
| pllshed he argued at length to show that the
plain and obvious meaning of the words of the
treaty was, that Great Britain was excluded from
CVSiy part "a Centfal merlCd, HONDURAS and all.
The Secretary of State had consulted him with
other Senators before the treaty was signed. He
doubted, then, whether those words "Central Anne
| RIGA" expressed fully the exclusion of Great Brit
am, ana so expressed himself; but the Secretary
/ OF state gave him such assurances on the point
that he yielded bis own opinion; otherwise he
would never have voted for the treaty.
Mr.. PEARCE said that had he been in the Sen.
ate on Thursday when the Senator from Louisiana
addressed the Senate, he would have responded at
/ 70 To ~,
Senator that the Secretary of State did submit the
matter to the President and his Cabinet and hia
course was approved by them. He would like to
know what the Senator meant by British author.
ity? What British authority could he have had
for what he said, except what was equally within
| the reach OF the Senator? His authority was de-
rived from the current publications of the day He
mad no very great reverence for British power. He
had perhaps as much cause as any one to feel bit.
terly towards British rule. TWAS unnecessary for
him to refer to his private history. He knew no
feelings but those of loyal American, and he
would yield to no man in purity of his devotion to
his country He believed that the political and not
geographical Central America was meant by the
terms in the treaty.
He read the commission issued by Mr.. Polk to
Mr.: Hampstead, Of New York, as consul at the
BE lze, in which the President prayed that her
Majesty, the Queen of England, would admit the
said Hampstead to all the rights, privileges and
immunities granted to such officers. By this act
OF Mr. Polk this Government admitted and recog
nlsed the right OF government in that place to Be
in Great Britain
Mr.. BORLAND said that he always understood
the treaty to have been as represented ythe
Senators from Michigan and Louisiana, and had
never heard otherwise till now. He voted against
the treaty because he believed it to be the duty of
this Government to carry out the Monroe doctrine,
and therefore should not enter into any alliance
with Great Britain respecting any part OF this
continent, nor bind this nation against acquiring
any territory in that direction or any other
Mr.. SOUI,E said he ted for Tho tra,&,,
considered there was something highly signf
cant in the fact that, two months after it
was ratified by the Senate, it should have
been deemed necessary on the part of the Brit
ish minister to have some explanations touch
ing it. What was it that caused this unusual act7
w That was it that reused the suspicious of the Brit
sh minister? To his mind it appeared conclu-
siveyt something of the secret deliberations o
the Senate had gone out, and, reaching him. had
given rise to these suspicious in the mind of the
British minister. What was it? While this treaty
was being negotiated some ten or twelve Senator's
he amongst them, at the request of Mr. King met
at that genteman's room to hear the treaty. read
Some his friends, supposing him to be acquainted
with the localities of the country requested him to
pay particular attention to its provisions He lis
tened 10 it, and when the obnoxious article was
read he could not but remark that those words in
the ordinary transactions of life would admit much
OF doubt as to their import and the object of the
treaty was to dvest England of all her claims and
prctensions, twas best that it should be stated In
express terms and he warned his colleag that it
should not be suffered to remain in its original shape
They were assured that whatever obscurity there
was in the article it stood, was attributable en-
tirey TO desire the part ofthe British minister
to protect his national honor from any appearance
OF having yielded or surrendered, and that the
Secretary of State, willing to oblige him in this
and to doynothing calculated to wound the keen
susceptbiiies Of the British negotiator, consented
to it. OF course the underlined right of Great Bri.
tain TO cut logwood was left undsposed of Short
~ after this the treaty was sent to the Senate. He
would now submit to the Senate whether he had
authority TO speak of what occurred in Executive
session on that treaty. A ~
The CHAIR said the injunction of secrecy had
not been removed, and the Senator was not at lib
erty to state what had occurred.
Is Mr. DOUG LAS hoped, by unanimous consent
the Injunction of secrecy should be removed
The CHA said it could only be done in Execu 4
tive session a e 49, ~
Messrs. CASS and G WIN were in favor of an Ex
ecutive session with doors open.
Mr.. MASON said such a precedent would ner
haps be found hereafter inconvenient.
Mr.. BUTLER moved to go into Executive ses-
sion, which was agreed to.
ia he doors were opened in half an hour
And the Senate adjourned.