Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-26
SPEECH OF MIR. DOUGLAS,
OF ILLINOIS,


OF ILLINOIS,
On The Central American Treaty concluded totW
Great Britain on the l9A Aprth looo.
In SENATE, MARCH To- 1898.
Mr. DOUGLAS said: Mr.. President nave nothing !"
do with the controversy which has arisen between n "
nator from Delaware (sr, CLAYroS) ana my venerable
friend from Michigan, Mr. CAss) VINO Is now absent ~
Of the severe illness Of nearest and dear
t 70 him We all know enough of that Senator to be
ssured that when he shall be in his place he will be
to respond to any calls that may be made upon
him Neither have any thing TO do with the dispute
which has grown up among Senator's in respect to the
boundary Of Central America and the position of the Bri
tish settlement at the Belize leave that in the hands
of those who have made themselves parties to the conro
versy Nor shall become party to the discussion up
the between the Senator from Delaware and the
chairman of the Committee Foreign Relations in their
report that question Not having been present when
the committee made their report and not yet having had
the opportunity of reading leave the chairman of the
committee to yindicate his positions as doubt he
will prove himself abundanty able to do. have there
fore only ask the attention of the Senate to such
the Senator from Delaware has chosen to make against
speech delivered by few weeks ago in this chamber
The Senator. to complain that should have
questioned the propety Of withholding from the consde
ration Of the Senate what is known the Hse treaty and
the Substitution Of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty in its
place Those two treaties presented distinct issue of
great public the country and it was differ
enos Of opinion between him and to which system
of policy should prevail advocated that system which
would the United States the sole and exclusive
privilege Of controlling the communication between the
two He substituted that other policy which
ed the privilege to partnership between the United States
Sehor Has assigned various for withhold
ing the se treaty the consideration of the Senate
The first Is that concluded by Mr. Hise without
authority of this Government That may be true but it
is the first time have heard 1t urged as valid rea-
for withholding from the consideration of the Senate
treaty the objects and provisions of which desir
able. The treaty with New Granada, which he
ly commends in his speech, was made by Mr. Bidlack
without authority President Polk stated this fact in his
message communicating the treaty the Senate and the
Senator from Delaware has read that message and ncor
porated it to-hs speech He therefore knew that fact
when he gave for Withholding the Hise treaty
that it was made without authority
The treaty of peace with Mexico to the provisions of
which the Senator has also referred another point
entered ntoby Mr. Tris not only without authority but
in bold dease of the instructions of Government to
the contrary, The Administration of President Polk did
feel at liberty withhold these treaties from the
Senate merely because they made without auhor
y in defiance of instructions for the that the
objects intended to be accomplished by the treaty
desirable and the provisions could be modified by the
Senate asto make the details conform to the objects in
view 1t may not be amss for me oremind the Senator
from Delaware that he member of the Senate ut
the time the Mexican treaty submitted for rafca
tion and that he voted for it, notwithstanding it
cuded in opposition to the instructions of Govern
IT. therefore, the Senator has any respect for the
practice of the Government heretofore, for his
votes recorded upon the very point in controversy he is
not liberty object the treaty upon the ground that
it concluded by diplomatic agent without autho
rty. understand the rule to be this whenever the
treaty made in pursuance Constructions the Executive
is under implied obligation to submit it to the Senate
for ratifcaon but if it be entered into without auho
ry, or in violation of instructions, the Administration
are at liberty to reject Internationally to send to
the Senate for advice, amendment ratification reec
ton, according their judgment of its merits Whether
the Hise treaty perfect in all its provisions
tanned obnoxious features not the question 1t fur
nished conclusive evidence that the Government Of
Nicaragua willing and anxious to confer upon the
United States the exclusive and perpetual privilege of
controlling the canal between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, instead Of q partnership between and the
European Powers. The Senator from Delaware then
Secretary of State had the opportunity of securing
to his country that nestmabe privilege, either by
submitting the Hise treaty the Senate with the
mendation that it be modified obvate all the OBJ
jections which he deemed exist to of its prov
sions by making treaty which should embrace
the principle of exclusive and perpetual privilege
without any Of the obnoxious provisions He did not do
either he suppressed the treaty; refused to accept Of
exclusive privilege TO his country, and caused a
treaty to be made which should lay the foundation
of partnership between the United States and Great
Britain and the other European Powers
The next assigned for withholding the Hse
treaty from the Senate is that it had been approved
by Nicaragua 1t is that Nicaragua did raty
that treaty but why did she fail to do SO? showed
concusvely in the speech which the Senator
plying that henouapproyal was in consequence of his
instructions Secretary of State to Mr.. Squier, our
charge daUareS 10 Nicaragua III required the WnOle
influence of the representative of Government in
that country to prevent the ratification and approval
of the Hse treaty by the State of Nicaragua. Sir,
it is satisfactory for suppressng the treaty.
therefore that it had been ratified by the other par
ty when the ratification produced by the action
Of the agent this Government pursuance Of nsruc
tions.
Mr.. CLAYTON. desire distinctly TO understand the
Senator. II understood him, he said that Mr. Hise's
treaty rejected in consequence of Mr. Squiers in
reference
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Yes, sir
Mr. CLAYTON. And then | understand him to say that
Mr.. Squier did it by instruction?
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Yes, sir.
Mr. CLAYTON. Now, will the Senator submit the proof
TO substantate that assertion know Of such in
strucion
Mr. DOUGLAS will do that with great deal Of plea
Mr.. Hise sent to the Central American States
by Mr.. Polk He negotiated treaty with the State Of
Nicaraguahe treaty in questionon the 21st of June,
1S49. Prior to that time he had been recalled and Mr.
Squier had been appointed by the Administration which
succeeded that Of President Polk Mr. Hse had received
knowledge Of his removal; instructions from the
Administration at the time when he made the treaty
In the instructions which the Secretary Of State gave to
Mr. Squier the I'd Of May, ls4e when he was about
to proceed Central Amercato supersede Mr. Hise you
will find that he directed claim peculiar priv
lege, exclusive right no monopoly Of commercial in
tercourse for the United States. will read from the
letter Of instructions:
eve should naturally be proud Of suchan achievement
American work but IL European aid be necessary
compish IT, why should repudate IT, seeing int object
IL as honest az openly oro,ced,
vILEGE, NO EXCLUSIVE RIGHT,
but that the work is dedicated TO the
III