Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-05


y connected with the subject Of these resolutions Is st
worthy Of engaging the public debate and attention OF the
Senate; and it affects the ground, and very material
gro xnd, OF Of these resolutions aude TO the meg
sage II the President which Is before the Commit
tee Foreign Relatons-athough since 1t went there
it has been the subject Of debate in this body
in reply q resolution Of the Senate asking for in
| formation concerning recent proclamation that APP
peared in the public journals, issued by the British
authorities Of Belize, declaring colony established
not about to be established but esabshed-a British
colony established in certain islands therein designated
which lay off the coast Of the Republic Of Honduras
That sir has become question of great practical inter-
est and here within the last few days have intei
genee that British colony is about to be establish
ed al the Belize The President o. the United States
appears from bis message does not consider that there
was any source OF official communic ton open TO him by
which he could inform whether the report in reference
to that colony Of the Bay of Islands true not but
1t comes IN such shape 10 make it necessary that its
existence shall be assumed by the Ie latve branch of
this Government as the executive brancl is uninfomed,
and seeks no information.
Now, before the debate closes upon these resolutions
wanted, end now want to be heard In practical
remarksas the honorable Senator from New Hampshire
HALE) seems to have desire for something practi
calm reference to this matter of colonization which is
connected with Of the resolutions offered by the hon
orable Senator from Michigan, (Nir ss)-tha which
affects future colonization upon near the al nercan
continent is matter Of very great interest to the
American peope--one that broached thirty years
and practically brought home to them as
as am informed until the present shou I'd re-
greet therefore, il the honorable Senator from North Car
1t prevail 1t my purpose to ask the Senate ind ulge
for not more than hour upon the general sub ect
that have indicated. Now, if the honorable Sens
from North Carolina desires to renew his motion to
lay this matter npon the table, I will do So
Mr. MANGUM. believe these MATTERS enoug
now before the Comsaittee on Foreign Relations upon
which the honorable Senator from Virginia (Mr MAsosA
can make the remarks that he wishes submit to he<
Senate. My sole purpose in making my motion is to4
open the way for doing real practical business
When the report shall be made from the Committee on
Foreign Relations either written printed be ac
companed by speech which will hear ct any time
with pleasure for think that my own opinions do not
differ widely from the opinions Of the honorable Senator
from virginia upon the subject. Now, with view that
we may go to work upon other matters renew my mo-
ton to lay this subject upon the table
Mr. MASON. If the honorable Senator will allow
me, VIII suggest to him that instead Of motion lay
this subject upon the table, he will permit me to move to
postpone the further consideration of it until Monday
next will then ask the Senate to hear for an hour
With the permission Of the honorable Senator from North
Carolina make the motion to postpone this subject I'M
til Monday next.
Mr. GWIN. do not understand the honorable Sem
ater from Virginia say that the Committee Foreign
heiatons intend to propose any practical legislation Of
Congress upon this question lido not understand him
that there is to be before Congress any legislative
question in connection with the subject that has been
brought to the attention of the Senate by these resou
TONS Therefore have been anxious, very anxious to
progress with the business which have been consd
ering and debating during the previous session. upon
which there is to be legislative action. Now If the hon
orabe Senator intends to bring forward any active legs
ation, in which Congress should participate will throw
no obstacle in the way of his proclamng his views And
if he is going to have any thing done which viii insure
action it must be in connexon with the appropriation
bi for that is the only way carry the Of
the Government If he intends have any legislation
upon this subject by the Congress of the United States
instead Of abstract debate in the Senate then is
his duty and privilege to ask to be heard he intends
any thing like legislation shall nterposc any objec-
ton Butft merely for the purpose fspeakng general
y about that upon which are to have legislative
action must insist upon my notion which is to post
pone this matter until the 4th March If the Sem
ator from Virginia says he intends propose practical
legislation, will withdraw my motion.
MIR MASON. have already said this--that the
Of the President in reference to this alleged estab
shment of colony upon the Bay of Honduras before
the committee at this time But the President in that
message declared himself unable to give any certain in
formation upon the subject and yet presents itself in
such form as to impress and doubtless Others with
the belief that the proclamation said to have been issued
by the British authorities is official and true copy of
which we have got by means Of the public journals
Now it is more than probableindeed, it is almost GER
tan in the present state Of that questionhat the Com
mittee Foreign Relations will feel itself called upon to
make report upon chat specific question: and il the
port made it may probably be necessary follow Ii
up by legislation am here free to Declare Of
the Senators Of the United States that the fact be
that the Government Of Great Britain has established
colony at the place designated by the proclamation,
whether 1t be or be not in contravention Of the Clayton
Buwer treaty, that colony must be discontinued /
prepared to say that at do not know whether
that fact asserted is not but yet high degree
probability that before the close of the session there
must be legislation upon this subject
Now all that mean to say at present is that think
it would be desirable for the country that this debate
should not be restrained the honorable Senator from
California proposes to have it restrained For myself
only that shall be heard upon the general question
involved in the consideration Of the resolutions Of the
honorable Senator from Michigan, (Mr. CAss,) Mon
day next And If the motion have made to postpone
this subject that time be first in order, would ask
have the question taken upon it.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, I wish to say but
few words. My colleague (Mr. DIxos) proposes prac-
tica legislation upon this subject by way of motion
which has submitted refer this whole subject the
Committee Foreign Relations with instructions. The
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. CAss,) who introduced
these resolutions, has informed that he moved upon
subject in consequence Of the apprehension that Great
Britain has violated the treaty in reference Central
America. The chairman, Of the Committee Foreign
Relations ir MASON has informed that the Presi-
dent does not know how the fact stands Now Ithnk,
with the chairman Of the committee that il would be i'm
portan could but ascertain what the fact is think
therefore, that the best hing that we do 10 make
the reference which has been proposed by my colleague
who is not in his place and allow the whole subject
90 to the Committee Foreign Relations When the
subject is reported back the Senate the gentleman
who is chairman Of that committee accompany the
and the debate thenbe resumed hope that
win be pursued. kethe honorable Senata~ from Ca
hfornia, (Mr GwrS much disposed to begin to act
upon other matters aaI think II Is time Cor to take
the ordinary business of the Senate and dispose Of It,
hope this will be parsuedhe subj be referred
to the committee, and the debate be postponed until re-