The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-08

a c-
ment had prepared There were more than Two hundred
and seventy bills passed by the Senate during this Con-
gfess si lying upon The Speakers table OF the House
undsposed OF, and SO far as understand, untouched
nope, therefore That under these circumstances this Fri
day will be considered appendage the holidays
and that we shall give Il the favorable considera-
on and aord the same relief Tor ourselves and others
Mr. CASS. | shall vote for the motion OF the honor.
able senator from North Carolina with the hope that the
Invitation gwen TO both houses OF Congress 10 attend The
ceremonies oil HE olh OF January will be accepted and
acted on by every member think il due TO the name
and iame and character and services OF the departed pa
mot and am sure Il will meet the appreciation OF
Mr.. ADAMS. MIR. President, can see no necessity
for adlournlng over Tomorrow in order attend the eel
ebration OF Saturday presume that without an adj
lournmen there Is no senator who will not be willing and
ready eaIly on Saturday morning TO attend ii.
As TO the state OF business referred to by the honora
Ole senator from North Carolina is well known that
we have upon calendar, bills which have passed the
House, which will occupy more time than have TO
spare that we have plenty TO do There is plenty of
business in stale OF readiness for action, which
quires action the part OF the House Under this
state OF things ask for the yeas and nays upon the mo-
ton
The yeas and nays not ordered.
The question being taken upon the motion, il was
agreed 10,
BRITISH HONDURAS
Mr. CASS. Mr.. President, ask the indulgence OF
The Senate at this time 10 make what may be considered
personal explanation The Senate will recollect tina,
adopted, calling Tor some information from the proper
department respecting the establishment of new colony
in the bay OF Honduras called the colony of the Bay
of Islands," which was established in July last We
have received the answer Of the President aud Depart
meat oil Siae and they state, what is altogether correct
that they know nothing about it, This administration has
done nothing upon the subject But the correspondence
which has been Transmitted TO there very extraod
nary fact disclosed and Tor one OF the senators
who voted for the ratification of the treaty OF 1850; d.
sire, al the time that this correspondence goes out
10 the world, to let it be distinctly understood that am
not amongst those who at that time entertained the
struction which TO have been put upon that treaty
If had been Of opinion that any sucn construction would
have been put upon IT, should never have voted for its
ratification.
and from Mr. Clayton and Sir Henry Bulwer, who were
the joint negotiaors of The treaty and to them is ap.
pended the quasi and conditional if you please TO call
il, ratification of the treaty by the British government;
1t will be recolected that the treaty provided that there
should be settlement occupation, colonization, or do
minion exercised by either party Central America
The ratification transmitted by the British government is
in these words;
" la proceeding TO the exchange of the ratihcaons the
convention, signed at WASHINGTON the 18Th Of April,
1885, between Britannia Majesty and the United States
OF America, relative the establishment OF
ton by shp-cana between the Atlantic aud Pacfc oceans.
the undersigned, her Brnnnic Maesys
has received her Maesty instructions TO declare that her
Majesty does understand the engagements OF that
dependencies. Her Majesty ic alton Of The
said convention exchanged under the explicit decara
III. L. BULWER
Now ii is obvious that the word dependences gives
ample sphere of operations to any diplomatic ambi-
dexeIly can possibly be required In answer to that
Mr. Clay says that the ncgoatos the part of the
two governments understood The matter alike-tha is,
that neither Of them understood Central America 10 be
Central America at ALL but that both OF them understood
that upon the face of The treaty. though Central America
included yet the British claims thereon were excl-
died. Instead OF putting that fact in the treaty Itself,
should have been done, Seeding that understand
ing TO the Senate at the time OF the ratification Of the
treaty. nothing OF the sort DONE The treaty
braced Central America and it voted upon by the
Senate under that impression. But now il that
both negotaors said they did not Central America.
but only portion Of it. Mr. Clayton says-and the rea-
introduce the subject because desire 10 dis.
avow for myself the fact here stated:
The chairman Of the Commitec on Foreign Relations
perfectly understood that treaty did include
British Honduras II was understood TO apply to, and
Honduras san Salvador Nicaragua, and Costa Kica, with
their just limits and proper dependencies"
The treaty does not make any mention OF Honduras
all, either OF British or American Honduras; but
denes-lhe British government comedies, indeed-hat is
part Of Central America Mr.. President for myself.
when voted for The ratification Of that treaty, had
the slightest doubt that prevented the British govern
ment from establishing any colonial dependency in that
par, OF the country. My friend from Indiana, Mr..
BRcHT,l and think my friend from Ohio Mr. CBAsE,l
and know my colleague mr. FELcH,1 will recolleci
that distinctly stated that my object in voting for that
treaty was TO sweep away all British claim TO Central
America must confess that my honorable friend from
that warning the effect of instinct OF Judgment
know not; but he certainly anticipated good from the
treaty, and voted against it.
In reference to The statement mentioned in The para
graph which last read. have called this morning to
late respected presiding officer whose absence all
much lament but who hope will soon be restored to
US for am happy TO inform the Senate that found him
better. | conversed with Colonel King and he author
lied 10 say that there entire mistake upon this
point He told that after this quasi ratification came
iron England the 29th OF June he had interview
with Mr.. Clayton who desired TO know il the treaty
conditional ratification He told MIR Clayton tina, ii il came
there for that purpose II would get vote the SEN
ate And that till this day he supposed the project OF
ceping this declaration had been Abandoned and that the
treaty stood upon its own provisions Colonel King fur
,her said he had general idea of claim of Eng
land GU, log wood Honduras but be thought
OF its being set up the foundation OF petcnson
tablsh colony there.
il will be observed that the very terms OF the treaty
framed to exclude such effort for not only does
provide that neither party shall forfy COLOMBO. but
that they shalt not occupy any part o the country and
in Central America, but TO what extent not yet
told Now, am free to say that this our
part furnishes far better Tor The conduct OF
England than had the least idea she possessed Our
negoator and the executive department have committed
great error unprecedented do believe the history
OF diplomacy and regardless OF the constitutional duties
OF the Senate have proclaimed the ratification OF the
treaty, with understanding changing its construction
and vital point, without the knowledge Of that body
My object, as i stated, was TO sweep Central America
clear Ct all foreign influence which by its terms the treaty
effected peaceaby II II did not effect that object, there
could have been the least motive the part OF the
United States 10 enter into this joint arrangement II we
did not effect that, we effected nothing.
Mr.. SEWARD What is the date OF the ratification
OF the treaty.