Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-01-15


and presume he did not Therefore think the whole
argument OF the Senator to show that was known
the Senate rests on no solid foundation OF the great
body Of Senator'S every one except the Senator himself
presume, was unaware that any such understanding
this did exist There many Senators here now who
here then and since the gentleman seems TO have
such peculiar knowledge, call upon every such Senator
to state If he at that tme knew of this correspondence
II they did was perhaps in but if there
body but the Senator himself who knew that fact may
still maintain my position, and had right to express
the astonishment which felt at the construction given
by Mr.. Clayton to the treaty.
The Senator from MARYLAND and the Senator from New
York. have taken very strange prove that the
construction which we place upon the treaty is
neous one aud that is that the British Government at
time or other did have some sort Of claim TO cut
timber or do something else in Central America Who
ever denied that | never did. So they claimed
right to portion of 0regon and they claimed certain
rights on the Mosquito coast but by the treaty of Wash
ngton they up the one by this treaty they gave
up the other and would ask the gentlemen to say why
they could not just well have given up their right to
British Honduras they did in the treaty of Washing
ton their right to Oregon in this treaty their right to
the Mosquito Therefore prove what YOU please
about the British right care not what it was if they
gave that right up they had right to do it, and that is
the question before contend that they did give it
up contend that it was SO understood by the Senate
and by the country.
But, Mr. President the honorable Senator from New
York has discovered something connected with this treaty
which he thinks is conclusive that it had nothing do
with Central America at all and that is that in the pre-
able which he read it is stated that the object the
treaty was to negotiate about passage through the
Isthmus. Now, Mr.. President, did not know before
that in treaty BILL especially if there other pro-
visions In the bin treaty, that the preamble is to bind
u.s. But if the gentleman had read the whole of the
treaty but the very first article he would have found
that there great deal in the treaty besides the
gotaton in regard to the passage through the Isthmus
will read that portion which both the gentlemen, with
all their research took good care not to read The first
article Of the treaty is as follows:
The Governments of the United States and Great Britain
hereby declare that neither the the other will
obtain maintain for itself exclusive control the
said shpcanal agreeing that neither will erect main
tain any Notifications commanding the same, in the vicin
y thereof occupy or for colonize assume
srcise dominion Nicaragua Costa Rca, the Mos
quito coast, any part of Central America will either
make of any protection which either affords may Afford
any alliance which either has may have with any
State people, for the purpose of erecting maintaining
any such fortfcaons of occupying fortyng cooniz
ing Nicaragua Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast any part
Central America of assuming exercising dominion
the same will the United States Great Britain take
advantage Of any intimacy alliance connexon
influence that either may possess with any State Govern
men through whose territory the said canal may pass for the
purpose of acquiring holding, directly indirectly for the
citizens or the subjects of rights advantages in
gard navigation through the said canal which
shall not be offered the terms to the citizens SUBJ
jects of the other
The Senator from Maryland has enumerated these diff
eren minor States which he says embraced in Cen
trail America and has contended the treaty did apply
them only But here these States are enumerated and
then the general Words "any part Of Central America
are added. Is not that broad enough to the
whole, including British Honduras especially when it
is by British authority quoted by the honorable Sena-
tor from Ohio the other day. included in the Gen.
trail America? would ask the gentleman to explain
what is meant by the words any part of Central Amer
ca in enumerang several States if it not to apply
to these several possessions That the natural in
ference from those words We understand language
the world generally understands it. shall 60 into
minute analysis of what is meant by political or geo.
graphical Central America, or any thing of that kind
take the plain import of the language and ask not the
construction of the world and the Senate and Of all
ties, at the time, that these words intended to
brace the whole of Central America, including British
Honduras? always supposed that they had some mean
ing in them, and were intended to have come meaning;
otherwise the great object Of the treaty was lost
know that memory is fable, and that am as liable
any man to be mistaken in the recollection Of facts
But the circumstances under which this treaty made
were brought into my mind in such way to impress
them peculiarly upon my mind The treaty not COM
muncated to for the first time after it formed
but when it under negotiation Mr. Clayton himself
brought the pro Of it, with all his maps and his expa-
nations, and showed it to me- he did to many other
Senator's he wished to be assured that every thing
right 1t was natural perhaps. There Democra-
tic majority in the Senate. He knew that we were
careful than the Wings on any question relating to
territory and il natural that he should consult the
Democratic members of the Senate In regard to the
treaty. consulted before the treaty was signed
Some suggestions made and recolect distinctly
now stated the other day, that in regard to the ex-
preston Central America" the question with me was
whether il did embrace all do not intend to give the
precise words that passed between us recoect dis
tinctly that my mind satisfied that subject. Let
the gentlemen then not take the preamble but let them
take the treaty aud look at it. and think that ustfes
in the expression Of astonishment which made the
other day in regard to the construction of the treaty.
Mr.. PEARCE l was one Of those who did not hear
the remarks made by the Senator from Louisiana the
other day My only knowledge of them is derived from
the newspapers found in them the report Of his Speech
and in that report referring to the letters OF Mr. Clayton
and Mr.. Bulwer he said:
"By examining it they will that there is very great
probability that Mr. Clayton acted in this matter his
authority without consulting the President the Cab
net"
And then found that assuming q fact what before
he had only inferred he sad "why did he not consult
with the President? In to that assumption Of
the Senator stated authorized to say he had
ferred with the President and with the Cabinets and
might have added do now, that Mr. Clayton informs
that his course had the approval of every of them
That is derived from British authority What the Sc
nator meant by British authorities TO which have access
more than himself know not. have intercourse
with British authorities the honor of
quantance with the British Minister. But know what
authorities have had to- and they just such
that Senator might have referred to- If it had been his
pleasure to consult the Congressional Library. They
documents published by the Government volumes Of the
statutes the publications OF the day. official letters COM
municaed TO Congress by the President and works Of
standard authority whether printed in England else
where Sir | do not know that have any more afec-
ton for British authorities" for the British Govern
ment than any other Senator in this body Perhaps in
deed have much reason any else for a bitter
prejudice against Britain and the British need not al
ude further my personal history for the purpose
forcing this remark But will say that have no other
feelings than those Of loyal American and that yield
Senator in the purity and fervor OF my devotion to