The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-20

other treaty, by which was removed every diff.
Guilty. 80 far as the pretensOns of England were
concerned. BY it England agreed to evacuate
all her possessions and posts on the continent
and on all islands, without exception. In 1896
war raging between England and Spain.
this treaty was. suspended, and the English
again resumed Possession of Rooatan, but sur
rendered it to an officer sent there from Hon.
duras. In 1914, new treaty was made, which
reafhrmed and incorporated within il the very
shpulahons OF the treaty of 1886, and unless
something has transpired since then, the Eng.
lish claims to dominion over these islands ha We
not shadow OF right After that these islands
were taken possession of by the State of Hon.
duras In l843, Commodore Macdonald. then
commanding British forces took possession Of
the islands, hauled down the Honduras flag
and raised that of England He had, however
scarcely lett there than the British flag was
taken down, and the Union jack displayed
Macdonald was shortly after removed from
the post, and the British Government repudia-
ted his conduct as unauthorized; and the Gen.
trail American States thought that all claim to
the islands was abandoned by Great Britain.
But they were mistaken I; they were weak and
bad to submit TO whatever that proud power
might dictate. Great Britain asserts no claim
over these islands, except 80 far as that claim
is connected with the Belize. Under the sew
eral treaties with Spain her right was limited,
and was nothing more than the license TO cut
wood in Honduras He read from an act of
the British Parliament of 1928 for the punish
ment of crimes, and said that il contained a
description of the settlement of Honduras as a
settlement for certain purposes and was not
within his Majesty's territories or dominions.
He thought he had shown concIusively that
England possessed nothing more than the pre-
carious license to cut dye wood; and it was but
in keeping with her former conduct that she
should now take possession of those islands, and
COLOMBO them in the very teeth of the assertion
by this Government of the Monroe doctrine.
How strange it would appear to the world that,
at the very moment she binds the United States
against taking any islands or territory in that
region, she comes forward, and, without any
right, takes possession of and colonies those
islands.
He wished not to light up any fires which
might lead to general combustion and he
was not insensible of the dangers of a contest
with any of the maritime powers, at this time.
to this country still he desired that the world
might know that they could not presume too
'"i tNA WV iobS VII Qui piuoCbOC VI OuT Conu-
dence. He desired the nations of Europe to be
aware that this Government may in an emer-
gency be prepared to compete successfully with
any or all of them. He had no fear for the re-
suit of such contest He would tell them that
In such a contest We might realize the expecta-
ton of the British statesman, and find under
our banners the Disconnected of every land,
and all those complaining justly or unjustly OF
Il H. Al
remember that there is in the spirit of freedom
more power than was ever exhibited in the
whole history of the human race He hoped
that this matter would shortly come before the
Senate in some tangible shape, in which the
Senate might inform England that, if there be
any doubt in the provisions of the Clayton and
Bulwer treaty, that we will give notice of our
iNtention to suspend its effect.
Mr. Pearce rose, not to continue the debate
but to make statement in behalf of Mr.
King Ii was written, and was handed HIN
by Mr.. Bragg of the House. 1t was in thest
words:
"Colonel King desires Mr. Pearce to say il
the Senate, that it has not been his desire OF
intention, in anything which he has been rep
resented as saying in reference to the Clay tor
and Bulwer treaty, to cast the slightest impu
tation on Mr.. J. M. Clayton in reference t.
that matter; on the contrary, he desires to DE-
Mr.. Clayton the justice to say that he is con
WINGED that in everything connected with thai
treaty, he Mr. c. was actuated by patriotic
anxiety to protect the rights and interests o.
his country. Colonel King feels mortified tina
anything said by him, under msapprehensior
of the facts of the case, should have been mad,
the basis for unjust reflections on Mr. Clay
TOM
This statement he thought was but in keep
ing with Colonel Kings character for stric
integrity and scrupulous honor.
Mr., Soule asked whether the Senator from
Maryland applied Mr. Kings words to wha
has occurred recently, or to former converse
tons while the treaty was pending'
Mr.. Pearce said he was not authorized Il
apply them in any way.
| Mr. Shields said that he thought the Senate
ought not to embarrsss itself respecting the
question of the terms proposed by Great Brit
ain in ratifying the treaty He considered thai
it made no difference, which was the proper
construction of the treaty it had been violated
by the seizure of those islands Those islands
never belonged 10 or were dependent to British
Honduras. The whole right of Great Britain
was the mere license to cut logwood, &C., with
in certain defined limits As late as 1892
Great Britain renoanced all claim of those
islands, and yet in 1852, she has seized on
them, and colonzed them He argued at length
to show that Great Britain was pursuing the
policy Of obtaining all the important positions
to girdle the American coast.
Mr.. Hale said he had no fear of any war
with England growing out Of this matter Let
patriotic indignation get as high as 1t may,
even to fever heat and let the issue be plainly
put to England, the result would be that this
nation would back square out. II would back
from 81 down to 49, and lower if desired But,
as this indignation must find vent somewhere,
he thought it likely that as we would not fight
England, Mexico, Costa RIGA, or some other
weak power, would have to take the blows
The Senator from Florida had stated to the
Senate that England had one ship
Mr.. Butler said that that took place in Ex-
ecutive session.
Mr. Hale said that he had made known the
fact to the world-dsclosed in Executive SEES
sion---that England had one ship Laughter |
The world could make the most of the inform,
alton.
He said that during the consideration of the
treaty be had never heard il intimated that it
would exclude Great Britain from Honduras.
He thought the British protectorate Of the color
ed gentleman called the King of the Mosquitoes
was the principal object it was TO remove.
Mr. Mallory explained that the remark of
his, quoted by the Senator, was made TO show
that our defences were such that single ship
of Great Britain could control certain ports.
Mr.. Underwood expressed his recollection Of
the understanding Of the treaty when before
the Senate, as the same as that of the Senator
from New Hampshire.
Mr. Mangum said that this whole discussion
was useless for any public purpose, and pcrni-
cous TO many interests before Congress, by con-
suming the time 1t had opened in an attack
on the Secretary of State and the late Wing
administration. That assault had been repel-
led at every point and now, with the iscund,