Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-02

4
the Government of the United States should obtained
the grantthe right to make canal, and exclusive
right to navigate 1T that forts should be built both
ends to protect and Of that should protect
by every other means necessary When the Govern
ment shall have made it, and shall have established the
forts the canal he says will be open to every body ON
the and thus he seeks the exclusive grant of
right Of way! What does he want with it Why does
he prefer it to the plan adopted of opening the canal
all nations the terms The Senator says he
would hold it as rod-yes, rod-to compel other
tons to keep the peace He would have settling
of islands the coast Of Central America any Gov
ernmen attempted it. he would shut his canal to them
/ He would also compel all foreign nations to
with all respect and regard by of the tremendous
rod which he would hold in his hands Let look little
into the justice of this thing regards country
has been supposed that the construction of this great
work will cost fifty hundred illions Of dollars.
suppose could build proper ortifcaton at each
end under less than million of dollars for each fort We
would be compelled to maintain garrison there and in
the event Of war, to maintain large navy such one
as could resist the naval Powers of the earth If we were
to to war with France England any other great
naval Power that of would be Of the first
points OF attack How convenient would it be for
defend it at distance Of two thousand miles and send
troops the different forts and ships protect our yes
sells hat pass through the canal We build it, and every
body is have the benefit Of the danal the TERMS
in time of peace Iii war we alone to defend ii The
interest on hundred millions would be six millions
year. The expenses Of protecting and taking Of the
canal and keeping it in good order would probably when
added to the interest make annual outlay from
Treasury Of the United States in that distant country of
not less than ten millions Of dollars. Now why should
we make such expenditure Because want rod
rod Sir, think it would prove be a rod sct
jres upon ourselves We want nothing but the right of
way there We proposed that nation should 60 through
that canal unless she agreed protect it. In they
agreed to protect it, should want forts garri
and naval force guard what could attack
But the other hand, if to adopt the plan of
the Senator should have to keep standing army in
that country to protect it. in the of between
and foreign nations What would be thought of
who should purchase farm and hen after he had gone
to the expense of putting in order invite everybody
and till it, but should direct them take that
they should pay part of the expense of keeping the
repairs any part of the taxes upon the land? do
not know that this any other illustration make his
proposition preposterous than it does its
statement
But an important objection to the obtaining of such
grant that from foreign Government to the United
States for the construction of canal by the United
States is that is unconstitutional utterly and absolute
y unconstitutional said before the Senator addressed
the Senate that did not know that there man
this floor who would contend that this Government had
the power, under the constitution of the United States,
to construct canal in Nicaragua railroad in China,
or TO build turnpkes in England any country out of
the limits of the United States, charter corpora
ton to do such things said supposed heretofore that
the Senator from Illinois belonged the strict construc-
ton school, which denied the power to make inter
nal improvements in own limits But he goes for
such treaty Mr. Hises, and says that he does not
like special pleading Does the Senator that
stutional objection is mere special pleading? Sir, /
wish any better special plea against any treaty than
the constitution of my country The gentleman cannot
show by any possible ingenuity that Mr. Hses plan Of
building canal in Nicaragua is can bc made in any
way constitutional Whoever heard before that power
could be conferred by treaty that conferred
upon this Government under the constitution itself? We
are says he to build canal to unite with our pos
sessions the Pacific, and Mr. Hises treaty provides
that the Government of the United States may build it,
Mr. DOUGLAS Is the Senator really serious in putting
it, that insisted that the Government should go
and make the canal in Central America that inti
mated any such thing that / said word from which
such conclusion could be drawn!
| Mr.. CLAYTON. The Senator repeatedly avowed him
SELF in all his speeches. in favor of Mr. Hes treaty.
lie dare not deny ii.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. said that an exclusive privilege
rendered, and partnership privilege rendered We
had right to take the take the other. The
Secretary Of State chose take the partnership in pre-
ference to the exclusive privilege In reply the obec
ton, that 1t was unconstitutional to make canal by this
Government in Central America, told him. when he
would demonstrate the power of the United States and
England to make canal jointly, would demonstrate the
power of our Government do ii separately when he
would demonstrate the power of the United States and
Great Britain to protect British and American company
Jointly, would demonstrate to him. by his argu-
ment, our power to protect separate American
pany. never dreamed nor is there any thing in my
speech TO show that believed that this Government
to go to work to make the canal there. What did
mean was that an exclusive privilege rendered to
American company under the protection of the American
Government; and the same right which would authorize
us to protect in connexion with England, British
pany, would authorize this Government to protect
American company The question not how the canal
CONTROL to be exclusively under this Government
whether it be under the control and protection of
England in conjunction with this country | do not
raise question to how the canal shall be made whe-
ther by company not; but say. If to enter
into guarantee, let it be guarantee of Americans and
not Of British let it be guarantee account,
and not in partnership with England. That was my
position.
Mr.. CLAYTON. He has shifted again. But he cannot
escape by it. viii all the issues he has made and
all the he can invent The speech he made ON
the 18th of February will convict him (f ready of
having preferred the very treaty made by Mr. Hise with
out any of his present qualifications have exposed it,
and he has become ashamed of it. lie now qualities his
position so that he is only in favor of much of Mr.
lses treaty secured the exclusive right That
he is for. Let us how he will change from
that If he is for the exclusive right ceded in the treaty
Of Mr. ise he is of consideration on which
that right ceded As honest man, he would not
take the grant and then refuse pay for it, Then he is
for an entangng alliance, against which lac has said
much
Mr. DOUGLAS. Not at all.
Mr. CLAYTON. Why, sir, the consideration for which
the right TO be ceded have shown from the
~ ITSELF engagement part to guaranty the
title of Nicaragua and to fight her battles, and g put
down all the and bloodshed arising therefrom."
Unless he entangled in that way he could not obtain
from Nicaragua the exclusive right He cannot take the
grant without the consideration for it, As the ques
on how the treaty for exclusive privilege should have
been drawn, how the Hise treaty securing such a
privilege could have been amended he has eyaded it, He
cannot draw the amendments which would have made n
Objectionable reconclabe with the Constitu
ton and the treaty with Central America or Nicaragua
and he has not ventured to propose them Yet he inter-
the and aad he onI,