The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-10
BY ROBERT sTKoNs.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. L. EVERETT
ov MASSACHUSETTS,

Delivered in the Senate March 81, 1888, the Centra
American treaty concluded with Great Britain on lht
10th April, 1850
MIR. EVERETT said:
Mr. PRESIDENT; Ii has not been my intention, as
had the honor to state TO the Senate Thursday ast
engage in the debate which has been conducted with sc
much ability in this place during the last eight or len
days, oo;. 0.nr., i ,.,, !, va. unavoidable IN,
the senator from Delaware, Mr. CLAYroNl after re-
turning to the Senate, OF which for wenyfour years he
had been OF The brightest ornaments, should be de-
sirous OF avang himself of the first opportunity of vim
dcailng the negotiation OF the treaty OF The 18th oil
April 1850, which conducted by him under the di,
recon OF President Taylor. II was not less matter OF
course that the chairman OF the Committee Foreign
Relations, Mr. MASON and that the senator from II
lmois, [Mr DoUGLAsJ who had taken part in the de-
bates OF the last session. should reply TO the statements
Of the honorable senator from Delaware. But. Tor my
own part my humble connexoA with the affairs OF Cen
trail America is much more recent and slight. Entirely
stranger the negotiation OF the treaty. and not less
stranger to the debate which took place IN This chamber
iD the early part oil the last should have CON
sjdered oblsive 10 throw myself into the dis
cusson OF the general subjects which have been cono
verted with so much ability by the gentlemen to whom
have Just alluded will also take the liberty TO say,
that when took my place upon this floor about three
weeks ago-and consider il the highest honor OF my
public life that | have been permitted TO have sea,
here-l came here in such stale OF complete exhaus.
ton. bodily and mental, after the a,igues Of the las
winter in another capacity, that felt my self altogether
indisposed 10 any considerable mental exerlon
But the discussion that has taken place in reference 10
the history OF past events has connected Itself with the
present condition OF affairs in Central America, towaid
which my attention has been recently called commu-
ncation made to The Department OF State in the early
part of February by the minister OF the British govern
ment al Washington, with the express nlnatlon OF a
wish that the purport OF that communication should in
some proper public form before the government OF
the United States. That was done through the medium
OF report from the Department OF Stale the President,
of The 10th OF February which was by him sent to the
two houses on the 18th Of the same month That
muncaion seemed TO me TO afford opportunity Of ma
king effort, with considerable prospect OF success,
10 bring all the difficult controvered matters in that
quarter amicable and desirable issue Ii seemed 10
particularly TO suggest the proprety OF putting our
diplomatic relations with Central America upon better
aud efficient footing than they have stood upon or
lime past This suggestion was made BY me to the
President; it approved by him, by him submit
ted to Congress- and has been honored by their sanction
the houses having made the requisite appropriation
for full minister TO be sent by this government to the
States OF Central America to reside al either any oi
the capitals OF those States, respectively, he think
expedienl and thus be able bring TO bear all the
fuencc OF his character and station in reconcilng The diff
cues which exist between those republics, and bring
ing the questions al issue between them and
cable settlement
There are other crcu which led me to suppose
that this propltous moment Tor making this effort
and does me- from the character OF the
debate, that if il should finally terminate without
any aussn 10 those circumstances, it would, stated
last Thursday, leave upon the public mind not only
Incorrect but somewhat painful impression TO the
real state of affairs in that part OF the world and
connexion with them that the country would be alarm.
u
in that quarter than really is To rectiy this impress
sion is the main object OF my addressing the Senate al
this time.
Before do this | wish to make my acknow ledemen,
10 the disng gushed senator from Illinois, [Mr. DoUG
LAsl whom do not al tins moment his place. or
the very complimentary notice he pleased TO take oil
the letter addressed BY the LIST OF December to the
ministers OF France and England the subject of the
tnparte convention relating TO Cuba II | could think
that he did not in the warmth OF The Argument in which
he engaged, overs,aie the merits OF that letter,
w he akr
OF il by disung Judge, my highest ambition
q public ought TO be satisfied. IL was subject oi
grea, difhculy Importance, and deiicacy dividing to
extent The opinions OF the people and II my de-
that matter 10 find out possible, and TO assert line
OF principle and Of policy which would be generally APP
proved BY The country; which would show that i was
possible reconcile the progressive spirit and tendency
OF the country and OF the with the preservation o
the public faith, with the sanctiy OF the public honor
and with the dictates OF an enlightened and liberal con-
servatism. This The object which bad in view,
and if shall be thought in any degree TO have attained
il, my utmost ambition will be satisfied.
Allow 10 say other word, as have alluded 10
this topic, of personal nature Called as was 10 the
month OF November last, without days preparation
after retirement OF seven years from all active parbci-
patton in political life, to occupy-bui alas sir how far
iron hlnE-the place OF one OF the foremost statesmen
oil The age called upon within three four weeks, The
greater part OF which lime passed in the hustle OF
public house. without a book 10 refer to- without 9
leisure moment for research inquiry, 10 take up such
important questions the Lobos islands, the Cfesce nj
City affair, the difficulty about the fisheries and then this
last subject OF tpafie convention dispose oil
all these questions under the daily pressure OF the
tine OF the department enough OF itself put the ies
he soutest capacity oi labor and endurance- did fee
thai this task OF no ordinary magnitude aud one
that should enite person TO some charitable consdera
ton Tor any imperecon or detect IN the performance o.
bis duty. And, sir, If in the State papers which wa
obliged. In very rapid succession to produce II should
be ound under the scrutiny 10 which they mus
OF necessity be subjected that some things-as under
stand s alleged to be the case--sre omitted which haC
better been said that things put forward which
had better been reserved for other opportunities, ant
,hings stated abstaoly true, but without sutheen
qualification and euards-if anything of this shall b
found, ,rustthat due allowance wl be made, as alsc
confidently IL will stll be found that there Is moth
ing them committing the honor or the interest OF th'
country
The honorable senator from Illinois cited som'
sentences from my letter OF The ls OF December, 1882
which he thought in dreo, contradiction, on tbs
ground OF constitutional principle, with some OF the
provisions of The treaty which neg oiiated by my
irisnd from Delaware. Now, cir, think that il due
allowance is made for the entire difference 10 the na
tus OF the compacs and OF The relations OF the contract
ing parties to The ssbIscmaiter The total dssinarty 10
the geographical and historical circumstances that give
the character to the two conventions, II will be admitted
that the constitutional doubt which expressed-for Il
was bu, doubt-and which applied IN the does
not apply in the other SIR, The compacts totally
dlHerent One Of them, the Cuban convention would
ao have received am sure, single vote IN The Senate
The Executive had been i'll advised enough to send II
here The other confirmed by majority largely
SSssd'ng that which required by the constitution
senator IRON Delaware has said that he concurs IN
s p,hsples OF the letter of the lat of December and
~hs noWn you hatihe policy pursued by him towards
oA vas PRECISELY the that pursued by the late
soneusuoh u there is the difference which the
s.o, o'' hihos thinks there s between some OF the
, hiS ~ Ss Suesn letter and the principles OF the
,S ~, ,.,o ~. lnat y eehooved me quite as much TO
look TO bis treaty; and instead az a,taetin ~; sho,d