The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-22

Il frecluded from the present publication OF
Mr.. CLAYToN's speech by the length to which
the report of the Gardiner trial daily extends
we may usefully bring together, in condensed
shape, some of the most important points that
entered into the honorable Senator's remarks
Apart from the personal considerations which
formed the basis of the speech. and gave rise to
Mr.. CLAYToN's triumphant vindication of his
own policy as Secretary of State, there are
some topics on which his statements possess
historical interest and value, more especially
as correcting the errors and msrepresenta-
tons which characterized much of the SEN
atorial debates during the late session. For
all personal purposes, perhaps, the report Of
MIR. MAsoN's committee may have been con-
sidered sufficient A tribunal selected by those
who had assailed Mr.. CLAYTON, its verdict, as
found in its report, rebuts substantially all that
had been alleged against him in the premises.
We refer to what he said, therefore, only with
the view of exhibiting in small compass the
/ true side of questions which political charla
tanism has more particularly marked as its own.
We speak to-day of the Balize and the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty. .-@'
In regard to the settlements at Balize, Mr..
CLAYTON demonstrated the accuracy of the
ground occupied by the Wings as against the
pretensons put forward two or three months
ago by Mr.. SoULE and his friends. The posi-
ton occupied by Mr.. MAsoN's committee is
that ''the boundaries allotted to the British
settlements on the Balize lie altogether within
the territory of the republic of Guatemala"
This position Mr.. CLAYTON proved is utterly
erroneous, whether considered politically, geo
graphically, or historically; the truth being
that the settlements were part of Yucatan,
| and never formed portion of what is properly
denominated Central America. The authori-
ties cited by the committee in support of their
opinion fail them on thorough examination, as,
for instance, Captain BoNNYcAsTLB's ssSpan-
ish America" and maps issued by the gov
eminent of Guatemala. Leaving out of
view the British writers, the American,
French, and Spanish geographers, having
no possible interest in misstating the matter,
all concur in admitting that British Honduras
lies in Yucatan. The admissions of Guatema-
la herself prove the same thing; and the course
pursued by Mr.. Polk and Mr.. BUCHANAN, in
appointing consul to the Balize, is conclusive
as to their opinion in reference to the source
and character of the British title Amongst
the collateral evidence adduced by Mr..
CLAYTON Is the circumstance that at the
time when Britain obtained a confirmation
of her title her relationship to Guatemala
was exactly similar to that with Mexico.
Both had revolted from Spain, and both had
been recognised and favored by Britain. The
presumption is that at that period Guatemala
would have readily granted the confirmation
desired. had she possessed the rightful author
ity. The archives, however, not only of Mex
leo but of Guatemala, placed the fact beyond
doubt that the settlements in question were in
Yucatan. Taking the whole chain of evidence
upon this point into consideration, it is impossi-
bic to avoid conclusion which is the reverse
of fiattering to the intelligence or candor of
Senators who labored in January to manufac-
ture an excuse for their fulminations against
the alleged s'imbecility" of a Wing admins
| tration. Either the Senators who wasted pa
triotic defamation on that occasion were Who'll
ly and inexcusably ignorant upon the subject Of
which they spoke, or they chose for tactious
purposes to PROFOUND propositions which they
knew to be at variance with fact
The provisions of the Treaty between this
country and Britain which Mr.. CLAYTON
more especially noticed are those which re-
late to the construction of canal across the
Isthmus by the joint efforts of the two powers.
AS far back as March, 1885, the subject of an
interoceanic communication between the At
lantlc and Pacific occupied the attention Of the
Senate; and the principle then suggested has
| since governed the negotiations of the Ameri-
can Government, irrespective of party. Gene
raj JACKSON approved of it, and G. Biddle,
whom he sent to Nicaragua to make in
quirles concerning it-but who disobeyed in
ssructions and never went there-procured
from New Granada an exclusive grant of the
right of way across the lsthmus, subject, how
ever, to conditions that would have Injured to
the sole benefit of Biddle, and others who were
to be associated with him. General JACKSON
disavowed the arrangement, and went out of
Office before better one could be effected.
Again, in 1915, Mr.. WHEATON, in a despatch,
reaffirmed the view expressed by Presidents
ADAMS and JACKSON, that the benefits of the
proposed canal Sought not to be exclusively
appropriated to any one nation" In l847 Pre-
sldent Polk carried the principle into practical
execution by the treaty which was negotiated
with New Granada. In the message commu
nlcating that treaty to the Senate he denied
the policy of obtaining an exclusive grant Of
the right of way, and vindicated the principle
OF opening the communication to all nations on
the same terms. The treaty thus recommended
was confirmed by the Senate by vote of &c
to + every Democratic Senator of that day
voting for it, Mr.. HIsE's treaty with Nicara.
qua, of which Senator DOUGLAS is enamored
was, then, in direct opposition to the principle
previously affirmed by both branches of Con
gress, sanctioned by Presidents JACKSON ant
Polk, and finally confirmed in l847 by every
Democrat then in the Senate. Senator DoUG
LAS, therefore, is more strait than the straites
of his party, or forgetful of antecedents which