The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-01-21
THE CLAYTON AND BULWERTREATY.

THE CLAYTON AND BULWER TREATY
An attempt has been made by portion OF
the opposition to cast ccnsurc upon Hon
John NJ. Clayton, Secretary of State unde
Gen. Taylor, in reference to the Clayton AM
Bulwcr Treaty; by charging that he had mis-
represented its conditions in order to procure
its ratification by the Senate Of the Unitet
States. 1t has recently been under discussion
in the United States Senate, and the Wash
in.ton correspondent Of the Charleston
Courier gives the following outline Of the
business. 1t will b. seen that Mr.. King
between whose statements and Mr.. Clayton''
there WAS some Discrepancy, cxhonorncs thu
latter from all attempts at duplicity or mis-
representation.
The Clayton Bulwer treaty was ratified by
the Senate on the 10Th April, 1850. IT.
ostcnsiblc object was to protect the Nicaragua
Canal route, rs route open to the commerce
of all nations, in war us well as in peace
both governments guaranteeing its neutrality
and security, and to this end both binding
themselves not to occupy, fortify. or colonize
or exercise any dominion over any part OF
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Musquito State
or any part Of Central America.
But while the treaty was under negotiation,
Mr.. Clayton consulted many senators in re.
gard TO it, and, according to the statements
of Senators Soulc, Downs, and offers, repre-
scented the treaty rs divesting England of all
her cluin,s and prctensions in Central Ameri-
ca. lie even explained that, if the terms of
the treaty were not explicit on this point, it
was from Difference to the sensbilities of the
British minister, who must not be- made to
appear to Yield or surrender any British rights
or possessions. The Senate ratified the
treaty; some upon the supposi.ion that, to use
Senator Duwn's words, ut excluded Great
Britain from every part Of Central America,
Honduras, and all" and others with the full
knowledge that it did not cmbrsce British
Honduras. Though the Balize is geographi.
cally in Central America, yet it is two miles
from the route of the Nicaragua canal, and
the British occupancy Of the place is Of nearly
two centuries date.
The British Minister, it is supposed, OBJ
tanned some knowledge Of " hat had passed
in the Senate when the treaty was discussed
and was led to suspect that it would be con.
sidcred by the United States Government rs
u surrender of the British claim to Honduras
Accordingly, the Treaty caue back from the
British Government with ratification cOndi
tional upon the understanding that the pro
visions of the treaty did not extend to thu
British settlements ut Honduras or to its de-
Tendencies. The British Minister submitted
this declaration in y formal note. Mr.. Clay
ton consulted Mr.. King, rs Chairman of The
Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Senate
and was told by him that the additional con-
d,ion proposed by the British Government
would not oLtain a single vote in the Senate
Mr. Clayton, in order to save the treaty, &C
ccptcd the condition, and thus, on the Att
July, 1850, the Publications were exchanged
subject to the British declaration respectin.
their rights in Honduras.
Mr. Bragg's note in the Tntclligcnccr, OK
plains fully the apparent discrepancy between
Mr.. Kings note of 4th July, 1850, to Mr.
Clayton, and his recent statement to Genera
Cass.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l3.
The discussion of the subject of the Clay
WI aHu Oul"eI tIe"ty H"S ocSh Sohti"uce
for several days in the Senate, and appears tc
have resulted in the clear understanding o.
the subject, in the same manner in which eacl
party I'd the question originally understood it
1t has changed the opinion Of no one. Mr.
Clayton, SO far as he was concerned, is vindi
Gated by the manly note addressed by Mr.
King to Mr.. Pierce, and read in the Senate
yesterday, as follows: "Colonel King desires
Mr.. Pierce to say in the Senate that it has no
been his desire or intention, in any thin!
which he has been represented as saying il
reference to the Clayton and Bulwcr treaty
to cast the slightest imputation on Mr.. J. NJ
Clayton in reference 10 that matter; on tn
contrary, he desires to do Mr.. Clayton tn
Justice TO say that he is convinced that, il
every thing connected with that treaty, HI
(Mr. c. was actuated by patriotic anxiet
to protect the rights and interests of hi
country. Colonel King feels mortified tina
my thing said by him under misapprehen
sion of the facts of the case should have becI
made the basis for unjust reflections on MI
Clayton"