The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-20

TO enforce the principle hereafter IT, the contrary,
Great Britain should insist IN maintaining The colony IN
contempt of protest, II would become the duty OF
the Presdea to communicate the result TO Congress- with
the recommendation Tor The Adoption Of such measures
should be necessary enable him 10 vndicate our vio
lated rights not particular however, as 10 the form
OF the proceeding My great desire to meet the ques-
on fairly, aud assume whatever responsibility the conse
quenees may involve, and not beat disgraceul retreat
under shelter OF terrible threats in the event the offence
s repeated II we act with becoming discretion and
n,mness have no apprehension that the snforcement
oil our rights Will lead 10 hosies. Great Britain will
not be willing to engage in contest oi with
when she clearly the wrong. Sne has given bond
and security 10 keep the peace towards the United Sales
and she well knows that the condition OF forfeiture is
the loss OF her colonies and her expulsion forever from
the American continent. Firmness and prompt, unequv-
ocal action on our part the only mode preserv-
ing peace. Let the Bay Island colony be discontinued
aud let us free ourselves from entangng alliances by the
annulment OF the Clayton and Buwer treaty, and the
United States will assume the position entitled TO
among The nations OF the earth
Mr. President will trespass the kindness OF the Sem
ate longer have deemed due myself and the
cason TO make this exposition OF my views have availed
myself OF the earliest opportunity afforded by the
moya OF the injunction of secrecy plain my
tor opposing the ratification OF the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty | have contenled myself with indicating my
course, without assalng any one, calling ques
ton the conduct OF others return my thanks TO the
Senate Tor The Kindness and courtesy extended to me on
this occasion.
Mr. CASS Mr.. President, the honorable senator from
Illinois Mr.. DoUGLAsl has INDUCED in some pretty hard
Criticisms upon the terms oil resolution, and desire
TO show him and the Senate, trust can in few
ments, that they rather hypercrcisms, not at all
warranted by the tenor OF the resolution The honora-
Bile by saying that the terms Of this
resolution TeDqush the past and the present. and refer
only 10 the future because they existing rights
Doas the honorable senator TO violate existing
rights!
Mr. DOUGLAS. have answered empbaically, no.
Mr. CASS.- Then, why not say il in the resolution
1t . existing rights, not existing wrongs II Is
in The very words OF Mr. Polk used more ihan twenty
years alter Mr. Monroe proclaimed the doctrine, Yet
Mr. Polk very properly in his message saved existing
rgh mote siinVW Rut he moi
mean to sanction any violation OF this principle which
had previously occurred
Ii, therefore, the British government has established
colony in any part OF the continent in direct
ton OF this resolution and OF the Monroe doctrine, il is
existing wrong, and not an existing right and can
not shelter itself under any construction OF this Fesolu-
uon Ii secures 10 the British nothing more than their
rights and that is just what il purpors to do.
And what such rights the American people must
Judge upon that responsibility which they to the
world and 10 history when they come u make pract-
Cal application OF the principle, and required TO de-
eide whether colonial establishment right to be toll
Grated wrong to be redressed And this duty is one
which always devolves nations in their intercourse
with other powers OF the earth.
Now, ten, Great Britain has taken possession OF the
Bay Islands, and established colony there, which she
had right to establish, her existing rights there are not
affected, Tor she has Her wrongs make no rights
The whole subject is fully open for redress. Mr. Mon
very properly, Mr. Polk very properly, and this eso-
luton with equal lropnety, IN order to prevent any
charge OF unjust spirit OF asgrandzement on our part
by the nations OF Europe have said We do not inter-
ere with your existing rights, whatever they may be OF
the extent OF these we must Judge when the occasion
arises but we declalm aGy intention 10 interfere with
your cooaes-lo hold them, TO settle them. to main
them, just you pleasehese are existing rights
which do touch; bot # you have done us wrong
by establishing and holding colonies where you have no
rights, then intend to apply our American principle
and dlsiodge you from positions unjusiy taken"
rspea! Mr.. Pok's language, that the existing rights
Of every European nation should be respected Twenty
five years before his declaration the doctrine had been
proclaimed by Mr.. Monoe; but man then conended,
and Mr Polk dreamed, that this provision had
tive qeHp nd W
through period OF quarter OF century Ihe idea
never entered his mind.
The supposes If understand his construction
that such resolution this would wipe out all pre-
ceding acis. Why, sir, until you can convert wrong
iuto right, 1t wipes out nothing al all IL leaves US Just
as free pursue the course towards them which our
honor and interests demand, though passed no
resolutions al all
The principle is right, and do not understand. though
mus, confess do not clearly comprehend him, that the
from Illinois contests H. mean the principle of
maintaining that we, ms a principal power upon THIS
continent, have right to say that European influence
deny it at all You lay down principle. and when you
come 10 apply it, you Judge OF existing rights you Judge
OF the condition oi the colonies OF the European powers
upon this continent and, acting becomes an upright
nation If they have colonies they have fair right 10
hold, you ought not TO interfere with them
But If of them has established the colony of Bay
OF Islands in the very face OF rights and in the very
face OF existing treaties, that is not clam which is
saved by this resolution, but an unjust pretenson
which authorized TO remove and correct 10 be
sure, have already said, in judging such cases we
upon responsibility, and ought 40 to act as 10
be absoved from the charge of aggression and injustice
| Now, Mr. President the senator from Illinois says
there laying down the principle, Tor u VIII be
violated. Mr. Monroe thought II OF some use, and ac.
tuay laid down Mr. Polk thought II OF use, and also
LAID Il down. Mr.. Jefferson, in letter which have al
ready read the Senate, announced bis adhesion TO the
doctrine, and thought II very important u should be sol.
ply proclaimed by public national act. Where has
been in upon this grave subject
/ Precisely the one now sought TO be remeded by this
resolution, In 1873, when the doctrine was hrs pro-
nulged here resolutions introduced IN the House OF
Representatives by Mr. Clay and Mr. Poinseu, affirming
the doctrine in order to give II an authoritative influence
through the world. But il not done The matter
slept. Mr.. Polk sought the object An honorable
senator from Ohio Mr. Alenl also felt the necessity
OF action, and introduced resolution slmi
lar the present one But all these efforts were IN VAIN
The efficient prop TO support the building was wahung
Mr. Jefferson says expressly in letter which nave
fore me- that inasmuch the declaration mght lean 10
war proper that IL should be lad before congress
for lis sanction bat II was not done The doctfine-as
sound one a. any nalion proclamed-amost paced
into oblivion And now, in this new condnon OF the
world when God alone knows from day TO day whst con-
vuls,on ia about TO break out in Europe and the effect
will have upon us and upon the other American States,
,s proposed 10 put the doctrine authoritative form
and what right has the honorable senator 10 say that
This be done shall suffer il 70 be violated !
The honorable senator says the doctrine was violated
in the OF Oregon. say was not and say that the
honorable senator is under total msconception OF the
effect OF the treaty relating TO Oregon BY that treaty
Engl land extended her boundaries beyond what he and
thought che had ust claim to do. We believed she
had just title by four and halt degrees to the bound
AIRY she obtained but the American government sad,
your colony does to the forty ninth degree
OF north latitude That being the case, there was no