The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-12

treaty which he thinks conclusive that had nothing
10 do WIN central America al all and that is that 10
the preamble which he read IL is stated that ths object
OF ihe treaty was to negotiate about age through
the ishmus. Now, Mr. President | did moi know he
fore that the title OF bill that preamble Of treaty
was TO give the construction 10 that bull treaty. es
pecay il there other provisions in the bill treaty
beyond or different from the title preamble But II the
gentleman had read the whole OF treaty. the
very hrs arclethe hrst sentence, which contains the
ilfsl great idea OF the treatyhe would have found that
there great deal embraced in the treaty besides the
negotiation in regard 10 the passage through the 18th
mus. will read that portion which both the gentlemen.
with all their research took good care not 10 read The
nrst article OF the treaty is as follows: a.a
"The OF the United States and Great Brita
hereby declare that neither the the other will
ons,h Or ad'an os ss any Exclusive % control over he
maintain any Qualifications commanding the in the
any dominion over Nicaragua Costa Rica tue
Mosquito coast, part OF Central America; will
may Afford any alliance which either has may have,
70 or with any SAFE people, for purpose of erecting
oIyns OF aSlonzas s Nssrsxns. cs & d. Mo-
quito coast any part OF Genital America.
or exercising dominion the will the United
States or Great Britain take advantage of any intimacy,
possss with any state or government through whose
Tory the SAID canal may pass, for the OF acquiring
jecs Of the one. any rights advantages in regard 70
nece or navigation through the said canal which shall
bo offered on the the citizens subjects
the other"
The senator from Maryland has enumerated these
different Stales which he embraced in Cen
them only. But here these States enumerated and
then the general words "Any part of Central America
added Is not that broad enough The whole
including British Honduras, especially when it is proved
by British authority. quoted by the honorable senator
from Ohio Mr. CHAsE the other day, 10 be included in
the term Central America would ask the gentleman
to explain what is meant by the words "any part OF
Central America, after enumeatng several States if it
was not meant to apply to these several possessions
must understand language the world generally under
standsit it. shall not go into minute analysis OF what
is meant by political or geographical Central America,
or anything OF that kind. take the plain import OF the
language and ask not the construction of the SEN
ate and OF all parties, al the tme that these words
intended 10 embrace the whole OF Central America, in
cludng British Honduras always supposed that they
had some meaning in them. and intended to have
some meaning otherwise the great object of the treaty
was lost .E
know that memory is fallble and that am as liable
as any to be mistaken in the recollection of facts
But the circumstances under which this treaty made
were brought before me in such TO impress them
peculiarly upon my mind. The treaty not communi-
Gated TO me for the fret time after it formed and
10 be ratified; but when it was under negotiation, Mr.
Clayton himself brough, the projet OF it, with all his maps
and his explanations, and showed il to me. he did to
many other senators, he wished TO be assured that
everything was right. This very natural There
was democratic majority in the Senate He knew that
we were more careful than the wings any question
atng cessons of territory and other queslions
and 1t natural that he should consult the democr
members OF the Senate In regard to the treaty. | was
consulted before the treaty was signed. Some verbal
suggestions made and | recoect distinctly now ,
" Central America" the question with me was whether
It did embrace all do not pretend TO give the precise
words that passed between but recollect distinctly
that, after hearing Mr. Cayton's explanations, my mind
satisfied that subject and voted for the treaty
Let the gentlemen then not take the preamble but let
them take the treaty and look at H. think that justhes
me IN the expression of asonshment which made the
other day in regard to construction OF the treaty diff
feren from that which was understood at the time.
MIR. PEARCE. was one OF those who did not hear
the remark made by the senator from louisiana the other
day. Ny only knowledge OF them is derived from the
newspapers. found in them the report OF his speech
and in that report referring to the letters OF Mr. Clayton
and Sir Henry Bulwer, he said
BY examining II they will that there is very
probability that Mr. Clayton acted in this his
authority with consulting the President the
cabinet"
And then found that, assuming as a fact what before
he had only inferred he said 'Why dd he not consult
with the President p In answer 10 that assumption oil
the senator, stated that authorized to say he
had conferred with the President and with The cabinet
and might have added as do now, that Mr. Clayton
informs that his course had the approval of every
of Them That is derived from British authority
What the senator meant by British authorities to which
have more than himself, know not / have
intercourse with British authorities; the honor
of acquanance with the British minister But know
what authorities have had access TO, and they just
such that senator might have referred to- II had been
his pleasure TO consult the Congressional Library. They
documents published by the government volumes OF
the stautes the publications OF the day; official letters
communicated Congress by the President and works
standard authority, whether printed in England else
where. Sir do not know tina, have any affection
of bflurH or IOI tne bfithD government
than any other senator in this body Perhaps, indeed,
have much any ee for bitter prejudice
against Britain and the British need not alude further
10 my personal history for the purpose OF enforcing this
remark. But will say thai have other feelings than
those OF loyal American, and that yield 10 senator
IN the purity and fervor of my devotion 10 my country
IL is very true that did read the section OF the
treaty 10 which the senator from Louisiana has referred,
bat believe it read by the senator from New York
IL was unnecessary for 10 read IT, because alluded dis
ncty 10 that very language upon which the senator bases
mis- argument, and undertook 10 show that its
ng is different from that which he gives TO IT, suppose,
IN all diplomatic negotiations, IN all political con
sizes, when speak OF the divisions of the earth
speak OF political divisions unless something appears
the contrary. | said that there political division
called Central America which bad been united federal
government, under that ttle which included the five
States which enumerated, and ] stated that II to
that Central America that The treaty referred and only
that certainly never supposed at the lime the treaty
was ratified that the object to expel the British from
any possessions which they had in America. do no,
pretend to sit judgment upon those who thought other
wise Every senator s welcome 10 think he pleases
The senator from Louisiana his recollection with
DOT any responsibility IA mine without any
responsibility to him. But believe that the Argument is
with me-that political Central America is that which
meant; and that this is confirmed by the
meralion OF the two subdivisions OF that political arrange
ment mentioned In the first article.
The senator from Michigan referred, by way OF illus
tration, 10 Germany and the German empire But do
know that there difference between the bounda
rcs oil Germany and the German empire The political
divisions OF the German empire. about forty IN number,
form all Germany geographically considered The case
supposed not at all parallel with that oi Central Amer
lea And so Italy, though geographically one country s
40 politically, being divided into several Sta es and
Kingdoms in nowise connected by alliance political
socation So that could not speak Of Italy polit