The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. y. M. MASON

~ l9th oil Apfil, lSao
Mr. MASON said Nj President. il is my desire to
make few remarks IA reply TO come OF the views ex
pressed BY the senator from Delaware: lMr CLAYros,l
in reference TO the subject OF debate beioe the senate
The last session. connected with the affairs OF Central
America and the treaty between ihe United States and
Great Britain 10 1850.
The treaty of 10th April, 1880. negotiated at Wash.
inxon and ratified by the Senate OF the United States
came back from England in the month Of June follow
ing having received thee The ratification OF ths British
government, and on the 4th OF July II was formally
published under the proclamation sf the President
thus becoming the supreme law OF the land We
are all aware that when the treaty before the
Senate, there was objection made 10 il, because IL
seemed to involve departure from the we'll ned
policy OF this government to avoid all foreign alliance
any alliance that might commit or eniangle US in the
management OF our external relations There found
in that treaty mutual engagement between the two gov
acknowledgement and the United Staes--stpu lating
for the mutual protection aud security and that extent
a mutual intervention in the affairs OF foreign powers
connected with projected canal through the republic OF
Nicaragua say that this provision Of the treaty caused
difference OF opinion in The Senate when il be-
fore as to the propety OF departing, even 10 that
tent from the existing and well established policy OF the
government But these objections were waived. and u-
tmately the treaty conciaed large voie because there
was further in it, what believe considered at the
time final extinction Of all claims and all pretensons
claim on the part oi the British government within the
country termed by the treaty "Ceniral America"
think am right in saying that those provisions in the
treaty concated objection and the result that
ratified by large vote
Things remained in that condition il being the general
impression of the country that whatever or pur-
poses Great Britain might have had upon the extended
coast Of Central America, they all renounced and
the contrary until during the last OF Congress-
when information came, not IN Official form, but in
manner which made pretty strong Impression upon the
country that somehow, in contravention OF the provisions
Of this treaty, Great Britain projected the establishment
il had not already established, colony within the lin
its OF Central America upon certain islands called the
Bay islands. On the 3oih OF December The Senate
adopted resolution calling upon the President TO
munica,e to the Senate II not incompatible with the pub
, ~ Infn IN ,f
ecuive in relation TO this projected colony The Pesi
dent replied TO that resolution due tme and informed
substantially that he had no information on the sub.
ecl, and that We had no diplomatic agent government
unctionarj OF any kind in that quarter from whom IN
formation could be derived. But with the message the
President unicated correspondence which had
ken place between the British minister at Washington
and he Secretary of State at the time the Publications OF
The treaty oil 1850 were exchanged. And lar as | am
informed. il was them for the first time, made known
that anything had been appended 10 that treaty. in any
manner connected with II. under the shadow of which
the government OF Great Britain might the right
10 continue lis Intervention It's dominion within the
limiu OF Central America.
A communication of such Transaction produced a
strong sensation in this body Ii made the occasion
OF an exeuded debate, and amongst others who parci-
pated in il were the honorable senator from Michigan,
tMr. CAss,l whose absence and the of that ab
sencs all regret, the honorable senator from Illinois,
(Mf DoUcLAs, and the honorable senator from Louis.
lana, Mr. SouLE There were others, believe, who
took part in The de bate with view to illustrate the char
acter of the correspondence and its bearing upon The sp.
uations OF the treaty. The subject referred TO the
Committee on Foreign Relations did not participate
nthe debate. did not do il for two first, be
cause had not sufficient Information 10 enable me 10
form judgment satisfactory 10 myself and secondly,
because the whole subject matter being before the Com
niliee on Foreign Relations. OF which was member,
Thought the matter ought TO be inquired into further be-
fore any opinion should be expressed upon H. The
mtee made its report the close OF the late session
That report was directed TO three points The frs,
the alleged colony Of the EBAY islands" and the
report informed the Senate, from the best information
within reach OF the committee, that these Bay islands,
five five .ss in nnmbsr % formed part Of The dominion Of
Honduras, being undoubtedly part oI Central Amer
ca, any attempt TO coonize those Islands would be in
contraven,ion OF the treaty The second point which
the report Of the committee directed upon
the questions connected with the British settlements
at the Belize and the report informed the Senate,
as the judgment OF The committee. that Great Britain
held no dorn'on at the Belize whatsoever that her pos
sessions there settlements, IN the character Of
useful domain, was Tally established by the trea
lies between Great Bnaia and Spain; that political
character whatever attached to the settlements nor
was there government there except for police regula
ton. Upon the question whether those British settle
ments al the Belize were not in Central Amer-
the committee informed the Senate that they had been
unable obtain information sufficiently precise TO deter
mine with certainty their exact geographic position.
But UPON the proofs before them, the committee enter
tanned strong opinion that they located within tbe
territory OF Guatemala, and in such case that they also
would constitute part OF Central America, and come
strictly within The renuncisons OF the treaty OF 1850
The third point taken in reference 10 the construc
ton that should be placed upon the correspondence be
tween the British minister and the Secretary OF State
the time OF the exchange OF the raucatons OF the treaty
The result OF The deliberaon OF the committee, shown
in their report, was, bsi the correspondence did nothing
than express the opinion o the executive de-
pament of the government that the treaty OF 1850 left
unaffected the existing rights OF the British al the Belize,
whatever they might be.
The honorable senator from Delaware, in his remar ks
the other day. understood hun, acquesced in all the
conclusions 10 which the committee in their report
except one and that was IN The opinion expressed by the
committee that The British settlements AT the Belize
IN Central America, and the honorable senator was
pleased express himself rather in manner OF antc
paed triumph He said:
u Join issue with the that poi and
prepared show the honorable senator (the chair
OF Fore Relstonsp by abundant authority
BRUSH settlements at the Belize Central Amer
tan" as.f ah
confess was somewhat surprised at the very decided
ooe OF the senator joining this issue The committee
had not assumed IT, The committee presented to the Sem
ate the best opinion they could iom upon the Of the
information before them. and they presented the question
~ he alternative, and in the alternative strictly II these
ssuemens are IN Central America, then OF any
"a Lson Ln o. bnhsh dominion there Will be IN violation
;y e e;msay u not then the treaty does not apply. The
@ on'te expressed as lis opinion that which now en-
s,, "' WIN guarded reference TO the slate oil s in
,. oi, 'ua hese settlements are in the republic of
oo...a, anu therefore In Central America I was
suf'seo ,ne very decided tone of the honorable sen
o ro s sSsle ~ u Joining issue with the committee
- ,, ~ 1 ~ because It was utterly inconsistent
the British mmlser--u,ey nconssen, IL, NV d.a
10 IT, '''e"s Lei US aoVeit
have said that the treaty Of ,sso 49,. -, -.
London with the ratification OF the B,,;ss aoa i'o"
SIR Henry H. Bulwet, who was Then iha sosein"'.n.
o. hnk'snd ~ tns country, preliminary to ,hs az