Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-15
DEBATE In THE SENATE.
BRITISH COLONY IN CENTRAL AMERIc.
WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY u, 1853.

The personal explanations touching the under,
standing of Senator's relative to the Clayton and
Bulwer Treaty were resumed to-day by Mr. SoULE
who addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr. SoULE said When the other day this debate was
suspended was about TO state what had
ranspred IN Executive session upon the ratification OF
the Clayton and Buwer treaty But thought it due to
myself not proceed do so until had ascertaned the
sense Of the Senate to the proprey of my abiding
any thing that might pertain to secret proceedings
and the sensbty which has been evinced since then in
reference this subject has but confirmed in the idea
that there wisdom in the thought pro-
per to pursue. did not apprehend, indeed that any
very serious consequence might result from such dis
closure for in this, as in most other INSTANCES it Will
ever be found that what is kept most secret is when d
vuged hardly worth the honors Of mystery And still it
due perhaps to those who voted like me- in favor Of
the treaty that the which governed their votes
should 60 forth to the country.
stated on Monday last what scruples had induced me
to be somewhat dissatisfied with the wording of the trea
ty, when it first presented informally to my consider
aton and how those scruples had been met answered
and removed yet the assurances given and my
associates that occasion could not diyest me OF all
anxiety concerning it; and though reposed the most
unbounded confidence in the discretion and OF the
then chairman of the Committee Foreign Relations,
mr. KING could not resist the temptation of calling
again his attention TO the questionable provisions of that
treaty. met him at his quarters but few minutes af
ter interview which he had had with Mr.. Clayton and
he but renewed the assurances which he had formerly
given in relation to the same.
When the treaty before the Senate for ratification
| and stated in debate the difficulties and doubts
which had arisen in my mind on this point; and though
had determined to be guided in the vote which was
about to gve-beng myself comparatively young Sena-
torby the which those whose wisdom and expe-
rience were far above mine should pursue, felt unwi
ling to keep back from the Senate the ominous impress
sions under which lahored: and well raeoLoot that
when had done thus, expressing my doubts and appre
tensions, distinguished Senator from the South
longer Of this body somewhat abruptly remarked that he
had Of
the treaty But assurances again renewed, that
what of obscurty might still remain in the obnoxious
cie meant merely protection to the keen sensi
bies of the British negotaor and that the treaty
understood absolutely putting end to all pretensons
of jurisdiction of supremacy by England any part Of
Central America. Ii under the prompngs of such
assurances that gave my vote in favor the treaty and
sure did those who voted with me- If there be
Senator this floor who voted for the treaty under the
impression that it did relieve the whole of Central
America from foreign jurisdiction and control let him stand
up and speak forth am ready to yield him the floor.
have seen IN the newspapers published in this city
correspondence between Mr. King and Secretary Clayton
which is deemed by implying discrepancy be-
tween the views expressed by Mr. King in his letter and
the statements made by the Senators who have spoken on
this side of the question do not SO understand IT, II
was Ipresume fully understood when the treaty was I'M
der consideration that its did refer to or inter
fere with the cnse-for that is the proper term
held by Great Britain to cut logwood at Belize and Mr.
King IN his letter. could have meant than
ference this precarous right exercised by English sub
ects certain portions Of the territory Of Honduras
Mr.. King by ntimates that any claim to do
inion which Great Britain might UP over any part of
Honduras excluded from the provisions of the treaty
the contrary he expressly warns Mr. CLAYTON against
the admission Of any such right in the British Crown In
word Mr. Kings letter was nothing than an ac-
acknowledgement that the precariou right have alluded to
was IN no way affected by the provisions Of the treaty
1t is worthy Of remark and took occasion to advert
the fact the other day. that the first manifestations
can discover ofsany scruple entertained By the British
negotaor to the import Of the treaty should have
exhibited themselves until two months had elapsed since
its ratification by the Senate Ii was not until Lord Pal
merston had pondered it. and discovered most likely
that its terms did not tally exactly with his own sent
ments and wishes in reference ii, that Mr.. Buwer
deemed an explanation Of its meaning necessary Why
this anxiety if the language used was expressive Of the
intentions of the parties Where the necessity Of any re-
servaon for the British Honduras if il was not COM
prsed within the terms Of exclusion We have here the
best proof that Lord Pamerson himself have judged
that the treaty affected the preensions to dominion
the part Of England over part Of Honduras for there
cnnd haze been any to demonstrate
to what meaning it should have in that particular con-
nexon The fact is that Lord Palmerston forgetting
what peculiar features characterize our Government in
It's eonneXon with this body. and supposng that our
Minister a State possessed Of powers unknown TO
constitution but the Of which in other coun-
tries, IS not unusual may have INDUCED hope of
efectng by what in diplomatic parance is called pro-
toco such notifications in the treaty might reach his
views Of what the treaty should have been But who
amongst to be told that the informal action of the
two Minister'S clothed though il comes to US with the
artificial importance seemingly attached to by the Ex
ecutive has not the weight Of feather in determining
the sense in which il should be taken?
But admitting for momentthat whatever pretensons
70 dominion Great Britain might up over any part Of
Honduras in terms excluded from the operations of
the treaty the question still remains what those rights
be which not thus renowned We have heard much
Of late about fibustiering and maraudng We will find
in connection with the subject before us striking exam
pie of what be made out in time Of an expedition
originating with handful Of buccaneers.
As early 1912 find party Of English freebooters
operating descent upon Roatan and the other neighbor
ing islands They TO have anticipated what the his
toran Juarros writes Of the importance Of their position
They we're, says he, exceedingly advantageous to them
the eebooter and proporonably injurious the Span
ard because being the main land they enabled
to make their descens whenever they pleased and with equal
facility interrupt the between the kingdom Of
temala and Spain"
In 1850 the Spanish regained possession of the islands
but found them waste and in that condition they
NAMED until precisely hundred years after the first
attempt have just alluded to- We actually find England
in l142 anxious possess herself Central America sez
ing on the most important points ofthat contnensuch
Truxo on the coast and Roaan group that stud
the Bay Of Honduras This the ire Of SPAIN as proud
then as she Is al this day but somewhat more able to
command and impose respect War ensues which ends
in the treaty Of 1852 in which is to be found this pro-
vision:
His Britannia Majesty shall cause "a h. ds;bsd an b
Publications which his subjects have erected In the Bav az
Honduras and other places Of the territory or spain In thai
part Of the world within four month"; &C.
But Spain soon discovered that in yiostio, 90 - -
pict clause in the treaty Great Britain continued n
the occupancy Of Roaan and Of the works erected on
tain points Of the bay In 7ls war Is renewed and
temaa succeeds in resuming possession Of Roaan Tho
treaty Of peace concluded in IsS apparently makes es-
pecal reference to these islands for BY one Of ts
sons England agrees TO abandon the continent and an
islands wharey dependant upon ~ Yet even this provi
sion is eyaded by England and in 1885, SPAIN insisting