Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-03-23

~ The following remarks by Mr. Mason, OF
Virginia Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate, delivered on Monday last
will meet the cordial approval of the country:
The Senate resumed the consideration of MIR. Clay.
toms resolution calling the President for certain
correspondence connected with the Clayton and Bull
wer Treaty.
Mr.. MASON addressed tie Senate on the subject.
He referred to the history of the treaty. and the
recent report of the Committee Foreign Relations
respecting questions growing oui of lis construction,
and the conclusions at which the Committee arriv-
ed upon the subject. As to the question whether
the British settlements at the Belize are, not,
in Central America, tl.ey declared their best
judgments FROM the information before them, il was
fact that those settlements within the limits of
Central America, and, therefore, any attempt to
tend colonZation the part OF the British Govern
men would be In contravenon OF the treaty OF 1885,
The Senator from Delaware, Mr.. Clayton, acquiesced
in all the conclusions to which The Committee came,
save the above stated, and in Of antic-
Pated triumph, said in effect, join issue with sthe
Committee, and am prepared TO show that the Brit
sh settlements the Belize in Central Amer
ica, but in Mexico, in the province of Yucatan. He
was surprised al the decided of the Senator the
Committee having presented the question in alter
native stric,ly-if those possessions within Cen
trail America, then the extension of British domain
there is in violation Of the treay-if not the treat
will not apply it. He surprised at the Sena.
tor joining issue with the Committee Foreign
Relations, because it was utterly inconsistent with
the letter which the Senator, Secretary Of State,
wrote 10 the British Minister. Then he refused TO
make the admission which he now does, viz that
the Honduras settlement is not in Central America.
Mr.. Mason referred 10 various maps, making comment
upon them to show the British settlements within
Guatemala, and that Guatemala claims the territory.
For the present, thee.re, until he should be further
informed he should claim that the British settlement
is in that Republic State. He should rely on ua.
lema!a himself and lake it prma aeie Great
Britain is not 10 colonZe greater authority
than she had when the treaty was made. 1t was due
to Guatemala shat she should believe the British pos
sessions are in her territory, When the question
comes up as to the United SIaes and Great Britain,
We must answer il then. Looking exclusively to the
interests of this country, the Government of Great
Britain is 10 be held absolutely and uhquali6edly to
every engagement in the treaty in relation to Central
America. Peace between England and our coun.
try, above all others, is 10 be preferred, but the
sacrifice of National safety and National honor That
statesman or that man who would precipilaie his
country in war recklessly or rashly, any misa.
ken opinion, deserves TO 60 down 10 posierly with
execraicn, and the statesman man " no would sac.
rihce The national honor safety from any fear OF
war, would go down 10 Poserily with a deeper exc.
Grafton. Ii other nations permit Eng land to seize on
their territory, be II SO, but this continent she has
gone as far as she CAM 10 preserve peace. He made
no charge of bad faith against England for violation
OF the treaty, because he had such informa
but jest SO certain as the seasons RETURN and the
earth revolves In her orbit, this continent, and the
whole Of it, far as the welfare and safety of the
United States concerned. must be free from furh.
er British aggression.