Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-03-19
REMARKS OF MR.. DOUGLAS,

Tn the Senate, Oh tie 10th March, 1853, on Cen
trail 1American 4fairs.
CENTRAL AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
The Senate resumed the consideration, of the
resolutions submitted on Monday by Mr.. Clayton.
Mr.. Douglas said he had nothing to 90 with
the matters in controversy between the senator
from Delaware and the Senator from MlcMgan-
the latter was absent and no ono VINO knew nm
had any doubt but he would at the proper time
defend himself Nor had he any thing to do with
the points in difference between the Senator and
the Committee of Foreign Relations from several
causes he had not had an opportunity to, attend
the meetings of that committee, nor even to read
their report. He would leave the chairman of that
committee to defend that report-a duty he was
perfectly capable of performing. He rose simply
to speak to point in his speech made some time
since, which had been commented on by the Sena-
tor from Delaware. In that speech he had ex-
pressed his approval and preference OF that poiey
which would have secured to the United States the
exclusive grant of right of way to the Pacific
across Nicaragua-the Senator was in favor of the
policy of making this partnership affair open to
the world In his speech he had expressed re-
.ret that the administration of Gen. Taylor had
withheld from the Senate the treaty negotiated by
Mr.. iIise; and this point the Senator had met by
stating the many objections to that treaty 1t was
said that that treaty was negotiated without IN
SLruCLlOllS. 1udG WAS COEIdlIlJ HO OOJSSIiOlA w
sending it to the Senate for ratification. The
treaty negotiated by Mr.. Bidlack, and cited by
the Senator as an authority to sustain him on
another point, was not withheld from the Senate,
nor rejected by it, be it negotiated with
out.
He understood the rule to be, that when treaty
was made without any authority to do so, the EX-
ecutive was at liberty to withhold it, and reject it
Internationally if he thought proper, or to send it
to the Senate if he should deem it advisable; but
where it was negotiated under Instructions there
was an implied obligation to send it to the Senate
for ratification.
The next objection was, that it was not approved
by Nicaragua This was true but why was it not
ratified by Nicaragua? In his speech he had shown
that it was not ratified there because of the nstruc
tons given to Mr. Squier to defeat and prevent the
ratification of any such treaty.
Mr.. Clayton asked if he understood the Senator
right, saying the treaty was not ratified by Nj
caragua because of Mr.. Squier's interference, and
that Squiers interference in consequence ofthe
instructions of the State Department!
Mr.. Douglass said the Senator understood him
correctly.
Mr.. Clayton said he would be glad if the Sena-
tor would point out those instructions.
Mr.. Douglas said that Mr.. Hise was sent to Nj
caragua by President Polk. He was removed by
the administration of Gen. Taylor and Mr.. Squier
appointed to supersede him. After his removal but
before he received any notification of it, he nego
tiated the treaty. In the instructions given to
Mr.. Squier when he was sent out to supersede Mr..
Hise he was directed to ask no exclusive right for
the United States; that the object of the Govern
ment was to secure no peculiar rights, no exclu-
sive privileges, no monopoly Of the commercial
channel to be opened to the Pacific. After in
structing him to negotiate treaty, the instruc-
tons directed that if such grant had been incau-
tiously or unadvsedly made before he reached
there, he was to endeavor to have that grant mo-
difed.
Mr.. Clayton said that the instructions read by the
Senator did not refer to treaty at ALL but to any
charter or grant made by Nicaragua to Individuals
giving them an exclusive wight.
Mr.. Douglas again read that portion of the in
structions.
Mr.. Clayton said that what the Senator had
read referred to any contract incautiously made
to individuals, &C., and not to any treaty by Mr.
Hise
Mr.. Douglas read further from the Instructions
He said the word used was nation-not to give
this exclusive grant charter to any nation mean
ing clearly, according to his Interpretation of them
that If MIR. Hise had obtained such an exclusive
grant for this nation, he, Squier was to have it
modified so as to make it open to the world. Such
was Mr.. Squier's construction of his instructions.
On his arrival there, or before he got there, he
notified the government of Nicaragua that Mr..
Hise had no authority to treat with it on the sub
ject; that he had been recalled, and that any
treaty negotiated by him would not be recognised
by the Government of the United States, and he
Immediately proceeded, upon his arrival there to
negotiate treaty in conformity with the views of
the Department contained in his instructions. bv
which the grant was to be secured on the plan of
partnership with the world.
Both treaties-the Hise and Squer treaties
were in the State Department when Congress met,
and the Department had the power and the right
to send either to the Senate for ratification They
were framed on different policies. The one gave
to the United States an exclusive right, the other
gave the United States right in partnership with
the world. The Secretary of State had the oppor-
tunity to adopt either policy. He did So He re-
Jected the one securing the exclusive grant, and
adopted the partnership plan. The Clayton and
Bulwer treaty had its origin in these proceed
ings.
Mr.. Clayton said if the Senator would only give
himself time to read the last paragraph of the in
strucaons he would see they do not refer to any
treaty but direct him to that any grant to in
dlvlduals should not be one which would place in
the hands of capitalists exclusive privilege, en-
aiding them to extort from the commerce of the
world which would seek that channel of communi-
cation unfair and unjust taxes, and such tolls and
charges as they might think proper to levy upon
1t. He would ask the Senator how he could have
supposed, when he issued the instructions to Mr.,
Squler, that Mr.. Hise had made such treaty.
when IN fact Mr.. Hise made his treaty some time
after that date How could he have supposed Mr..
atYn y