Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-08

spei icy Is to the date but think as far back
as made treaty with Spain by which she acquired
the p> Ina rsht 10 cut logwood and other privileges
conne4 With 1 IN he territory Of Honduras; and she
has fo very ng time exercised jurisdiction over
tain OF that territory, although according to my
recol thai would not be strictly authorized by the
tSeatyef the tight limited the privilege Of cut
ting od an ether woods Of that description This
suldeo nnar consideration, and somewhat discussed,
WI suol vas raised upon an application made
hefe NJ aid md assistance TO Yucatan, inarevouton
which veop y that State were carrying on.
ElA put tese suggestions to the consideration OF
gent6 more or the purpose of getting them to reflect
upon than If indicating any opinion which enter
tainf vii ay that the question upon my own mind
WA r n treaty with Spain, to which referred,
could side ed in the absence of oil reference to it
in 0Qt V with Great Britain, to be abrogated. That
waa M - tficulties about the treaty Of 1850 which
opes114 qn ny mind, because ! knew these historical
fa0Uy9 Nj sulpose many other gentlemen knew them
too ppose then, that the question would arise whe-
ther ~ kerms of this treaty abrogated the
treaty &}e between Spain md Ensaad But sr. Iwil]
not enter upon that question have thought that u
much as have said ought 60 out with the suggestions
made by the gentlemen who have brought this topic be-
fore the Senate. leave it fer the presents but shall
be quite willing 20 far as am concerned to have 1t dis
cussed, for freely admit that have not been without
some anxiety il regard to it.
\ Mr. CHASE Mr. President remember very well the
great embarrassment which felt by many Senator'S in
voting Cor this treaty when il originally presented
and recoect also, with perfect distnctness that my
friend from Michigan Mr. CAss said at the time he voted
for its ratification upon the sole ground that it excluded
all pretence for future English interference in Central
America The covenants Of the treaty are indeed ex-
pressed in the broadcast language possible Neither party
to occupy or fortify colonize assume any do
mnion over Nicaragua Costa Rca, the Musquito coast,
or any part of Central America" Now for the purpose
Of showing what the British authorities at that time con-
ceived be included within the limits of Central Ameri
ca, wish to read an extract from work which have
bafor J< - publish in
don in 1851, work Of very high authority It's descrp-
tion of Central America is in these words:
Central America is The long and comparatively
region between latitude and 22o north and longitude So
and 94o west connecting continents of North and South
America and comprising besides the Central American Con-
federation, Yucaan pats Of Mexico and New Granada
Poyais, the Mosquito cost, and British Honduras.
That is the description which eminent British
thory furnishes to Of Central America That is the
description which we lad right believe intended
by this treaty when twas presented to the Senate Now
sir, am perfectly fee to say for one that doubling
greatly did at tie time the expediency Of the rat
cation, should never have voted for it had supposed
that any secret construction put upon IT, irreconc
able with the obvious import Of its language Ii would
have been impossible in my judgment to have secured
its ratification had lis language conveyed the which
the private interpretation of Mr. Clayons letter puts
upon it. Indeed doubt whether any Senator would
have voted for the ratification had it been supposed that
at the very time the treaty under consideration here
correspondence in progress of which the Senate was
structon Of the treaty, by imposing upon its terms
quite different from their natural and obvious i'm
port quite content however, to acquiesce in the
suggestion of the Senator from Massachusetts,, (Mr.
DAVIS and permit the subject to 60 for the
Mr. WELLER. ! suppose that this debate will be
tnued desire myself say few words upon this sub
jeci and LIDO not propose TO them Ihaye been
asonshed at the remarks made by my friend from Lou
siana CIR. DowSs, who seems to be very much surpris
ed at the pursued by Mr. Clayton upon this sub
ject am astonshed to hear him say he surprised
at any thing, however stupid that might be done by the
late Secretary of State, Mr. Clayton, for knew
him have any connexion with any public affair in which
he did net show himself to be excessively stupid say
the least.
Mr.. CASS The honorable Senator will allow me to
say word with respect to myself which is this land
il is conrmatory Of the statement made by the honora
Bile Senator from Louisiana y the Senate per-
haps that great majority Of both parties consulted
in the progress Of the treaty So far my understand
ing goes Mr.. Clayton spoke to me the subject do
not know but that the rough draft of il. My
derstanding certainly that the treaty put end to
all questions of jurisdiction the part Of Great Britain
Central America agree fully with the Senator as to
that We were consulted, and that our view.
Here the conversation dropped