Washington sentinel., 1854-01-12

Mr.. SEWARD presented two petitions which
We're appropriately referred.
cLAYToN-BuLwERT TREATY.
On motion by Mr.. BRIGHT the prior orders
We're postponed, and the Senate resumed the con-
sderation OF The motion 10 refer 10 the Committee
on foreign Relations, the message of the Presi-
dents scommunicatingcertai correspondence rela-
i've 10 the Clayton and Bulwer treaty.
Mr.. CASS said thai at the special session Of the
senate In March last after his departure from the
cty an extended discussion took place in rela-
tion 10 what is known as the Clayton -Bulwer
treaty. Ills views and course were so much mis-
Understood and misrepresented, that he con-
sidered he owed II 10 himself TO contradict and
correst much that was then said. Besides the per-
sonar interests which he had in establishing the
flruth with regard 10 his own position, recent dis
closures mad gwen the whole subject matter OF
that treaty additional importance.
lie called the recollection of the Senate 10 the
iacts o. the natter that during the last session he
oHered resolution calling for all correspondence
on ihe subject OF The treaty this resolution was
answered, and among the papers sent in was one
containing the startling fact, before unknown TO
the Senate that in exchanging the ratiiicatons OF
mat treaty the British government did so upon
The express condition that British Honduras and
ITS dependencies, We're not 10 be regarded as part
OF central America, and that this restriction upon
the terms OF The treaty was acceded 10 by the ex-
ecutive ofthe United States
lie claimed that he had most unquestonably,
as senator, and as one who voted for the treaty,
Inc right 10 discuss in courteous manner a oues-
uon OF this Importance. He had done so. He
mad voted for the treaty because he thought il
would Danish British power from Central America.
While other democratic senators, particularly the
senator from Indiana, mr. BRIGHTJ predicted
otherwise. Time had put the seal of truth on his
friends iorebodings. He (Mr. Co. voted for the
treaty because, after considerable consultation
with the senator from Delaware, then Secretary
OF State, he was satisfied that it was intended to
exclude forever British influence from Central
America Though II fell short of the Monroe doc
trine still, If he could not get the open avowal OF
that doctrine, he would take the next best 10 it,
II the treaty Jailed 10 accomplish what il was in
tended 10, the fault was not in those who voted
Tor the ratification OF the treaty upon the faith of
its expressed engagements
MI y then referred TO remarks heretofore made
py Mr. Walker and MIR. Sonle in which his un-
derstandng OF the treaty at the time il was before
the Senate, and its meaning, as then explained by
MT. Secretary CLAYTON, were fully sustained. He
corrected the remarks ofthe Senator from Della
ware IN several instances, wherein he professed
TO quote the former speech by him (Mr. CAss) on
this subject and proceeded at great length TO ex-
plain what he did say, and to sustain il as he had
actually stated it. He maintained that the quasi
or conditional ratification of the treaty by Great
Britain ought TO have been sent to the Senate for
It's action ,hereon before being acceded TO by the
executive.
He regarded that the terms on which this con-
dltlonal ratification assented to by the United
States as not changing its nature at oil, and he
entered INTO critical examination Of the various
letters, Sc., which passed between the parties on
the subject, and maintained that this conditional
ratification did alter, and seriously too the treaty
Itself The treaty embraced Central America, and
the Secretary OF State had no right by his own
act TO settle any question arising as to the extent
OF that term. The treaty on the statute book en-
braces in its engagements Central America"
in ha r,fixtk al aotc
ration that Honduras and its dependencies are not
within its stpuaiions.
He commented upon the remarks Of the Sena-
tor from Delaware, as 10 what occurred between
him and Mr.. King, who at that time was chairman
OF the Committee on Foreign Relations in the Sen
ate, and repeated the declarations made by him
during The last session upon this point.
He then proceeded to show that the government
OF Great Britain thought that the treaty upon its
face would exclude Great Britain from all Central
America and therefore it was necessary TO except
from It's engagements Honduras and its depend
encles, and quoted at length from Lord Clarendon,
Mr. Harding, and other authorities.
He examined the history of the British claims to
possessionsin in Central America, and quoted copi-
ously from various documents.
Mr. Q. spoke over two hours and a half in an
earnest and rapid manner We make no attempt
to give even an outline of his remarks, which were
lnterspersed with repeated and sometimes lengthy
quotations.
Mr. CLAYTON then obtained the floor, and the
subject was postponed till tomorrow.
Alter brief executive session,
The Senate adjourned.