The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-13
CITY OF WASHINGTON. FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY 49, 1854

whicn they had nothing to do, and about whch they
probably cared little Why the Secretary started
stitntona point respecting the divided functions OF
government ia correspondence with foreign minister,
a. inc momen. he assenis 70 his application s what
am unable TO conjecture. presume Sir Henry Bulwer.
after completing the exchange Of ralhcations, was per-
fecly willing 10 permit TO settle the question in
own way
But sir there was an alteration, and serious one.
made IN this treaty. by the rider annexed 10 it, quite
for the purposes OF England as II had been IN
serted in its stpulations That instrument embraced
Central America and the ratification Of the Senate
ereu mat region IL question respecting lls ex.
tent what right had the Secretary OF State to settle by
MS own ACT and 10 except from the engagements OF the
treaty an extensive and important section OF the
try! BY the acceptance OF the conditional rafcation
and oy in IL the Executive added this re-
strcve clause to the treaty eHectually far the
claims ot England concerned, il ii had made part
OF its PROVISIONS, in this formal manner PreDdsd thai
the ssz&gsmss of this cosrention shall apply 70 IA
British ssiemeui a Honduras, iG dependencies
There no denying explaining away this inevitable
consequence OF executive interference. question
arises to the territorial extent OF the obligations of
treaty. should be adjusted by negotiation. and not by
perempory concession on the part OF the Secretary OF
State before its PRONUNCIATION, and independent OF the
action of the Senate. Here is treaty statute
books whose engagements" upon its face extend to all
Central America; but locked up among the executive
archives is declaration that Honduras and its dependen
cies Ia most prolific and uncertain term, said last
session, and as events have since shown) are not with
in the s,pulatoDs OF the treaty. II controversy
should arise between individuals involving this ques
ton, wha! curious subject would this state OF things
present for judicial action What would be thought of
the proceeding should cesslon OF country by be
made the United Sates and The treaty be thus ra
6a sy bs Ssns saa hsa the his
excepted from such cesson, the ground that such
the understanding" Of the negoiators OF the
venton And this is precisely the principle OF the
present and no man can fail TO see the dangerous
consequences which its establishment would
rily lead The Secretary of State seems 10 have had
msgvngs upon this subject for he thought necessary
70 ascertain the understanding Of the Senate suppose
from the fact OF this application that he had been told
the Senate did not understand this matter as he did, the
treaty would go back to that body for its reconsdera
ton This presupposes that there actual mpor
tant arrangement only be justified by the fact ha, it
in accordance with The views OF ordinate branch
OF the treaty making power. And what was the constr
tutonal mode OF ascertaning the sentiments OF that
body Most assuredy by reference to them in the usual
way by the Executive, with full statement OF all the
circumstances. his course would have preserved inv
oate all constitutional powers. and the views and de-
cslon of his body would have been made known in
the established And the controversy in which
we hnd ourselves engaged is the best commentary
upon the improperly and unconstituonality of this
whole executive proceeding. Instead OF doing this
the Secretary of State asks the opinion of the chairman
OF the Committee on Foreign Relations to the views
OF the Senate and the senator from Delaware, in defend
ing the course speaks OF the chairman as our official
organ" seeking to justify himself by that designation
Sir, member occupying that position is no more the
g official organ" to make known auihortatively the
views of the Senate 10 the Executive than any other
member Of this body. The Senate in such is it's
organ, aud its Intercourse with the President is
carried by messages his side, and by and
resolutions theirs This very experiment., equally
fortunate in its inception and consequences exposes the
OF departure from The true principles OF proceed
ing, and OF the attempt to substitute the opinions of
individual for The action Of the proper body II is quite
clear now that Colonel King did understand the state
of things between the Secretary OF State and the British
minister, and is past contradiction that large portion
of he Senate thought Of agreeing the exclusion
OF Honduras and its dependencies" from the obligations
of the treaty, and would have voted its ratification
had they believed that such attempt would be made
All this, vote OF this body would have shown had its
| constitutional rights been regarded
The this branch OF the subject q
guafly cavalier He says he has before him the
letter OF the chairman, Colonel King informing hm of
our views alt is conclusive he adds, "o the fact that
the SENATOR tmeaning myse and all others who voted
for and against the treaty perfectly understood at the
time maj ,he Territory o. British Honduras was not IN
have said that they did not understand it SO, few
others Try TO prove ii is not where their official
gan declared to they perfectly understood it TO be
when the treaty was rahed by them They try to con-
vct their own organ, appointed by them TO communicate
with me. OF mssiatement, or 10 convict themselves OF
ignorance" All this is very bad logic, and still worse
taste Indeed il is about the most extraordinary view
taken OF the position of the members Of this body
never knew before that the chairman of our commit
tees our representatives, with full power. abso-
luely pecudng US by their statements from asserting
the truth in Why, cir, this is
CANT TO bear argument In order no, TO convict
oyan the senator calls the chairman, in other
words. not TO correct mlsappre tensions, to sit
sill and suffer ourselves TO be convicted OF gross gno
aacs I 10 woa, so 's Sy ,ne ssnaor s nl
derstood II then, when large portion OF us tell him
understood such thing Oar alleged ignorance is his
assumpon-presunption might call it,, but | will
not-which nothing in the relative condition of himself
and other members OF this body can instify The chair
man OF committee is the keeper OF our honor or ve-
racy and il the senator speaks here he thinks and
feels, he and appreciate very differently the real Dig
nily Of the positions occupy in this great department
of the government.
have said, sir that should refer to the authority of
The british government in this question OF the extent OF
CeHlIal America, and now proceed TO do so The hon
orsble senator from Delaware is well satisfied with his
own labors this subject that he actually "tbrows
down the gauntlet" not only to certain !" wise mem
who had doubted his geographical and diplomatic infal
bity but even 10 the Commitiee Foreign Relations,
inviting them to defend this part of their report If they
can," Significantly IL not courteousy, saying become
The accuser in my turn" will not enter the lists sir
with antagonist who thus promises to crush his op
ponenls; but will modeslly suggest that this kind Of
sell-contdenoe and sefcompacency is not always a
sure augury OF victory Much allowance should be /
made for the evidently excited feelings Of the member
and ii requires much before the ntemperance of his Ian
guage find submit TO him that while COM
planning OF Others he has carried of aggression
unworthy OF his position and OF his high character He
speaks OF the miserable statements" made here, OF
the preposerous and silly conclusions arrived at" &c.
OF The geography OF such learned Thebans OF errors
OF which achooboy ought TO be ashamed" and much
OF this sort, but which have little taste for col
lectng
have already said that do not propose TO enter into
the question whether Honduras and Its dependencies
portions oil Central America shall content myself with
some very general remarks the subject and with
terrng, as said, to certain authoritative acts and opin
ions entitled TO much weight in this controversy First
among these the views ol the British government
and will transfer 20 II the gauntlet thrown down by the