Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-11
DOINGs OF CONGRESS.

!. s.ssss.-Af,er pss.ser and the reading Of
the journal
Mr.. Seward, Previously to the order Of the
day, the Wsyt, n- Bulwer treaty being brought
forv arg, Presented some petitions. e1cusing
e msen r.r 80 doing by bis leaving Che city
10, tsys days. 80
Ms Cass then rose, and entered into a.cir-
cur nstantial account of the negotiations be-
tween this country and the British governments
respecting the colony Of the Bay Islands.
This treaty, it was stated, did not include
Honduras. Upon its ratification the Demo
cratic party was divided He vas in favor Of
| it, and approved of the course of the Senator
! for Delaware. He approved Of it, because 1t
excluded British influence from the whole Of
Central America. of SO great Importance to
the United States on account Of the inter
oceanic communication between the Eastern
and most distant Western States. He would
vote for the Monroe doctrine, if practicable;
| but if not, he would get the next best thing,
namely by any convention that would get rid
of European influence in this country. The
Senator for Wisconsin had remarked in the
last discussion, that it was the first time that
G-eat Britain had ever given up a Territory
without any struggle. 77
| Mr. Cass then commented upon certain COM
ments made by the Senator from Delaware, re-
speeting what he said, and averred that he had
con mitted very grave errors in his remarks.
The argument was respecting the words Cen
trail America, and what might be comprised
in the term, and what he meant by the term.
He then entered into an account Of the ne
gotiations respecting British Honduras, which,
it had been stated did not form part of the
treaty. II would have been better to have
defined the British possessions in Central
America, before the treaty was ratified. The
difficulty was in the obscurity Of the term,
they ought 10 have been clearly defined before
the ratification. The British government,
would not allow Honduras to be construed as
forming part Of the British possessions in Gen.
trail America, and to this the Secretary of State
had consented The term, Central America,
was used at the suggestion of Lord PaImerston
but the ambassador, Sir Henry Bulwer, had
never mentioned it in his letter. lie had got
the treaty ratified, and that was all no wanted.
| To define what comprised Central America
after the ratification had been made, was like
shutting the stable door after the horse was
gone If the treaty was a question at law, il
would be found that great portion Of what
constitutes Central America had been cut of
by the treaty. 1t was apparent that the Hon
Secretary had misgivings, as he went to the
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs to ask his opinion. The Senator from
Delaware in his letter to Colonel King states
that all who voted in the Senate for or against
the BILL understood that British Honduras
speaking when We left.
HoUsE.-To- day, after the reading of the
journal
The Speaker announced the first business in
order TO be the further consideration of the
pending motion to commit to the Committee
of the Whole on the State of the Union. the
Insraham resolutions reported from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Perkins, who was entitled to the floor
gave way to Mr.. Phillips. who gave notice t,
, the House of his intention to move modifi
cation to the resolutions in question-strik.
ing out the words % in extending the protec
ton Of the American Government to Martin
koszta," and inserting in lieu thereof sin vim
dlcatng the right of Martin Koszta to Amer
lean protection" (which Mr.. Barry bat
agreed to receive as modification Of hi
> amendment.
Mr.. Perkins, resuning the foOr, said tina
he proposed to offer n resolution calling OF
the President for the koszta correspondence
Mr.. 7. then went on to address the Hou:,
in favor Of the adoption Of the jsint resou
, tions as reported from the Committee OF
Foreign Affairs, without amendment.
Mr.. Disney next addressed the House il
!, favor of passing the resolution without amend
, ment
Mr.. D. was addressing the House at length
when our report was sent down.