New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-15
XXXIVTH CONGR ESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE. ....WAsRMoroN. May Il. lssS.


Mr. CLAYTON said he bad seen in the morning
newspapers what purpoted to be an extract from
letter from the British Minister at Washington, dated
March 81 1856, in which Mr.. Champion says:
ton was informed BY Sir Henry suiws before the sssy q
possession and Mr. Clayton occssons since In
with stated that be considered Ru.t.n Brit
ih much jamaica ora ny other Srth West In
Mr.. Clayton branded this statement ss utterly an.
true in every pacusr line Dsn .,r.nss y, nvsr
entered the brain Of any man to make such declare
ton Nothing ike it had ever escaped him in CONVEX
.aton with Mr. Champion or anybody else fo s T
CHAMPION and himself He had living witness, ard
FIRST he would call attention to letter written by Mr..
CHAMPION and read in the Senate January IL 1854,
in which he tMr Crsmptonl attempted as E to prove
rot exempted from the provisions of the treaty Of 1850.
He then had Mr. Crampons testimony on the subject.
and read it to the Senate He would now read again
to contradict Mr.. Crampton's statement, which was
made known to him for the frst time this morning, and
of which he had not the most remote conception. In
this letter Mr. Champion said: The dependencies OF
british Honduras are, in my opinion, distinctly
enumerated in the treaty Of 1885," He had made
this statement deliberately and the irresistible con-
cluson was, that Ruatan was not included in these
dependencies Mr. Clayton said while he was detained
at his lodgings by sickness in February or March last,
he was called upon 0y mr.. Cnttenden, ana whue tney
were engaged in conversation on this subject. Mr..
Champion came u to invite him Mr.. Clayton 10 dino
with him. He Mr. Clayton was too sick to accept Of
the invitation but took occasion to ask Mr.. Champion
II he knew anything Of the charge that he Mr. Clay:
toni had ever admitted that Ruatan was exempted
from the operation of the treaty, aud Mr. Champion In
most UNQUALIFIED terms acknowledged that there vas
no truth in the report that be- Mr. Clayten) had ever
made any such intimation to him,
Mr.. CRITTENDEN cOrrOborated Mr.. Clayton's
statement. He could not pretend to give the details
Of conversation at which he was accidentally pres
emf but according to bis recollection, tho Substance
of It was directly contrary to the statement In the
newspapers and sustained the account Mr. Clayton he'd
s Mr.. CLAYTON said be had made speech AFTER
speech in the Senate, endeavOrng to prove directly
the reverse of what he was represented rs admitting
He was willing put the most charitable constructors
upon it, but il was utter mistake.
Mr.. CASS thought it very certain Mr.. Clayton, IN
less in some t of insanity, could have said ~
Mr., Champion what was attributed to him.
Mr.. PRATT inquired what evidence there was THAI
this letter was authentic. He thought there must DO
some mistake.
MI. CLAYTON had no knowledge as to ITS anthem
tcity When bis attention was called TO Il this morn
ing Be much astonished, and bis rst duty was TO
dfprove the statement; No matter BY whom made.
statement be was not injured by these remarks but,
II he did make it, it was for Mr. Champion 10 explain.
Il had appeared in the public prints, and, until II was
denied or disavowed, Mr.. Clayton was bound to sup
pose that II q genuine document. lie sh0uids
Mr.. FISH, in response 10 question from Mr. Clay
ton said that in the Of two interviews with Mr.
Crampton the latter had stated that Mr. Clayton al
ways denied that Ruatan was British possession.
He Mr. CaytOn thought there must be some mistake
in the copy Of the letter.
MIR. CASS said that Great Britain being, repeatedly
driven from one point of defense had invariably taken
refuge at another and recent events had showed THIS
more strongly than ever.
The Senate, after debating the motion to reconsider
the vote BY which the Iowa Land bill was passed. re-
fused to reconsider, and adjourned.