The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-21
WASHINGTON, ID. c..
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN QUESTION.
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY WILSON,
or MASSACHUSETTS,.
h the Senate, February u, 1856,

or MASSACHUSETTS,,
Ia the Senate, February II, 1856,
On the refer 10 the Committee on Foreign Rea-
Irons the OF Lord John Russell. respecting the
s,.ucon the Clayton Bulwer Treaty.
Mr.. WILSON. Mr.. President, during the past
few months the public press, especially that por-
ton of il which sustans the policy of the Admin
i-iration, has given the country to understand
that the relations between the United States and
Great Britain, growing out of the Central Ameri-
can and enlistment questions, are in a complica-
ted and critical condition. Gentlemen associated
with the Administration. having the confidence
of the Chief Magistrate and his constitutional adj
vsers, known at least to be terms of intimacy
with that member of the Cabinet whose feelings
and opinions are believed to be in harmony with
that class of our felow-citizens which INDUCES
In the illusion that foreign war would develop
the latent patriotism of the country, consolidate
Its Institutions and withdraw the attention of the
people from that all-absOrbing domestic question.
whose vast complicated, and overshadowing is-
now arresting the most profound atten-
ton of the whole country, have thrown out in
timations that war WAS the possible solution of
the " misunderstanding between two nations as
sociated by so many ties of interest and kindred"
The President of the United States in his an
nual message assures Congress and the country
that T." there is reason 10 apprehend that this in
ternational difficulty cannot long remain undeter-
mined, without involving in serious danger the
friendly relations which it is the interest as well
as the duty, of both countries to cherish and pre-
serve The veteran Senator and experienced
statesman from Michigan, Mr. Cass, the cause
OF whose absence from the Senate do-dav we all
deplore, declares 10 the Senate that no man
who has read the message can fail to see that
relations with England in critical condi-
ton" The distinguished Senator from New York
Mr.. Seward emphatically proclaims to the conn
Try and the world that 4" a with Great Brit
ain IL now among the possible solutions of the
present embarrassment"
But sir the people of the United States whose
instincts more unerring than the deduc-
tons of Statesmen, give little heed to the specua-
tOns Of the public press the mysterious hints
OF politicians. The commercial classes. always
leenly sensitive upon those disturbing questions
that threaten the repose OF the world, manifest
no anxiety AT these predictions of approaching
rupture with our great commercial rival. eau
1iOus, far-seeing merchants continue To send upon
distant adventures our merchant marine, freighted
with precious cargocs, confident that the Admin
isiraton of President Pierce and the Government
of Lord PslmerstOn will not, dare not involve
two nations having such vast interests in the pres
eryation of peace, welding such commanding
influences in favor of human progress and Chris
tan civilization, in needless conflict, which
must he felt in every quarter of the globe.
The message of the President has made the
tour of the country, crossed the water and been
read by the people and statesmen of England
whose Government he arraigns before the forum
of the natOns for the failure to fulfil her treaty
obligations. The steamers have borne TO our
shores the response of the British people and
press; and that response is that the President"
an the language of the London Tsmes, shows a
desire 10 let negotiations on the affairs of Cen
trail America drag interminablyn
Sir, the speculations of the public Journals the
laelar affa tl,uf NJ.
of statesmen of large experience and commanding
influence, have all failed signaly failed to create
the least anxiety the slightest alarm i'm the
public mind, or to shake the firm confidence of
the people in the stability of peace between Great
Britain and the United States This confidence
of the people, this calm repose of the public mind
teaches the public journalists of the country and
the public men of the country that while the
American people do not fear England-whie they
are not dazLed 10y the spendor or awed bv the
power OF her Government-whe they are ready
now. AS in other days TO meet her upon the land
or upon the sea, I'm the stern conflict of arms to
maintain the rights vndcate the honor of the
country they do not desire to witness another era
OF proud words, naughty airs, and staggering
attitudes, coupled with significant deeds Sir the
American people still remember that ten years
have hardly passed away since these Halls echoed
back the Executive assurance that sour title Il,
the whole OF Oregon was clear and unquestiona-
ble'-that these Halls then rang with the defiant
words, hfty-four forty or fight" They have
not vet forgotten the CELEBRITY of our retreat from
hfty-four forty down-down-to forty-nine
leaving England in possession of Vancouver's
lsland-of three hundred thousand square miles
of the free territory of the Republic They will
not soon forget, SIR the taunt of the British Lord
quoted the other day by the honorable Senator
from Michigan; and some of our countrymen
have not ceased TO remember that they were then
reminded, in foreign lands, that our Government
backed out on the Oregon question. The Amer
lcan people, sir have not forgotten that upon this
Central American question, the honorable Sena-
tor from Virginia, Mr.. Mason, the chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations, announced
with great emphasis, that, If il was true :hat
Great Britain had established IA colony at the
Bay Islands, whether il or was not in contra
veniion of the CLAYTON and Bulwer treaty that
colony must be DISCONTINUED" Three wears have
passed, sir since this declaration was made on the
floor of the United States Senate-a declaration
which an honorable Senator from Georgia Mr.
Dawson, not now n member of the Senate pro-
nounced the strongest allegation that war was
before ms that the sentiment would be noticed
throughout the civilized world; ;" yet the BAY ISL
and Colony - has not been discontinued" The
American people, 10y their firm and dignified atti-
tude, are now teaching the public journalists of
the country, and the public of the country
the lesson that they not to be diverted by
OF outrage, violence and murder, now TRANSFERRING
IN Kansas. War with Great Britain might result
IN the acquisition of three millions of sauare
miles OF free soil, and three millions of free men
IN carrying the northern boundaries of the Re-
public up Ia the shores of that unfrozen sea in
the Polar regions the heroic Kane and his COM
rades gazed upon in their perilous search for Sir
John Franklin. Tie American people entertain
ed the suspicion that the power that now directs
the policy of the country. and the men who now
control the public affairs of the country are in no
haste To plunge the country into Il war that might
bring with it such results.
Allied with her ancient rival in the gigantic
struggle with the Russian Empire pressed to fill
up the perishing ranks of her army in the Crimea
Great Britain has, in violation of the law of ma
tons and the municipal law of the United States.
undertaken "clandestinely to quote the lam
guage of the Senator from New York-ssto enter
recruiting ground" For this aggressive act
upon our national sovereignty, England has been
called To account by the Government of the Uni
ted States. The American Government should
demand that this violation of our sovereign rights
should cease at once; that the British Government
should give an ample apology for the past-an
apology that should be security for the future
If British COnsuls, even the British Minister
are implicated i'm this violation of the municipal
laws of the country, the Government has the
right, and il should exercise the right to demand
their recall. In this controversy the American
Government is clearly right, and the British
Government is clearly wreng. The American
people will sustain any Administration-eve
one that has so little of the public confidence
or of the public regard, as the present one-in
maintaining, with firmness and dignity, the mu-
nicipal laws and sovereign rights of the country.
Mr. President on the I'd of February lS4S