Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-04
The Presi lentis MESSAGE in Congress T-Ho v II
was received in the senate- Significant De. .


bat,.
After the reading Of he message-
Mr.. CLAYTON made som remarks relative 10
the Treaty Of April 10, 1850, in order to show the
people of the United States the strength Of the
position assumed by ibis government relative 10
Central American ntIairs.and the injustice of the
dosition taken by Great Britain with regard to
the construction of that treaty, lie agreed gen
orally with all that the President had stated. aud
conirnsted the pacific character of this country
with the aggressive policy always pursued 10y
Great Britain.
Mr.. Seward enquired whether the ground taken
by the President has or that taken by the British
government regarding the construction of the
Treaty. namely-that it was merely prospective
in is operation and bud no reference to the nc
tual occupation by that country of tho territory
in question was the understanding Of the
United States when tho Treaty was made, Mr..
Clayton then peing :. crrtary of State.
Mr.. Clayton replied that it was an entirely new
construction. something of which he had never
before heard. lie never dreamed Of such n CON
struction being given to the language of The treaty
Docs any man suppose, (Mr. Clayton said. that
|, in the possession of my senses, entered into II
treaty with Britain to allow her to remain in pos
session of the whole of the lsihmus, merely be-
cause she had been in possession OF IT, and then
signed n treaty to plohibit my own c"pntrymen
from taking pos session, leaving her to remain
undisinrbod' What motive could an American
Senate have had in voting for il! Is it possible
that any man can believe for n single moment
such Il view wao in contemplation by the negn.
tialors when il was agreed TINT ''nciiher will
occupy, co'onize, fortify or exercise dominion"
in Central America! Occupy means first to take
possession, and secondly To keep possession. Great
Britain agreed to do neither. also agreeing that
they would not exercise dominion there, He
conclude by Offering n resolution TINT the usu Al
- -. IL
be printed, and that fifteen thousand copies Of
the sams in addition be printed for the use of the
Senate,
Mr.. Cass expressed his entire concurrence with
what had fallen from Mr.. Clayton and his graft
fication at the cuurse taken by the President aud
the views cuunciated in the lnessag In the
whole history of diplomacy there was nothing To
be found at all comparable with the course of
Britain regarding the Clayton Bulwer treaty and
Central American affairs.
Mr.. Weller commended the MASSAGE. He
believed this country could never abandon the
position she had ASSUMED relative to Central
America. However, The people of the United
States might be divided on questions Of dumes
tic policy, whenever war mcnacpd them they
would be found acting. nlharmony and uuanimity.
The message might lac denounced by pseudo nhi-
lanthropists, but it would meet with a cordial
response from every friend of liberty and lover
of the constitution and Union.
MIR. Seward announced he was prepared to
stand up and support the Bulwer-Clnyion Trea-
ty, and if need be. it the British Government
could not be held Ia that treaty. he was ready TO
go further. BE was ready for the assertion aud
practical maintenance of the Monroe doctrine.
Mr.. DOM heartily CONQUERED in the message
both regarding its foreign and domestic policy.
Mr.. CLAYToN'S resolution was agreed 10, and
it was ordered that five hundred additional cones
of the annual reports of the Secretaries of the
Treasury, Interior. War. Navy. and Postmaster
General, be printed for those departments. and
200 additional copies of the message and docu.
ments for the use of each department of tho At.
torney General.
Executive Session Adjourned till Thursday.
HoUsE or REPRESENTATIVES,
The MESSAGE IN 1HE HouSE-A GENERAL SIN.
pRIsE-GREAT EXCITEMENT AND CoSrrsloy
THERE-FIERcE D~EBArE-TnE fiorsr RrP,i.
SEES TO HAvETHE MESSAGE REAp-I26 to S7n
THE MESSAGE RECEIVED.
Immediately after the reading of the ionr,oI
Mr.. Sidney Webster. private Secretary of the
President. appeared. announcing from the latter
u message IN writing.
Great excitement was produced by this, amid
which Mr.. Clingmsn moved that il be read in or
der to hear what it was.
Mr.. Morgan called for the yeas and navs on
the motion that the message be read. He want
ed no reading Till the House was Organized.
Mr.. Giddings and others anxionsly STRUGGLED
for the floor.
Mr.. Clingman did not know what the Message
contained, but said the President had the right
on the assembling of Congress. when'in his .juGg.
ment he deemed it necessary. to communicate in
writing. The Constitution gives him this au.
thority.
1T is AN INNOVATION.
Mr.. Campbell (Ohio) commended that the read.
ing Of the Message was business, and held tina,
no business could be transacted until the Hous,