Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-10
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.

The recent storm having thrown the telegraph lines
out of working order, have no very late inteli-
gence from the scat Of government At last accounts
the House continued to ballot ndustrousy for spea-
ker, with more decisive indications as to the re-
suit The probabilities grow strong, however, in
favor Of the election of BANKS, the Republican can
didate. On the Sd O. resolution to make Mr.. BoycE
Speaker, after various amendments, waslaid on the
table. On the 4th, Mr.. BoYcE made speech by way
of personal explanation in the course of which he
took occasion to comment severely and with profound
regret upon the fanatcism of great party based
on the single proposition Of hostility the institutions
of the South eff that party obtained possession Of
the Government" he thought "disunion must be the
result, which may God forbid" Mr. ALLISON, of
Pennsylvania in reply said that there was no dispo-
sion to make war on slavery in the States but the
opposition was against its further extension.
Upon the reading Of the Message in the Senate,
the several most prominent and influential Senators
rendered in their unqualified approval. In reference
the present condition of foreign relations as sta
ted in the Message, the sentiment was almost unan-
imous; so much so that we are led 70 regard the
further progress of the difficulty with painful ap-
prehension The following telegraphic report will
be read with interest; especially that portion giving
the purport of the remarks Of Mr.. CLAYTON, who
negotiated the treaty and is presumed to be compe-
tent to its full explanation:
later the reading Of the Message, Mr.. Clayton.
made some remarks relative to the treaty of April
49, 1850, in order to show the people of the United
States the strength of the position assumed by this
Government, relative to the Central American o..
fairs, and the injustice of the position taken by
Great Britain with regard to the construction Of
that treaty He agreed generally with oil that the,
President has stated, and contrasted the pacific
character Of this country, with the aggressive po.
cy always pursued by Great Britain.
Mr.. Seward inquired whether the ground taken by
the President has allowed the British Government to
take issue regarding the construction of treaty. Wis
That it was merely prospective in its operation and
had no reference to the actual occupation by that
country of the territory in question: the under
standing Of the Government of the United States
when the treaty was made, Mr.. Clayton then being
Secretary of State.
Mr. Clayton replied that it was,an entirely new
construction; something of which he had never be-
fore heard. He never dreamed of such a construc-
tion being given to the language of the treaty. Does
any suppose, Cayon said that l, in the possession
Of my senses, entered into treaty with Britain, to
allow her to remain in possession of the whole of
this Isthmus merely because she had been in possess
sion oft, and then sign treaty 10 prohibit my own
country from taking possession, leaving her to re-
main undisturbed? What motive could an Ameri-
can Senate have had in voting for Is it possible
that any man can believe for single moment, such
view was in contemplation by the negotiations,
when it was agreed that neither will occupy, colon
ize, fortfy or exercise dominion in Central America?
Occupy, means first to take possession, andssecond
ly to keep possession. Great Britain agreed to do
neither also agreeing that they would not exercise
dominion there. He concluded, by offering resolu-
ton that the usual number Of copies Of the Message