The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1854, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON. INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE, THE CLAYTON BULWER TREATY. Speech of Gen. Cass on the Central Ame- rican Question. Debite in the House on the Koszta Affair. Aivided condition of its Btates, rivals, and easily swayed or controlled by forein influence g» ve great importance to the effort to place them beyond apy exteraal action adverse to our interest; and as it was certeia thet we could net attaic this obj-ct by aay other soursewe might ‘adopt, I felt mysel! fully justified ia endeavoring to a: tain it by entionsl srreagemeat with the paver whose interfere: mg it be most injurious to our iater- ests. If the failure has been an utter ove, as recent dis- closures announes, the fault is not with those who vo'ed for the ratification of the treaty upon the faith of its expressed eogagemerts. That these were the vii len tertained and expressed at the time respecting the exelu- sion of British iofiuesce I have already stated, and that statement bas been confirmed by @ number of the Sina treaty we sted was not intended by either of us to pat pa terminates, of course, all ¢ilfer ences, so far as the negotiators were concerned. Regland obtains what she wants by the sccept ance of her conditional ratification, and eckpowledsemen: with which it was received our executive; for though _ Bhd ies ogg at atrictive ithets, special pleading, perbaps, in 4 escent, yet it will be foum’ that t will prodaceno effect upon the claim of Eoglant. Ove clear limitation, defining what we gave up, weuli have been true policy d true simeerity. We gave up “ Briti-h Honduras” io exprete terms; apd certainly that contains by far the most important portions of the rowensioas of gland, extending, an sbe claims, to the Serstooa uh torr, Fome of whom are yet amoug I shall specially Gulf of Dolce The oaly limitation ‘# tothe + de- refer but to twoof tl ‘a'ements, more not betug | pendencigs,” meaning, I sappose, tl nda, aad re necessary, apd fF to these fiom their pssuliar stricting the claim to the small ones ia the neigh »rhood bearing opon the subject Mr. Sou'é stated that at | of the s:ttlements, and ‘which may be knowo”’ as de = meeting of the democratic Senators, calle] by pendencies. What are smali islands, aad wi ie the the Chairman of the Committee on Foreiga Relations, | neighborhood of a settlement, claime to extend more (sh. King ) the, Mr Sou'é, when the draft of the propos: Passage of the Ingraham Testimonla! Reso- | ¢< treaty was 101, objected that the provision for ex lution, &e., , acta a CONGRESS. > . &o., do. FIRST BBBSION. Senate. Wasmincton, Jan, 11, 1864, Mr. Sewanp, (free roll) of N. ¥., presented two peti tions, when Mr. Brau, (¢em.) of Ind., moved that all prior orders be postprned, which was agreed to, and the Senate pro- ceeded to consider the motion to refer the correepon- dence relating to the CLAYTON AND BULWER TRRATY Mr, Cass, (dem.) of Mich , took tre floor and spoke as follows — Mr President—At the epecial session ef the Senate in March Inst, after my departure, an extended dissussion took place in relation to what is known as the Clayton- Bulwer treaty. My views and course were +o musa mis understood and misrepresented, that I owe it to myself te ecntradict and correct much that was then said, and in this high place, where it was said, ani whense it went forth to the country. But besides the personal interest 1 bave in establishing the truth, with regard to my own position, recent circumstances and diselosures bave giren tbe whole subject arising out of that treaty additiraal im portanee, and jastity its full examination. It will be recollected that in the early part of the last regular s sion in conequence of au'hentic public sta ‘ements, and erpecially of a proclamation announcing the establish meut of a new British colony in Central America, known ar the Colony of the Bay Islanis, | introduced a resolation calling upon the executive for information upon the subject, and also asking what measures had berm token to prevent the violation of the treaty of July 4th, 1859, by which the United States aad Great Britain precluded themselves mutually from occupying, or fortifying, coloniaing, or assuming, or exercising jurisdiction over Nicaregoa, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America, This resolution was adopted, and in due time we received from the department of State a re pert tbat the executive bad no information to communi. cate to the Senate in relation to the subject of the resotu- tion; but with this return, the Secretary sent ia var tous documents, which had not before been made public, being the correspondence between the Ameri- can and British negotiators of that treaty, which Gisclosed @ state of facta startling to me, and, ia ved, to many otbers in the Senste, and unlosked for by the'country. It appeared that when the treaty was rati fied by the Senate, that ratification was given tothe in- strument iteelf, without apy limitation or explaaation, to control the descriptive terms employed init. The act, therefore, of the Senate, must be judged by the words of the treaty. When, however, it was sent to ogland for ‘the sanction of the British government, that ssoction was mace conditional, or restrictive, if you pl-aso, by a declara tion, not denyizg that British Honduras mace pert of Oen tral America, but announciog that the British govern: ment dd not understand the epgegements of that con vention to apply to that settlementand its cepsndencies And the iostrument of exchange distinctly states thet ‘Her Mojesty’s ratification of the said eonvention 4, under the explicit declaration above The treaty was proclaimed by the Ameri can government as binding, without any cearation ennexed to it, makigg known the restrictive constrao tion given to it by one of the parties, and seceded to in whole or ip part by the executive of the other. Besides this proceeding, aflectiog the feelings and interests of the country, there was snother, which though far less inja rious in its operation, was certainly important to rome of the Senators who advocated aud weted for taia treaty The honorable Senator from Delaware, then Secretary of Btate, in annourcing the executive assent to the British Gemand, accompanied it, I presume, as a jastification for the act, with the statement that he had been ia formed by the then chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the late lameated Vice Presideat, Me. King, that “the Senate perfectly understood that the ‘treaty did not include British Honduras.”’ ‘It was ua- Gerstocd to apply to, an does inclade all the Cent American Statesof Guatemala, Hondara Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, with their dependencies + Now, sir, here were two subjects, both legitimate objrcts Of inquiry for amy Amer'can, and especially for any American Senator, who bad takea part in this rati- fication, and the pursuit of which, if cond: ios deoorcus manner, could give no just cause of off oy ane; and more particularly was it the right, the daty, ndeed, of any member of this body, whose views or actions were not correctly represented, to embrace the first fayor ‘bie opportonity of removing the misapprehension. Ia soth respects that way my position, ani I aeted in con- ormity with these suggestions, and submiitei my riesa 9 the Senate, and through the Senate to the country. snd in doing 80 there were peculiar ressons affecting my- slf and some other Senators, who occupied # similar tuation and who have already borne their testi omy fre to the justice of the conriderations I preseated, hich rendered the duty of self vindication an imp: rative we. The vote of the democratic party in the Seaate upon fe ratificayuc 9f this treaty was divided, rome opposing sd come supporting it. Du ing the disoussiong s gunber the democratic members oonfidently pr-*icred that the rangement would prove ADU, gos that we shoald il in the effort W "ove British power and in‘laence om Qertya) America. My friend from ludiana, who sits sar me, (Mr. B.ight,) was among the mos; decided in ig hostility to the treaty, and asl said upon « former wasion, whether bis prediction was the recult of in- ixet or cf judgmest I know not; but certainly me bas put the seal of truth upon bis sinister | wrebodings, and he may now say to us in the | ords of that comfirtadle old saw, I told you ao. sealously ac vocated the traaty. | had more thaa one yeversation with the Senator from Delawara res gec'iag Guring the progress of the negotiation, He aid me ve honor to consult me, as well as other Senators of both srties, and | earnestly }ecommended to him to go on ani wnsummate the work, expressing my éoubts, however, of | xe accomplishment of his expec'a*ions, bot assuriog hin if he succeeded he would render a’ sigual service to # cow And why cid Lestimate so highly the pro sted arrangenent? Because it contemplated the re oval of Britich power and influence from Centra! Ame sa— true Central Ameri I thought, aad { considered ‘at measure both in ite present and future aspects, » eat political objact most desirable to be paacefu ly od toed —Taose of us who profess allegiance to the Mia -os etrine, and who advocated the ratidvation of this vaty, were accused +f ioconsistency thea, and the accu tiom bas been repeated since, with » geod deal of «ar stoes ard pot a little sarcarm; aad als) of #scrifi tiny qrem. politics! principle to ® mere temporary expes ea President, 0 far as this quration of ra ification ts tn Ived, with the lights before us, I had no dou>t thea ant save no regret now, reapecting the coarss which the Se te sanctioned. It is nota lity curious that «omsof thos so urged the objection with the most p-rtisasity. ough they also prefess adhesion to that cardioal ‘norp's of Amerisan polisy, yet now find » resola%io. f its su'horiteuve assertiin by Congress, ths etusl wrens of ite estadlishmect, in such a shape to insure (heir co-operation. Nor do they lead tovir 4 to pat itio « form to suit their own views, ani thay to mmand thir votes. They coofiae their action severe Critici-m and to decided opporition Now, ar, save no design to eacrifics # great national aivan'age mere barren dogma, readered sach by oar dissea te of European nc ninterrea. wr, Embody this prine ional act, vm im American affairs in 4 1 for one will adhere to sy But whil , and, for the nt of proper decision, wa are @bl accummodate ou wes the best way we can to tusic are and consequ 1 desire ropean power and infiserce from all porticns of thi stera Continent, pot actusl!s hela a» colonies by some ropean governmeat, and, | delievs, (he true princi girs public law applied to the position of the Aaerican tes fully jontlty this pretension. As to existing colo w they will follow peaceably and in good time. Well, , the friends of this great measure ba io vain, cluding foreign influence from Central America would be sufficiently explicit in the transactions of ordiasry life, and htt admitied no real donbt in its coustraction, stil, “aa the object waa to divest England of all proton Hone to set up acy right to any portion of the country embraced by it, I thought it would be better to have the intention couched in express words.” He adds, it was stated by ur. King in answer, “that whatever obscurity there might seem to be in the article is to be at ributed to an anxiety on the part of the British Mintst-r to have bis pational pride protected, and to s desire oa the part of Mr. Clayton to indulge him in that naturel wish that Englend felt she was forced into a kiad of bactiag out, and it was expected we would not insist apum acy expres tion being in the trea'y which might wound her seasibil- ities” ow far all this ia compatible with the assertion that the Senate knew the restrictive application eventual ly to be given to the treaty, Iam not called upon to ex- plain, and I'am glad am not, for it woul! be a hopeless lark to undertake. So far as respects my personal views, the declaration of the Senator from Wisconsin, (M:, Walker) is ao true and explicit that | must trouble the Senate to hear it. ‘If the Senator will allow me,’” said the honor able member, addressing me while I was speaking, “I think Ioan give pesrly the words he made use of. Hs spoke in very complimentary terms of the thea Secretary Cf State for the position he bad taken, and he remarked toa) it wan the first time in the history of (ireat Sritain tbatabe had gtven up territory without » struggle. I recollect that dictiactly, and I presume others do’ New sir, I supoose no man within these wails, or #ithout thea, will call im question my right to inventigate this whc le matter, and to plase myrelf upon true grounds oe- fore the coontry. And if the S-nator from Delaware has acy just cauce of complaint, tt must bs because I fatled, by unsourteous or uncalled for remarks, or in some other nanner, to do preperly what I was ths called upcn to d) I this so? Avd allow me, in the first place, to say that the honorable Sena‘or, in'bis remarks at the special ses- sion, eid but justice to the personal relat.one subsisting between himself and me; and I assent cheerfully to all he sid upon thet subject. The friendly intercourse bet ween ux bad been uninterrupted, and there were clroum stances to which he rightly alluded which bad tended to strengtbon this mutual feeling. I had, I could have, peither motive nor design unjustly to assali him, and I say here to him, and to the Senste, tbat I have carefully reviewed all that fe)! from ms upon that ccession, and Ido not find one uncourteous epithet nor ® personally hareh expremion, Whatever he may consider ux pleasant is necessarily in the subjsot its and notin the language employed; and submit tha fair examination of bis course in this matter could gi bin no Just, cause of oflence, eapecialiy an T was not a volunteer in the work, but was driven to it by self respect and inself-defen:e. And I shall proceed to my present task it and with kindly feelings to the Senator from Delaware, but till with a determination to examine the whole subject fairly, but fully, and to ahow the erro neous impressions under which I was aseailed. Now rir, what is the complaint of the Senator? io wha am | bin accuser, as he terms me? His first charge in that I stated’ that he ‘recognizec the British title in Honduras ocmmonly called the Belize,” and that I obarged him “with baving admitted by’ his letter that Central America was not Central America at all, and that the treaty did mot apply to any ter- ritory where Great Britain hac asy sort of clsim.’? Mr. President, the honorable Senator has eom nitted great errors in this atatem How aod why, he alone cauexplain, He can find in no remarks actually made by me upon thatoccasion’ a single word, not ona, which charged him wita hfving recogoised the B.itish title to Honduras, or with havieg admitted that the treaty did not apply to avy territory where Great Britein hed any sort of claim. The Secatcr says that all the reports of my remarks which appeared on that arc the sucoweding da; will chow that these charges were made by me. Tule ¢ rather a loose refereacs up om which to found sash an so cusation But let that pase. I do not know what version of wy remarks he may bare met with, but this I kao, tbat in the Congressional Globe, in thy Union, and ia the National Inteliyencer, whe:e they are correctly reposted, Dot # +) liable is to be found in suppott of this stavement, and no person in or out of the Senate should make such an areertion, without turning to ove at least of ths jour: pals containivg authorized reports of our proceedings I do not know what other paptra or letter writers may have mace meray. I em not responsible for their errors, nor had the Senator frem Delaware right upon any partis] autho- rit) tosay that “all che reports of my remarks” concurred upon this subject Why, sir, iudepeagent of the moral offence which such » misrepresentation would have sar- ried with it, an assertion like that, wholly ansupporied by the facts, and contradicted by the documents before us, would have been an act of folly. which I trast Iam little likely to commit, As to the statement that I charged him with “having admitt<d by his letter that Coo America wan not Cantral America at all ret place to observe that he hae not omy remarks. What I stated wan: 7 that the megotiat bo part of the gorernnea’s un cerstocd ths that is, that neither of them understood Oentral America to be Central Americs at ai, but that both of them understood that mpon the fase of 1 ’ Il bave, in the od y} the treaty, th~ugh Central America was included, yet the Britinb clsims were thereinexcluced ” In the next place, tis obvious that the enly assertion I make ia the above extract is, that the negotiators underst-od the matter alike, acd that £o mao will Ceny, for Mr Clayton bas said it Limesif, Ths rest is matter of inferemoe, and I co Dot Ceepair of convincing the Seustor, acd certaialy [ trust to show to the Senate that the expression is quite within the sphere of proper argamentation My process of jartificatica will be very brief The provisions of ths treaty extended to all parte of Ceptral America, and by that designation I understand the geog apical region of country to which ii fs usually applied, includiag ali doa Guras, as well where the B iiith Dave o tained p ssesrivn as whe ey bave not. Iam not going into the trath or error of this opinion at this time. Toe subj+ot oas been sufficiently cisoussed in this bo ito renew the de- bate would bse profitiess consumption of time Ibave beard nothing which bas ehaken my origizal convictions sud the more the matter has been examined the more persuaded have I been, that to exclude B:itish Honduras, ‘a8 England bolds it, from Central America, is a mare arbi- Urery act of excirion, redacing, without jastifica.ion, the Himite of that well xnowa p.rtion ef our ovutinent. I shall bene olde with referenc+s to an authority or two, and then leave the question to othe Wei, sir, thus lcoxiog at the stipulatione of the treat;, an¢ finding that by an act of the British goveramant, acesded to ovré, the British settlement of Honduras with ite de) eon was excepted from its operauon, Isaid ard hada Tight $ sey, with my views, that this courze of the 3e cretery of State admitted that C:ntral Amerios was not Ceniral America atall. Tois was not the as.ertion of a faci toat he >a/ forwally made this admission, but a de- duction from the premises logical or illogical it matters not for wy present purposé, that his acquiescense in the demacds of the British Mintater hed ac changed the coun try covere! by the t eaty the’ Central Awerics was no kceger Centra) America, nd thia is #0 obvious from the te- por of py rensrke, which ref Lu the neseasary facts, that any misconce ptic a mu t have been a ve: y careless one, L repeat, rir, that the charge war the conclusion | drew fromt be officie! acts acd | eciaration of thehonorable mam- ber. And no#, sir, to the references which | bave just pro mined. They will be to the British government and to the Sevator from Dela sore in his capacity of Secretary of State, and I sappose ‘hat these sa:horities will at any rate carry weight it h.m ins ooatroversy involving the intarest of the one, and where its opiai n wis adverse ‘0 i's interes’, and the official proceediogs of tue otner This treaty, afier having been ratided by the Ssnate, upon its langrege an. not upon tha ucderstanding of the ne- gotiators, wae sent to Eagland for the sanstim of the gov- troment, an! there ciroum+tances show that apprehen- Gion was excited lest the Honduras settlements shoali be embraced with n the limits of the region over which it extended. To prevent this it was retarnyd with » quasi ifcation, or ratber adeclaration that the settle.neat How aras aod i « depencencies, #e 6 not sub; tothe engagements of the treaty; and this declaraton was re- ceived and reciprocated by the Secretary of State by # similar ac', which the Ssnator from Delaware calla a “counter Ceclaration,’’ but why I conf-ss my ioability to discover. for it dots pot counteract the demand of the Britich Minister, but assents to it by conceding thas the ents’ of the treay do not apply to British dite depandensies. The terais of thiscoa cession Ty ball refer to directly, so that the Semator may bare the benefit of kis OWo words to extabl sh his own views I will werely ssy here that I hava littls belief in the practiosl eff-ct of bis limt'stions Now, «ir, wha! was che duty of the executive when «treaty was thos returned with » Ceclarati o intended to contro! its operations by corsiderations exterior t> the atipuls Lens? Why, to vend it agaia ‘o the Senate s coastitaent branches of the trea!y-makiog power, for its considers. tion acd activa, and sot uade.take to restric! its appt cation by the understanding of the pogotiators, at the exper.e of the langaage cf tas coavention, thoagh one of these bape: ed to we the Secretary of the State. For tais vnion of ‘unciions was but an sceident, and what was done upon that occasion may be done npon any other and the understanding of these agazts of cegotia\icn may become m ce important than the text of the tustroment itself, And what reason waa given by the ry of State for thie omission of = plain dots f dir Henry Balwer chat the didicalty arises from ip our convention of the \ern Cenirai America,’ Te be sure it does, aad T am oaly surprised that the practised and powerfal intellect of the Seeator from Delaware did not perceive that by ¢! acknowle gement he actus ly gives cy the point in con- troversey, indubitatly and toctiepatad y We do not in tend w include your posses t this is the purport of of We copcresion but we use it,’ the term Central America, which embraces them, ant now we most remove the difficclty by suodstitating for the pisin lapuage of the coavention the ma thal omcerstandiog of the negotiators, thus excepting many years, sought its accompitehaeat I: | come. It in destinad to coms. as sarsly at any wot in the future. The country somehow um pre tor it, desires ft, @emands it; bat the hesitation ix | 0 these halls of legi-la‘ion, where there ough! ty > mp: ard decisive ayion Notwitastanding "he prog tication of the Senator fron Dalawa:e—sne r, was father te the thought—taat ite history ood: itis but ja t begun, str, aod io ear glorious fwtu s emancipation of the Western hemisphere from com and intrigues of the Kartern is yet to const ¢ ore of our proudest claims to the respec! of maa «For myself, sir, if Loannot get the yey ] will get the mex’ best thisg 1 1 veorsoary; and 10 # peculiar cr ve ali Centr, fignes, The porition that regi with relat sivas wae I 4 16 | ali me } gear ment sak fo | from its stipulations regis over whion they extend. If this ‘# not the true potatet the “ditteulty” and of the Sunverstancieg.”’ them there i¢ none. fur if Honduras ap ite depercencies are rot in Central Ameries, then there is ne difficulty aad no ar unde for a demand ou one side nor a comesssion €n the other, I cannot fod, after ® crroful examination, that this qaestioa ef the trae po- titiem cf Honduras with relation to Ceotral America is at by ths 4oretary of State, The British Mioister i fiom the operatioa of the treaty t ‘Coes not anderatani the ea Majesty's a deca bir governm feo nee! al B Awd this yo of | deciara ic n part of the 38 | te th: ato by them, governm: nt) 8, (ths Bega eat in Honduras, “7 cistlact fro: than two hundred miles, and what may be known as de pencies, present as fruitful subjects for controversy as the dip'omatist who most xsjoices ia his trade could desire Hondoras is excluded from the treaty, 80 far as appears by the papers, solely on the ground that the negotiators Gid net intend to include it, uct at all onthe ground that it was not covered by the convention, And after thus assenting to the demande of the British Minister, the Secretary of State proceeds to explain why the term Cential America was used in the treaty, aud the reason tarns out to be that it was ‘‘adopted besause Vi count Palmerston had assented to it, and used it as th .”? [sm sorry that uo better reason oeuld igned for the use of this descriptive epithet than a ‘eccommodate the Briti>h Minister for Foreign At I preaume every Senator who voted for the treaty pposed the term ‘Central America’? was employed to designate a given region of country with well limite, avd that it was not a cere vague ex; ion, used in compliment to » foreiga suggestion. decretary adds that ‘“‘we vaturally sapposed, on thi ouat, it would be satisfactory to your government.” Toe reason for this remark is not at allobvious The British Mints- ter had made no complsint of the terms used in the treaty. Nothing like it. The words Central America are not to be found his note. He merely claims thse: empticn he demands on ths ground of the mutua( ander standizg, and on that ground he obtainsit But what follows is still leas ausceptiole of satisfactory explaastion, “But if your government now intend,”’ says the Seare ‘ary of State, to delay the excharge of ratifications uatil we shall have Sxed the preoi+e limite of Centra) America, we must defer the further action until ve have further ioformation on both sices. to which at present we have no means of resor’, avd which it is certain we could not obtain before the term fixed for exchengiog the ratificatioos would ex- pire’ All this, sir, is very uoaccountable Tae British government asked po delay of the of ratifie ipa. They had then actually ra treaty, and ¢ authenticated instrument was in possession of the Sser tary of State, And ig atill more extrsordinary. he arnounces in this very that he accepts the deciara- tion which accompanies the act of ratification, and makes it absolute, by hit concession of the fact stated, and precveds to siga the letter and deliver it to Sur Henry Bulwer, and‘ without further or ot! to exchange the ratifications of the treaty.’ Why talk of the postponemert of ratifcations in order to fix the limits of Central America at th ry moment when he was axchanging ratifications with the other party? And why talk of fixing the limite after he had admitted what the Britieh claimed, the exclusion of their colony from the provisions of the treaty! It wae shntting the stad! door after the horse had escaped. They had gained their object, and to them a specic boundary was comparatively upimportant,and why pot fix the limits daring the prve gress of the negotiations? That might have been done, and Ought to bave been done, if there were any real doubt as to the true extent of the region covered by the treaty, in- stead of leaving it to the understanding of the negotistors, In this letter to Sir Henry Bal ver he is told by tne Seore- taryof State that no alteration could be made ia the treaty without the semotion of the Senate, but he dces not understand that any authority has been given to the m ister by his govern vent to propose any a'teretion. Why thi: remark Mr. Presideat? Tne Sesretary rbicyed wellktew what the British government wanted He yivids to their demao¢s iv this very letter Hs bnew th+y want: ed the exclusion of Honduras from the ‘ ergege neat” of the treaty, andsthey ratified t upon the express conil. tion thatsuch was toe the effect of their action The process by which our compliance with thia demand was to begiven was s question for us, and not for then—a question of interns] admioistration, with whish they had notbing to do, and aout which they probably cared ag little. “Why the Sscretary started a c.nstitutioval point, reepecting the diviced farections of our goverment in correspondence with a foreigs mini: ter, at the moment he aesenta to hie application, is what I am ucadle to copjas- ture. I presume Sr Heory Bulwer, after sompletiog the exchange of ratification, was pertectly willing to peralt us to cettle the questionin .ur own way. But, sir, there was an alteratios, aod a sericu: one, made in this treaty by the rider annexed to it, quite aa effectual for the par- Ps s0f Kogland as if it had been inserted init, stipu ations, That instrument embraces C. ntral Ameriza, and the ratification of the Serate covered that region. If a question arose respecting its extent, what right had the Secretary of State to rettls it by his own act, and to except from the ‘‘engsgement” of the treaty ao extensive and important section of the country? By the acceptance of the conditiozal ratiGeation, and by acquiescence in it, the executive added this restrictive ciause to the treaty fs etter tually, so far as the cla ms of Eagland are con. erred, aa if it had made part of itr provisions, in this formal manner—provided, that the engagements of this ccnven:ion stall nct apply to the Britieh settlement at Honduras or to its dependencies. There is mn: deaying explain'ng avay this inevitable consequence of #x-cutive inverference. If question arises as to the territ ral ex tent of the obligations of @ treaty, it sh uli be adjusted by negotiation, and not by peremptory corosariun on thi port of the Secretary of State br fore it- promalgativa and independent of the action of the Senate, Hare 1s a treaty Dour statute books, whose *ng-geuents” apoai a fase + xtené to a}! Censral Amer: but lycked up smog the executive archives is a ceclaratioa that Hosduras ani its Sepevcercies, (4 most prolite eo1 upsertaia term, last seesiod, And ag eveots have since showa 5 are ret within the stipulations of the tresty. If a soatro versy should arise between individuals, involving this quettion what @ snrious eubj-ct would this ptats of things prezeni for judicial actin | What would de th ugh of the proceeding Should a cession of country by na.ae te made to the Untted States, and the trea'y de thas ratibed by the Sevate, ana theo should the execative, op n his own isponribility, declare that @ large exteat coustry was excep:ed from auch cassion on the ground that such the “understanding” of the negotiators of the convention? And this is preeise'y the principle of the present case, and no man can fail to see ths 0Us Consequences to which its establish oul cessarily Jead. The Secretary of ‘tate seems to hove had misgivings upon this subj-ct, for he thought it peceseary to ascertaia uoderatanding of the er 1 suppose from the fact of this applice tion that if be had beea toli the Senate did not “npderstend”’ this matter as he did, the tresty woald have gone back to that body for its reconsideration. This presupposed that there was an actual important arravgerent, only to be justified by the fact that it was in accordance with the views of @ co ordinate branc: of the treaty msking porer. And what wes tbe constitu tiomal mode of assertaining the seatiments of that body? Most aceurediy by its referencs to them in the usual way by the executive, with a full statement ofall the circum. stances. This cou:se would heve preserved toviolste all constitntional powers, and the views and decision of this body would have been made koown in the estadlisded mabner And the controveray in which we {nd ourselves engaged is tne best commentary upon the impropriety AnG wncorstitution slity of tbis whole execative pro seed ing. Instead of doing thie, the Secretary of S the opinion of the chairman of the Cim mittee on ign Relaticns as to the views and the Seoator from Delaware, in defencing the course, speaks of the chairman as our “official organ,’ seeking to j sti’y him self by that desigaation. Sir, ber ocsupping that position is uo mcre the “official organ’ to make know: sathoritatively the views of the Sena‘e the e: cutivs than any other member of this boty. The Senate, in euch cases, is its own organ, and its fotercourse with the President is carried oa by mes ages on bis side, and by votes and resolutions on theirs. This very experiment, equally unfortuns ‘and coi quencer, ¢xpores the error of # the true principles of p:eoseding, aad of the attempt to substitat> the opinions of an individual for the action of the proper body. It ta quite clear pow that Col Kiog did 00: understand the stale of things between the Secreta: y of State and the British Minister, and it is past contradic. tion that a large portion of the'Senste never thooght of agreeing to the exclusion of ‘ Hondaras and ite depen ten. cies” from the obligations of che treaty, #nd would have voted against its rat fication had they belie red that such an attempt would be made. Ail this a vote of this body would have rhown, bad its conatitutional rights been re garded, The Senator treats tis branch of the sudjecs in arirgolarly cavaiier manner, [4 says he has b+ ore bim the better cf the chairman, Co). Kicg, ioforming him of our views. “It is conclusive,” he adds, ‘of the fact that tbe Senator, mesning myseif and ali others who voted for an‘ sgainat the treaty, perfectly 1 derstood at the tims tthe territory of British Hoaduras was got included | e treaty, All understood t¢ th 4m have said Dat they did not ucderstem? it 4 a few oF to prove it in mot where their own official clare’ to me they psrfec ly understocd it to treaty was ratified by them They try to ov own or ppointec by them to communicate with me cf @ misstatement, or to ovnvict themselves of igus vance"? All this is very bad logic and still worse taste Indeed, it is about the most extraordinary view ever taken of the position of the members of this & dy I never knew before that the chairmen of our eommit tees were our representatives, with full power, absolutely precluding us by their rtatementa, from asertiog the truth in our own case. Why, sir, this is too extravagant to bear an argument. In order not to convict ou: owa organ, a8 the Senator calls the chairm+a, or, ia other is, not to correct misapprehens ons re to ait still, and suffer ourselves to be convicted of gris igao rauce, or something worse I tell the Senator hy exposes himeel! ton neve-@ retort. by saying tl ‘all under- stood it then, large portion of understood no ing Cara loged ig mption I might all it, but I relative condition of himsel/ stify—the chairman of no committee is the the Senator apeas «here es be thinks and feels, he preciate very differently the real dignity of the po: we ocow py io thie great department of the govern nent, I bave said, sfr, that I should refer to the authority of the British goveramwnt in this questioa of the exteat of Central Au erica, and I now proceed todos, Tas hon (rable Senater fom Dew is Ho well satisiied with bis own labors cn this subject that he actually ‘ tarows down the gauntlet not only to certain * wise men’ who had doubted bis geographical and diplomat.s infalli bility, but even to the Committee on Fereign Kelations, inv.t'rg them. to defend this part of their report if thay can,” significantly, if pot courteously, saying. ‘1 be come the secuser im my tarm."’ Lwou t eater the | ste sir, with ap antagonist eho thas promises to crasb his opponents, but I will megestly gnggeet that this kind of reife nfideuce is not slways ® sure augury of vistory. uch allowance shon' made for the evuliently excited feelings of the member, ami it reqaies mach before the intemperance of guage oi dexonve. J nolaising of others, be bas a weworthy of his porltion carried one war 6 gen | them ? Do you wish to prevent that?’ ht to ashamed,” and much more of this sort, but which I have Jittle taste for collectiag. I have already said that I do not = arraind enter into the question whether Honinras ani its ds yen encies are of Central Amerisa. I shall con tnt myself with some very general remarks on the sub- ject, and with referring, as | said, to cerssin authorita- tive sampad cohen entitled to much weight in this coatroverry, First among these are the views of the British government, and I’will transfor to 1t the geuntlet thrown down by the Senator, ‘who suffers the report of the committee to the report of others, who asserted with so much cot @ that Britiss Honduras wa: cluded ia the treaty.’’ The British government back the tresty with het igre declaration, ass ‘he act of ratification, thBt ite e ments did aot ex- ‘end to Honduras ae or theotter hypothesis must be true in explanation of this courre, and | leave the Sena- tor to take bia choice, aa either is sufficient for my par- pose. The British Cabinet must have thought that tae ceecriptive terma Central America embraced t.e19 posses. sions, and, in that event, that they must te abandoned by Great Britain, or that the quertion was #0 doudtfal ‘hat # contest might arise upon the subject with the United States and, ineitber case, a prudent fore. demanded that all doubt should be removed by an explici: declaration. In any other aspect of the transaction, the declaratcry anpunciation was @ meeact of: marerecoasiion. equally useless and undigaifed; a folly, indeed, which the British government was not likely to commit. litle pograci.us asl feel myself I wiil throw down a ganatlet al, and challenge the senator trom Delaware to a0) ‘opable motive for the conduct of lie I ew satified, sir, that the tre te:m ,Central 41 did i Bii'tsh Honduras, of an excess of patriotism can citizen and Senator, it is quite parconable in me to think my country has made out » clear case ia 8 con vention. when the other party thivks it is only a provable one. All I eel desi ous of establisbing is that I had good reasons for believing that this treaty would abrogate Britirh influence in Central America, includiog Honduras, and this I establish by the very act of the other party. Bat we have more than this, far more, sir, The papers recently disclosed, to which I shall agatn rey-rt by ant by, prove keyord doubt tnat in the opinion of British sta:eamen, high in office, and whose opinions are almost decisive with their government, in ruch cases the eettle meots of Honduras make part of the Central America de scribed in this coavention. In the letter of the ( 1e0n’s At voeste to the British Seore ary of State for Foreign Aifaira, that funetioosry says, ‘1 understand Mr. Clayton to as: sert that by the treaty Great Britaioa had absudoned all dominion ip the whole of Central Ameries. Which asser tion is, ic my opinion, inco-rect, and at variance with the fact, at least a8 regards Belize and its dependensias. if indeed this exception from Central America was not io tented by him.” This exception was in‘ended, as we know, by Mr. Clayton, but under the assunption ‘that it was uncerstood by the negotiators thet the “engage ments of the treaty did not extend to the Sritish pos sersiona”’ ‘Great Britain,” says the Queen's adv cate sul further, ‘may protect any State in Csntral America, by force of arms if needful, &c , provided only that ia 80 doing she abstains from occupying, We , or exercising ap a fon beyord her own territory ia Cantral America.” fe reya, also, ‘She certainly do #0, (that is, carry on military operations in Central America,) ifthe ab- ttains from otcupsing, or fortifying, or assuming, or exercising dominion therein, beyond her own territory.”” Lord Glerendon, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire, in bis despatch to Mr. Crampton, furpbed to our government for its information, lea’ no Coubt of the true extent of Central America in his opipicn, He observes that ** Grea} B-itain has no- where inthe treaty of April 1850, renounced, nor evea bad ary intention 10 renounce, the fall and absolute right which she possesses over her own lawful territories in Centra] America, such as that desigaation was cis- ticetly understocd and declared by the negotiators of the treaty, nor bas Great Britain renoanced by the treaty the protection which she bas afforded for ceataries past, and still affor s to the Mosquito Territory.” What other lawful territories Great Britain possesses in Central Amoe- rica than Honduras and its dependencies, I kaow not, for the Mcequito country is ‘not yet claimed as a territory, and it is evidently excluded from tbat description by Lord Clarendon. By the Koglirh lawfal territories ia Central America, as that desigaation was distinctly understood acd declared by the negotiators of the treaty, Lord Cla rence refer, I suppose, to the'joint act of the nego- tiators, by which the engagements of the treaty were declared not to extend to Honduras ani its dependencies, though situated in Central Amariss Having thus estebiisbed the porition that the British gvervment believed these setiiemen‘s were in Central america, cr at least that there were etrong grounds for such an opinion, and Laving shown that the former view is entertained by ber emiven: men, whove official duty it is to consider the bearing of this question upoo the in terests of Groat Britain, and whose sentiments were no doudt submiited to and approved by the Cabioet before tranemissicn to this country, I now proceed to refer, as [ promised to the Senator from Delaware, while acting in 8 capacity of Secretary of State, as an authority of no little weight in thiscontroveray When the British Minis ter, with the rider upon tie treaty excepting from Cental America a large portion of its territory, asked the concur. rent acknowlecgment of the Secretary of State thas this Gemard was just, it appears that the applica ua eapected. was one for which he was mot uapr. 3 for the subjectitself ad occupied the consideration of the Begotia‘ors at their confereaces, They had, in fast, come to aa undcerstarding relation to it, as we are told by the Amerisen Commissioner, who sa:s that ‘the lang of the fis; article of ‘the copvention not usderstood by them, (the Brituh go’ ment,) nor by either of us, (the megotiat m luce the British settlements ia Hoaduras,”” Fits ‘Thea why not say 20? This question must have been Ciseu ned between the uegotiating agents, though wa kaow not. pg 0% the divcassion bat by the resuls. It wea not *}ru g upon the Senate by the original debate in this body. No ‘understanding’ could have been come to up- 0a this point without mutual consideration and discus Hon, wick pre suppose, of course, that ‘bh 4 flicuity to adjust by such com biced action. [ta ves ive ‘B00 ite comrequences could not have essapel the penetra- tien of ragecivus statesmen, wor the consideration thet tlere wa: a latituce in the words of the treaty which was to be hono ed by the ted not by the p oper adaptati-n’of the Jai he reslehjecis, He who read it would or miight Feagueably acppote it was designed to exclede American acd British comiaion from all Cepstral America Hacaly, who was bebied the acenee, covld know that the face of the in mnt was to becontrolied by an understanding bet w aoue ri two persona, whose functions expired when the in- Atrument was signed. Now, sir, this discussion and ua- derstand! Se betweet the Senator and his diplomatic showa him, did show his, in teed, re wass very important question left at lovee exces,’ im lying.a doubt, which might have been removed in five minutes by an obvious.chaoge in the ‘lan- guage.” Little is hazarded by the assertion that the ne- gotiators same to no understanding res ecting any other territorial poiseesiors of England, except Honduras, thengh, indeed, theyfmay have talked about the Mosquito const; but with what practical arrangement it ia vaia 2° inquire, for Lord Clarendon, in the have alindet, saya that bis government wil! hold on to the protectorate there, which it has enjoyed for cen- turies, and intiaates in no dou :tful laoguage, that the eftorts of the States of Nicaragua an¢ Hordaras to take porseraion of this Indian territory, within their sovereign- ty, would be resisted by # British force. The Senator from Delaware looks upon the Koglish prectorate a nothing bu; a pater: care of “miserable savages’’ —views in @ mort kincly light the interest tak: Ping lend in their behalf, and demands, in the ni ‘we derire she shoukl pot send food to the haif- * May she mot send the Bible among Mr. President, I know something of British interfsrence with Indian tribes—comething of the subsidies granted, s0 feelingly touched upon by the Senator, and by which they were retained ae usefal allies against ur, 80 designated by the British commissioners at Goent, and the history of our Northwestern frontier con tains many @ tale of blood, many # revoltiog scene of atro- cious cruelty, due to this union of the Christian aud the savage IL bave no patience with tha: affectation which weeks, in feelings of charity, the mouse for sach ueholy co-operation; and were the subjest not too grave, it would really be amaving to hear any Senator descaat upon the benevolent reasons which prompt the British go- ver pment to wateh over the welfare of the Mosquito chief avd bis people. A® @ practical matter, I should think Wat the largest stock of knowledge might fad objects enoogh of philanthropy with which to booupy iteelf ia Fogland ana its dependescies, without seeking farther em- ploy ment in Central America or upoo the frontier of tae Uni ec States, Bat, after all, the Senator is destined to encounter s disappointment’ in this part of the treaty. The error was in leaving the protectorate at all; and, ii it were left, im leavirg undeficed the relations it carried with it, In his justification of this course, he tells as that these Indians bave deadly foes around them, and tha “we bad po justifiable motive for preventing Great B itain from intercediog, in a friendly with any on of tee Central American republics to save them from ce- sroction’? Soft words these, Mr. Icesid and rotty put. eroeding with ‘the Oeatral American repuctica im friew 4 es: on the subject of lucian tribes, which, by the recognise prin = pateh to ebich I | les of the law of nations, are sabject alse to the ac- rion of the civil ged governments, wiihia whose juristic tuo they reside, Bot Lord Clarendon, @ hare seen, wellr us ancther story, With him there ix no question of fencly interference, but of armed inervention, and he worn: er and the Spapish-Arericaa governmeata that ary attem;t todo as we bave done. and as !ogiand has done, and as all other civilized ostions upon ihis comti ornt bave done, to controi the Iocians within their de ntvions, will be at their own which translated oto Pegiish, mesos war with England. Bat whatever ‘ pro- lection” of s charitable nature, or of any otcer, Eoglsad ray render to these Indians, it must be within the apirit and object of the treaty, It must be withoat occupation for.ideati w, or dominion— withoat political tuflaenes, in- cerd—snd the pretext to march her fore*s in‘o their country, avd thus to held itfor ber own purposes in their ulter pervertion of the langasge aud purposes convention She seeks to do this for the protes tion of berown interests, not of theirs, I repeat, str, that little ie hagarded by asserting that there wax n0 dis- cus between tbe regotiatora, po understanding re specting any other of the possersions of Rogland, trom the Uronoce to the Ganges. Do you suppose they talked about Jamaica, or Eoglirh Gaiane or ada, in connse- Vion with th’s treaty ? wooo Bf it, ead simpl, because bo sane man oa pretend they were em raced by its language But jnely because euch @ anion could bs reaconsbly adeapesd with respect to Honduras it be- hoved the Erglieh Commissioner, in the taterest of nis country to come to an uaderstanding, by whioh this oon- closicn might be foresiosed. Avd he did «0; but the beme authori iee wanted something strovge: thao the tere declaration of intention, and ihey obtained it by the exp/et co operation of the American éxecutive, And an- er jhere c:roumstances how happens {: thatan American Secve ary of State, conductiog the negotiation on the part of bis country, when be fousd the inagaage was #0 equi vocal (het a mutaal uanderstandior became necesvary to e+ blish ite true import? Why dia he not, I say, remove #1) equivocation by an instant change iv the phraseology, fo that no ons could b* misled as to the obligations creat ed by the instrument? The Senate would theo have *n what they ratified, and tte countyy woul! have bp what daties it inenrred, without the use ofa teer, compiled for that purpose by the Secretary of in the form of ao official cect rat om, beh erm oritative om lao |} tary of State to the Bri ivh minister was to seck as protest a; <2 acknowledgement of the title of jonc, ras. partment of State, uarontradicted by word, for he is 2 pressly told by ths Rerretery of State, and the seme fact is repeateiin the memorandum deposited by the Secretary with the tresty, “thet British Hocduras was rot embraced ia the treaty,”” it Js im possible to establish this point more clearly. ‘The Senator from Delaware seems to congratu ate him self upon the fact that he left the title to Honduras as the treaty bears it, wichout denying, affirming, or in any way with the same, * just as it stood previously.’”” And the honora :le chairman also appears to at ach sone importance to this measure as 4 precau- tionary one. I must confess that to me it is another of the enizmas of these enigmatical p-ooeedings. What the Secretary of State co meso by talking of leaviog the British title, ag the treaty left it ‘just as it stood pre viously,”’ (pravicusiy 1 a treaty which it was understood @id met touch it,) f a itterly unable to comprehen, after ke bad formal'y declared tha: the cosvention did pot extend to this colon; :seems tome that refer- ence to the treaty of Ghent, or any «ther indeed, woul! bave been jcst as appropriate Tae moment be acceded to the British demand, tha moment he bad no more to de with these possessions than he had with the city of London iteelf, and bis protest against the title of tne lat- ter would bave been just as appropriate ani as valid as gaint the former, aid pot © particle more so. It was mere act of supererogation, bat so far as respecte this convertion, it was an unauthorized interference, For aught that appears by the paperr, the British govern mert did pot ark United States to their title to there r-giona. Toeyeaid nothing about it, mot a word. They asked our acknowledgment that the treaty did not extend to them. end they got it, and there ended the matter. Nor do l,co.cur with the Committee 02 Foreign Affairs io their estimate of the eifset of the acmission thus made by the Secretary of State. With re- pect to the practical operation of sucn a decla ration as this, made at the time of the exchange of rati- fications, whatever that might be, if juiged by tns ordi uary p)ibeiples of municipal law, appl.ed to individ aals, tt cannot be contesied thas in the intercourse of ne‘ionn vbere mutual he ements depend for their f.\iuneot upon mutual good faith, euch a jolat procedure would ba ccpsidered by the party itself, and by the world asa full justification for the construction demanded, and cone quentiy in this care, that this treaty had no bea.ing upon her seitlement of duras and its dependencivs, or at epy rate a portion of them. Mr. Johsaon. in his letter to the Senator from Delaware, ‘ppeake of this question ass strictly legai one, acd refers to the prgtoool on ths ex change of the ratification of the Mexican tresty as bearing in priveiple upon it. Sir, it goes far beyond mere techuical considerations, and far beyond that ast That was the declaration of the opinion of the Com mistioner as to the extent of certein clauses of the treaty avowedly made without authority what ever. This was the act of the head of the pation, the or gax of communication with foreign powers, within the line of his authority ashe considered it, receiving aud assenting. to ® conditional ratification, and d-clarivg that the Senate understood it ashe did For I suppose that no ove will deny that this whole proceeding took place with the rauction ef the President, and upon his responsioility. But, sir, to return to the bill of indictment preferred sgsinst me by the bonoruble member. He saya * that mace a atill gaver and more serious accusation agaiast him.;” that I charged bia with inserting a direct false- hood in his letter to Sir Henry Bulwer in the assertion made uson the au:hority o’C+l, King, that the Senate erect understood, at the time they voted upon the eaty, that British Honduras was not included init and ‘that I declared to the Senaie that I bad received from Col. King that very morning a positive denial of the ‘asset tion.” Mr. President, it is obvious that there are two facts involved im this statement; one, and mach the most important is, that the Senate knew this restric tion upon he limits of Central America, by which that British province was excluded from its operation, aad the econ tary one, re er:ing to the sutuority of Oct King in proof of the alleges knov ledge of thie body. Now, tir, as to the first, no man cau deny but there was some where @ grave miteke. No man, excapt the Seoator from Delaware, will oow acrert that the Sens‘e, as such, perfectly vn Jerstuod that B itich Honduras was no: io: Gluded in the treaty Of cours they knew nothing of the “understanding” of the negodators—that fe not pretenc. e¢—and therefere their opiaion of the territorial obliga- tions of the treaty depended on their oplaton of the ex- tent—the geographical extent, of Central Ameria. for it bad then no political existence auy more then the Hep tarcby of former days, or the Itsly ef ourown. And he who believed that the Bri.ish possessions, or any portioa of them, are,in thet i hes @f country, could not bi in thiz exclusion from the cbligatioas of the conv That rome of the Senators entertained th porion ef theee possess.ons were Central America. I do not dany. y & portion of thesa ponseasions. for I do not believe there was one man ia the Senate and very few out of it, who believed that the whole of ti lay beyonc¢ that region of coantry. Many Sematcrs, as we know from tbeir ceclarations, considered all there British usurpations as honestly making part of Central America, and consequently mo one has the rigtt to ‘my that the Senate, as such, knew of acd scquiesced in this constructive exclusion. But even were it otherwise, it is enough for ms to asy tbat T never bad before heard of 1%, aud I na. toe right to yeheve myself from the imputation it would necesna- cily bring upon me were it true, in consequeace of the curre I bad taken; and in ihie act of seit-defence I hid the further duty of stating my pvsition ami the facts themreives, im the face of the couctry As one of the Seneto, attending all these proceectogs and ps:tisipatiog ‘hea, 1 did not “‘onderstand that trea y did not ide British Hondaras.”” The uasverial ty of the pro pastiion imeluded me The truth, exclu-icg ms aod many others, waa iccompatible with toe geaeral asser tich. Well, sir, this al.eged urderetauciog was therefore an error, It was aot true, The facts bad been sone ‘a where misspprehended, and th m, a now, it was prop Tight. As to the ep thets employed by th- acr, they ace his not mine I ase! po ion a8 faivehood, nor auy term implylog moral delinquency. I kept myself within the limits of courteous and legitimate dircassion. I violsted no one of its proprieties ia the inquiry, nor ia the coatroversy fo which 1: gave rise. I woald not do so any#here, aod Jeast of ll in this bigh branch of the national power. The caliirg in question of alleged faots, and the attempt to disprove them, give no just cause of offenca to any one. so lopg as proper and temperate language is wec. No Serator bas a right to ray 1 charge him wita a false. hood, which implies a want of moral principle, by aucha procee ing. The sources of human error are too obricas and too numerous to excite surprise by their operstion, or to justify impatation by their action We are liable to their effects, from the cradle to the go every vearch after truth mis ht cegenerate into personal altercation, if coubts avd e>ntradictions necessarily implied offe:sive imputations. I rapeat, sir, I mate no ebarge of falsehood against the Senator As soon as I read the jetter, and the accompamyiog documents, I de termined to call upon Cclonei King to ascertain the ground for the assertion that the te was aware of ‘this claim to exslude Briti*th Hon‘urar from the stipula- tions of the treaty, in order. yey and promptly, to clear myself from the charge of participating in this vis ¢ of the obligations created by that instrumsmt I suppose neither the Senator from Delaware oor avy one eles will call in question my right to 0 ‘his course, Well, sir, I cid cali upom Golorel King, and tos result of that inter- view Ineed not repeat, for I cov:mutisated it to the Serate the very Guy it took place, at the Inet régtiar session of this bocy. Colonel King disclaimed all kaow- ledge of the alleged fact, and I #0 informed the Senate. Hie views then were précicely what they were at the meeting of the deraceratic Senators, as relatei by the member from Louisiana, (ifr. Soulé), I stated my own position, and the conversation I had had with Col Kiog; and I did so the more rea“ ily because he desiredit. Now, sir, 1 am not going te de’end the decorum of this pro: ceeding. { may safely leave my vincieation to the good sense of the country, In proceeding to what he considersa much graver accusation, the Senator from Delaware speaks of the ebarge mace agaio.t him in con- nection with the letter of Mr King, aud the ¢enial in it, as thoogh I were the author of the contradiction and his and acourtr. I disclaim the agency thus imputed to I expressly said I did not come h-re to arraiga Mr, Clay ton, 1 denied that the Senste—w al Senators may have thought—understood that British Honcuras was not included in the treaty. I halo right to do #0, being one of those who never for » moment en- tertained such a view, and who would have votes the ratification had such ® suggestion been seriously miintained as the act ef this body. But, as to the let my agency was confved to reporting at his own quest my conversation with Colonel Kiog upon authority the statemeut rested, The Sscator saya “ The Senator from Michi declared, ia the preveace t he had that very moraing 1 King, and bad recsived mn ’ President, and I repeat it here in himself waited upon Vol hiv own lips the positive deciai of the assertion.” be sure I did, Me the rame presence, and in the face of the Senator himself. It was true then, wud it is equally trae now. ‘The S nator gces om to aay that a man of hasty impulse mightmake a misiake, and misundersterd as Tam not amacof herty impulse, | nei her mistock nor misecerstcod tre tenor of the ccneorsation, and there- fore could pot take the benedt of tain asi ofvbiirion, even vere i: devigued forme Bat it in nt; for the Senator adén that on the Saturday succeeding, his own vindica- tion, inclading s copy of Col. King’s letter to him, was published tn the papara, whicn I mast bave seem; ‘and it Appesrs,’’ be continues, “from the card of Mr. Bragg, & gentleman of the other House, aud s friend of Mr. King, published on the Tuesday succesding, that the honorad! Senator from Mich'gan must bimsel’ have seen Mr. King aiter the morning ov which he made his accusation reorived from Mr. King’s own lips a denial of the state- ment which the Sesator made on this for.” Mr. Presi fevsible cnly from that exciied state of evidences of which were given by th PI Jatge Bragg est intimation that I raw Coovel Kum did I—and maker no a! in there the remotert jnaicn tosuch @ eiroumstancs, nor iggestion in his letter that Golonel trath of the statement which I pom hie “suthority. I re to reconcile his asser mstter of fact, I saw tion with the letter itself Colone] Ktog but once, andyof cours, I received from him no such Cenialas sileged, I am aware that for a few houre there was a design exhibited in certain qa meke the trath of the statement! Traomitted 1) thy Se nate, a question of veracity, (of my veracity ) thoagh it never asuned s tangible shape. How could it? © lonel Kirg wasin the city, and could atany momeat have coc tr dicted my sta’ement, if untra, upon his own autiori- ty, bat be never did so; aad were there no other evidence ot hisacgu'es ence, tals exprevsive sileace would nave teen sufficient. Bat there ig more then this; Judge breog. inthe very letter reverred to, in *O mary word », th Ovlowel King did aay what eral Cass re prevents hm to bavesai! in bisstetement.”” Julge Romy ‘Bro acds that * C1! & bOpprned wtateme ote ae they ac: ol Klog «lsmgusge to me wes baw of facta f Jurisdiction of Great Britain over a certain joald be jaite ill, though iy ae mnie head ee attention he woul! heve wed upon them had he been in better health. Jadge Bragg sya Colonel King supposec the British demand of the recognition of title bad dren yielded to. Most avsured- ly he coul net have received that information from me. No such cemand was made, 80 far ae | know—ovrtainiy nore is disclosec by the pap-ré—and it wea therefore an allegation L could re.ther make nor contradict, as T hed not the slightest knowledge of the circumstance - H. now redeemed myself from any charge of misunderstand irg cr mi representing Colovel King, I return to the aceu- sation of the Senator 1 om Deli @. He says that afte: wards—that is, after the publication of Colovel Kivg’ note, and bis den‘al personaily of the truth of my atate- ment—it appears fiom the cari of Judge Bragg I came into the Senate chamber and reiterated the accusa tion Judge Bragg coes state that I reitera'e1 my pre. vious aseertion, but nothing more; but the Seuator saya itdoes not appear by the debates that Idid so. In this the honorable member isin error. Ae will find, by re- ferrir g to the 50th and Sist pages of the volume of the Congressional Globe of the last reasion that I did expressly reiterate what I had said before—that Col. King made te me the statement ve to the Senate, 1 was not respontible for Col. King’s accuracy, but I was reaponsi- ble for .my own—that is, that Cul Kiog told me what I sald be did. And does the Senate suppore, because he published the note of Col King, that, therefore, { was precluded from defending my own position? What I said on that dav was substantiaily a repetition of what Col, Kirg bad told me—that is, a repetition of his statement, end the re acsertion that he made it, to defend myself raed any imputation of beieg its author, andl iso, the exprersion of a conviction, whieh is as firm now as then, that a)lhe suppased it wax intended by ihe treaty to leave to Great Britain, was w right to cat logweod im Honduras, put without apy right to fortify or to colonize The declaration repeated by Mr. Soulé o the letter of Judge Bragg, thin supposition “He tola me, til this dey, he rupposed th this declaration ha: and a portion ly to be reconciled by eait Jadge Bragg, “that Project of asceptiog ndvaed, sod that the provision bead rovision been abandoned, and he cousidered the treaty ratited by the British govern nen, precisely as tt had been rati- fied by the Senate.”’ Cul. King elvo said + he hed some ral idea of s claim of Eaglaad to cut logw.od in , but he never thought of ive basing set up as dation of @ pretension to establish a oylony there fe have here Col, King’s views of ais own porition; ard no man who tnew,him will doubt bis honor or his patriotism, Oar country never posvewed « more honorable citizen, and few have been more deep'y or more justly lamented The explanation given by the Senator. even if it were correct, does not reach :he gravamenof the charge—that is, not as to the und stancing of the Senate, erroneous aa hia views in taat respect were; but that he ascepted a conditional ratifies tion and gave the impreesions ¢ f Col. King as his autho- rity for the proceedure, thus changing a treaty with wut the knowledge of the Senate. I: is obvions that Col. King never euspected even euch a use of his nove. It was evidently @ private and hasty one, not writ en for an offi- cial Ee ) and as the “organ” of the Senate—for Col g was the last man to saiume guch an invidious dis inetion—andwas to be used in converrativn merely,and was written in auawer toa letter from Mr Clayten both bearing the same ¢: Io that letter Mr Clayton asks the understanc ing of the Senate upcn this poiat of ex- clurion, aud adds that he was the! morning writing to Sir Heoty Bul copy of which letter we hare) ‘and while Ceclining altering the treaty at the time acs (earns verti he wishes to leave me groands for ® cbt juplicity ageinst.our government therefo: shall Ras him in effect thet pa — struction inclusion of Hoaduras in the treaty) waa Boi in the orntemplation of the negotiators or of the Senate, at the time of confirmation” He there asked permission of Col. King to use his name in making this Statement. The cay this letter was wiitten ta Jol King the letter to Sir Hoary Bulwer, ag I have said, wagaleo written. In that letter the porelarr tells the British Mivister, after cou-enting to reveive the conditional act of ratification, that of course no siteration could be made in the convention withon; referring the same to the Srpate; “but I to not underatend yoa as having auth to propore ary alteration.” How the Secretary of State could decline to alter the treaty, ax he says to Col. King, when ro alteration was aaked by the other party, as he taye toSir Henry Bulwer, it is not very easy to comp.e- hend. Certainly, Col. King might well tell Judge Br that till the day of their conversation ‘he supposed theaty stocd upon ite own provisions,” aud thet “it had Deon ratified by the British government preoiaply as it had been ratified by the Senate” I am aware, sir, of toe executive message of July 14, 1860, referred to in the deba'e, aud which expressed the views of the President respecting the eatent of the obiigations of the treaty. But neither that mee: nor @ay other document aor information, so far dipkened ever made beige to the country these strange diplomatic proceedings iil they were called oat by the rerolution of the last asesion. To chow the real spirit which I carried to the discussion, I quote what I said om this second day: ‘With reaspeet to the letter which Mr. Clayton bax published, am mot disposed te belieye be did mot receive ub an one. He is an honorable man, and would ot make atch an assertion unless it were trae ’” But, sir, the documents recently communicated by the executive in relation to this treaty, disclose a sate of things worre than was anticipated by its oppone: Spprehended by it frien is—a state of thiogs, as feated by the claims of Engisad, in atrikiag o the views £0 couficentiy expressed by the Seastor from Delaware respecting the true intent and certsin tiona and clearneet 0’ thie treaty, by the exolu:ion of Br tish influence from the Central American regtuas. ‘Ag to the British prot: ction in Ueatral Ameri: the Senator, ‘ it was, of course, disarmed by the tewaty. @ too plain to be misuaderstovl ty aay one, Great Britain cannot place an armed soldi-r oa the terri- tory without viclating the treaty.” Aud af ar remark: , in rela‘ion to the protectorate ov-r :hs la: “that there is ncthing undefined in the treaty on this subject,” he ssys “that all British dominions in the whole of Central America, exten(iog, as it does, by tbe lice of the es const, nearly ove thousand mil-s is ahaa doned.”” Unfortunately, the ‘‘protection”’ rema'n—that isthe word ed in the treaty, and it is @ well ch een eve. better than 100, &8 protector was a better word for Cromwell than King, for it admits of about as muoh latitude of interpretation as the veriest political casnist could desire. Toe Senator from Dela as We from hia remarks upon this subject, ani te which [ shall agsin advert, in preserving :hi- * protection’’ intended only to preserve to England the right of affording oheri- table assistance and reigioas icstruction “to the wre:ched Morquito Iociane,” ard of mediating with the local governments within’ whose limits they reside. to prevent their being marsscred by their hereaitary ene- nies. And be adminirtere @ severe rebuke to the oo | from Llinols, (Mr. Douglas,) for asrerting that Britaia has not abandoned any pert ofthe coustry, eay- ing thet he “does not piaes mueh reliance upon nt be, (the member from lilinols,) makes on thie ’ His reliapce seoma to be upow the British who “assures us thet hia goveroment hi cbserved the treaty, and means to observe it faizhfally, &e Cold comfort this, Mr Presiceat, for him who made this treaty, or for ua who in good faith advsoeted ite rotifestion. Lord Clarendon aids nis assurances to thoes Cf the British Mivister, telliag as, 1 measured s0° Powe dere(and them. And, really, pear that almost the only eudstantial point upon whieh retandi the negotiation was clear and ma- tual, ro far as we can judge from the av. wei purp+nes of our co-contractor, wae that Hosdure- aad its Sone. cies should be secured from the obligations crested by ‘be language of the treaty, Nearly ali eise seems in the op'nion of the British government, to fail withir. the este. ag? of thnk ae may be indefinite in it,” a4 deserived the ir, it woall ap itieh Secretary of State whether wi b most slo- oerity or sarcasm it is no part of my teak to judge, Bat certainly it is rare in the tatercourse of nations that so Sweeping @ protest—for @ protest iu fact it it—as that con'ained ia the letter of Lord Clarendon agai the construction given by one pariy, of the matual obligetions created by ® ireaty, comes to threaten the tranquillity of the contracting powers. We are told by the Britian deo. retary of State for Foreigh Affairs, that “ great misconesp- tion appears to prevail not only among the people 0° toe United States, bat also among persons pleced in ond respor sible situs tioos m the government of that c aatey— (we krow from the allusion to his «pesea, by the Qu-sa’ acvocate, that the Secator from Deiaw: mirocneeivere)—with re ments into which Great Britain ener: tion of Washington of April 19, 180, with respect to her present and future reletious with Mosquito and the other natiens of Central Ameri»s— bt bis five hundred foliewers nave ion’? of Central Amerisa)—and as tast tion, if not immediately srrected \ bond sirable that that question should wi upon ite right foot 2 clear and distinct ex piaaston of the views which Hor Majasty’s government takes of} and of the condust whi:h they iatens to parkas with re- ward to it’? And canno; sccuse him of any eqe cation, for he tells us pretty clearly what the Britiay overnment will do, and what they won’tdo They will fcis ou to all their pretensiogs, sod they will mo: ssori- fice their interest to our misconcepiion—or im other vores, to Our constrnotion of the treaty. Bat, wir, ide tire not to be misonderstosd. I desire neither to mis reprerent the Sena’or from Deleware, nor to depreciate his labor, which I siccerely believe he uniertosk wita the mont patriotic icteotiona, becoming ois high and re apomsible tion. Tearnes ly re pudiat~— se exrnenty ae he can—the construction given to the treaty by the British government mush of which i opposed to ite le» asge, and much more to ite spirit. And I th’ Grief review of the cireumatances w 1i establia the true object of this cony-mtion, but the utter inoom- patibility of the British pretension sich tae avowed pur- poses of the partier. But before doing so, it seems ne censary to look back to the acquinition of thers po mes siont, and to contrast 1 i jumsten.es under they were mada, wi the dom of the Bri ja gularly itastretive of ths pol cy of Frgiand by which she has encircled the word wisn her colonies, and 41-0 because the tenasity—p-rtinast indeed—with which che bay adhered to these regions, tho fece of the most nolama eagagements, bar be rarely equatied in the prog! vationsl power, The piratieal enterprires agsiaa: the Span sh p me in Ameries having been pus na some of the ad- # mace an entadi berg otting matoweny and dyewoo ts that in thet reat Thiadrect encro seamen’ upon the rights of Spain led to dficni.ies botesen ner aad Rng land, and was one of the canes of the wer of 1739 Tue firet recognition of this Go by Spaim ts to be fonad im the treaty of 1768, with Boylend, which proviced that fhe fortifications e Bich the Heitieh had srectel in