He taunted Clayton with having suppressed the Hise treaty, which secured exclusive privileges for the United States over the canal route, in order to form a partnership with England and other monarchical powers of Europe.  “Exclusive privileges” were sacrificed to lay the foundation of an alliance by which European intervention in American affairs was recognized as a right!

It was generally known that Douglas had opposed the Clayton-Bulwer treaty;[401] but the particular ground of his opposition had been only surmised.  Deeming the injunction of secrecy removed, he now emphatically registered his protest against the whole policy of pledging the faith of the Republic, not to do what in the future our interests, duty, and even safety, might compel us to do.  The time might come when the United States would wish to possess some portion of Central America.  Moreover, the agreement not to fortify any part of that region was not reciprocal, so long as Great Britain held Jamaica and commanded the entrance to the canal.  He had always regarded the terms of the British protectorate over the Mosquito coast as equivocal; but the insuperable objection to the treaty was the European partnership to which the United States was pledged.  The two parties not only contracted to extend their protection to any other practicable communications across the isthmus, whether by canal or railway, but invited all other powers to become parties to these provisions.  What was the purport of this agreement, if it did not recognize the right of European powers to intervene in American affairs; what then became of the vaunted Monroe Doctrine?

To the undiplomatic mind of Douglas, our proper course was as clear as day.  Insist upon the withdrawal of Great Britain from the Bay Islands!  “If we act with becoming discretion and firmness, I have no apprehension that the enforcement of our rights will lead to hostilities.”  And then let the United States free itself from entangling alliances by annulling the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.[402] Surely this was simplicity itself.

The return of Clayton to the Senate, in the special session of March, brought the accused before his accusers.  An acrimonious debate followed, in the course of which Douglas was forced to state his own position more explicitly.  He took his stand upon the Hise treaty.  Had the exclusive control of the canal been given into our hands, and the canal thrown open to the commerce of all nations upon our own terms, we would have had a right which would have been ample security for every nation under heaven to keep peace with the United States.  “We could have fortified that canal at each end, and in time of war could have closed it against our enemies.”  But, suggested Clayton, European powers would never have consented to such exclusive control.  “Well, Sir,” said Douglas, “I do not know that they would have consented:  but of one thing I am certain I would never have asked their consent."[403] And such was the temper of Young America that this sledge hammer diplomacy was heartily admired.