Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-04-21

gentleman from Virginia, who portrayed 10 US the ca.
lanities which might follow on in the train of these
events affect fellow citizens in the Soutl-who
exhibited those caiamitcs in affecting 10
heart WHO transpo ted that OF horrors
which he described and made US e1: seem TO hear the
cries of death from the cradle rcpospg infancy even
he is not anxious than Executive 10 prevent
these enterprises against Cuba and Porto Rico. 1t is
strange, that agreeing with the Executive in object
you should so differ in your opinion of the means. 1t
strange, that you should Judge the means which he
deems useful not only not useful but detrimental TO
your common object! The President proposes means
How that gentleman think them useless, Were he
hmsclfn that Congress- and that Cgress were TO agi
tate the project Of exciting the blacks Cuba 70 revolt
and that gentlemen were 10 represent the caamitics of
the to arise 10 his friends and their friends in
North American TO renew the picture OF those caamitics
nc has represented them us, would it have no eff
coC Ny life upon H. was going 20 say, the project
would be abandoned. do not know the gentlemen
proposed FOR this mission; but this know, that if they
possess his powers OF statement end his energy of de-
scripton powers way resembling them that their
mission cannot be useless 10 the true interests of this
country.
The gentleman has represented us Of the North rs
coldy nsansibc to the possible rcriis of those of the
South: as looking with stocal indifference those Pc
ris; and not unavorablc TO the projects that would
increase them should be sorry 60 believe that there
was any foundation for this opinion. They mistake.
think spirit which is very partial and limited fer The
general spirit of the North. know that there is
wild spirit of fanacism existing in that country but
not peculiar 10 It, the offspring of vrtuous scnsibili-
~, but unenigetened and unreguisied by reason bi-
goted to its distractions aud disposed push them uni
vcrsaly regardless of those considerations which ought
to modify and TO limit them; that nothing in cir
cumstanccs that ought TO check control them; cir
cumStanccs that control thing and not be
controlled tha 10 realize these distractions would risk
the overthrow OF the order together with the happiness
OF whole socictyincuding tla OF those vino are the
objects of its visionary bcnevoenoe. know that this
spirit is formidable, and 10 be feared; but this not the
spirit Of the North all reasonable and rejecting :nen
thcrC The gentleman from South Carolina did
justice to admit abjure this spirit They are not TO
earn that even the virtues themselves, when pushed 10
their ultimate extremes, cease to be virtues and ope
rate as wees that every society must conform TO its cir
cunsances that this is It's law; AMI not the abstract
rights OF humanity in any imaginary of nature.
They know that il two distinct People exist in the same
society, equally Numerous nearly So that one must
be subordinate to the other; that only the wehe-
ing but the being otthat society depends upon il: tat
II they forcoly and suddenly put into state of
equality struggle would Instantly TO esta-
biish tc former coDdtion that K must be re establish
cd or that the one OF the other People be extin-
guished. The supremacy o! The People and the
subsection of the other is the necessary condition of
SUCH society: and any attempt lorcibly and suddenly
10 change IT. Is to attempt to change the ure OF things
and however benevolent in Intention is criminal in fact
The gentleman, then, is mistaken, il he supposcs that
ne see with indifference that would threaten
them with tins danGeT SUCH instance, as those re-
vOluons in the Islands OF Cuba and Porto Rico which
he has imagined and which lie deprecates so much and
so justly And if we do not synpah2c III lis fears II
- because we are persuaded that this measure, instead
o!teadng to those revolutions will have contrary ten
dency and is the bes of all possible prccautiunary rnea
snres IN our power TO prevent them.
So much FOR ibis report. Let the honorable gentle
man from Tennessee still say if he WILL that its reason
Ing is conclusive. The report says ;lat Ibis mission
viii link destinies with these of the Spanish Aneri-
naons, and HAT the Congress at Panama i'll con-
troll both; ask is this proved? Is not the contrary
made evident The report says that the mission will or
may oompromt neutral rotations ask, This pro-
yei' Is not the contrary made evident? The report
says, the mission may be unfavouTable our policy of
preventing the conquest the revolutions of the Islands
of Cuba and Porto Rco-T ask, is this proved Is not
the contrary made EVIDENT
If now am asked in my turn, if any certain adyan-
tage Is certainly to from This mission; answer flat
the good OF any mission whatever is and must be- in
great measure, contngcDt depending upon those con
unCurCs of human affairs he disclosed in the PROGRESS
of human events and which beyond the reach az
human foresight the conuncnres may SUCH that the
mission may be the means Of doing great good or of
avertng great evil The probability of such results NAV
be 4 sufficient warrant for the mission.
The friendship of those nations let gentlemen abuse
them as they wilt is very important us and il is our
interest to strengthen It's bands all Tie proper means
10 power 1t evident that this mission " Ill be hio
ly acceptable TO them; and viii have the effect of
strcng hcnng those bands beyond any other eypcdien
we could employ, little 20 ourselves Is moi
that friendship important To us? Look for a moment
at the situation Of things Nature seems TO have formed
te two lemspheres for mutual commerce. and to Us
our commerce with them, is immensely valuable espe
future. Ii is only since the of their Independence
nov but cw years, that our there had be-
ginning: and already constitutes nconsiderable
portion OF all our foreign commerce. immense as that
comeIce is: and tue day is coming, and is not distant
when 1t may constitute by far the most valuable portion
OF that commerce.; the most valuable ITSELF and espc
ciay the most valuable for lis effects on every branch
OF the national industry and every interest in every
part OF our widely extended empire. The causes Of
these results arc planted IN the nature Of things as might
be shown, were this tie proper occasion. We all re-
collect the report of the Committee on Commences on
the subject Of discriminating duties and the general
views OF oar foreign commerce exhibited by their Chair
man; LIS very able comments uroD that report his very
interesting illustrations; but especially his animatng de
yeioPnen OF our commercial prospects: but nothing on
that occasion 50 much excited my admiration as his view
OF tins portion OF our commerce, particularly in the ra
Pdity Of lis increase. II must be 50. These nations
now are nations of freemen and left TO their o,v ener
ges; ard the energies Of regulated freedom never C
to carry forward nation with astonishing rapiv in the
career OF national prosperity Their population great
at prescnt-upward Of thirty millions, if mistake moi
ii, -, 4. Z