The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-14

the island Cuba for any Size vesse6A arhoms"l
The territorial acquisitions which England has made
through the world have been selected with great saga
city some for the purposes OF power and commerce. and
others as positions where her vessels can md potecuon
and be reflted and where supplies for their necessities
always be found She holds the southern points OF
four continents and entire possession of the fifth The
whole commerce of the world passes before her gates
The Falkland islands, Cape Horn, give her the
command OF the passage round our hemisphere. The
Cape OF Good Hope gives her an equal control OF the
navigation of Southern Africa Alden is the key to the
Red sea The southern points OF Asia, Cape Comorn'
on the east side OF the bay OF Bengal and the alacca
cape, on the west commanders the former by Cey-
lon and the latter by Sngapore and to these she mas
recently added part OF Boneo and Labaap IN The Indian
Archipelago. New Holland in the great Southern Pacl-
hc is of her colonial dependencies, and It's
harbos are essential to the navigation OF that region
Hong, Kong is her foothold upon the Chinese empire,
equally available for the purposes of commerce now and
of ambition hereafter. The rock of Gibraltar, which
rowns over the entrance into the Mediterranean, at
the southern extremity of Europe, and has been held by
her for century and half TO control its commerce, and
among the last positions from which she will retreat
SO much for the policy OF England as deduced from
her conduct If the distinguished senator from South
Carolina draws his conclusion that she will not interfere
the of Yucatan from the circumstances OF her
present position, think his views quite as unsafe as
ii II were drawn from her established system OF action
Certainly there is much in her existing condition to ex
cite her own solictude, and the attention OF the world
The honorable senator from Connecticut thinks she has
reached, as he says her eliminating point Perhaps she
has, but shall venture to speak dogmatcay upon
that question leave to rasher or to wiser than
am to pronounce what is to be her future fate sin
cerely hope that the political commissions which seem
now to be shaking the frame of the English govern
ment, if not of English society, may pass away, eay
ing The principles Of freedom and equality perfectly
vae the hundreds and press down the millions for
ever abolished To free England from many OF the
arbitrary tendencies which prevail there, would be to do
more for human liberty than almost any other political
measure now to be attained She is yet the stronghold
OF many principles at war with human happiness; and
if she surrendered the advancing spirit of the age, the
example a
other nations of Europe. But however this may be, sir
England is not to be annhated nor her spirit nor intel
ment be il monarchcal republican and she Is not 60
ing suddenly to change the identity of her characer-an
Identity which belongs as much to nations as to lndvd,
uasto renqush all her projects of aggrandizement and
TO ABANDON without effort the high position she holds In
the world Why sir republics jealous Of their rights
and firm in their determination to defend them, as the
proudes monarches Every schoolboy tell us OF the
bright days OF Greece and Rome when power was exer-
csed by ALL and when all equally interested in the
glory and prosperity OF their common country. And we
see the prevalence OF the same spirit in modern times
when Venice and Genoa and Holland, almost governed
in succession the of the world and when the
French republic marched Europe, prostratlng the
ensgns of royalty its victorious The nations
of the old hemisphere will come out of their internal
struggles fitted trust to enjoy free institutions, and pre-
henceforthnot in war, but in intelligence IN industry,
and in productiveness.
In recalling the history OF English territorial acquisi
ton, do not recolcct one in the long list-except per-
haps, Scotland which joined to her. or rather which
she joined by successlonwhich was not made by the
sword And is il probable she would reject one, if
peacefully and voluntarily offered to herr When did she
put aside with the aectaton of coyness the crown
of territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT? When did she say Noio
episcopari with the mitre within her reach And think
you, sir that she will commence her career OF modera-
ton, when the functions of conqueror and protector
be united without guilt and without reproach when she
can crafty at once her ambition and her philanthropy
and when the act will elevate her character and
tend her dominon To believe all this, is to reject the
lessons of experience and the motives of human con-
duct, whether personal national. History, we are
told, is philosophy teaching by example If the ex-
amples of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in the history OF Eng
land, furnished by her conduct under evervarying
circumstances, and too often with utter disre-
gard of the dictates OF justice and the opinion of the
world, do not teach the philosophy of her past action
and the probability of her future. may well close
the records OF human experience and abandon events TO
the doctrine of chances seeking neither to control nor
direct them. think, sir, might have safely arrived
at the conclusion, prior to this debate that Yucatan
would not apply to England for assistance in van unless
there were controlling circumstances to forbid her inter
ference But as If to rebuke us for any doubt upon the
subject since this discussion commenced has been as
ceraned that at least four companies OF British troops
have marched into the Yucatan territory from Baizs
This is the act of the colonial authority; and the
ment itself is not sufficient to excite any approximations
as to Interior designs But it is of the signs Of the
times and shows pretty clearly that the colonial govern
india governments may do, is not known. Ii they follow
the course, formidable force may be collected in
Yucaan Now do not undertake to say what the Eng
ish government will do under existing circumstances.
Much may depend upon considerations, both external
and internal not to be appreciated here The honorable
senator from Connecticut asks if we could complain,
should England grant the assistance which refuse!
Certainly not, sir and it this very view OF the matter
which excites my solcitude have no belief that Eng
land, at this moment, when the waters around her all
troubled would take possession OF Yucaan by force.
But invited there by the Yucaese people, under pressing
emergency she has right to go thcre--and to remain
there. too, if she villas proper consideration for her
services.
| now come, Mr. President, to other, and perhaps
graver considerations, directly or indirectly involved in
nc Of
great river of the North American continent whose i'm
poance II is difficult to realize, as 1t IS the value OF the
country which seek outlet to the ocean through
its waters That country is nearly equal to all Europe
IN extent, embracing twenty-five degrees OF latitude and
thiry-hve of longitude upon the great circles OF the
globe This vast basin extends from the summit OF the
Allegheny to the summit of the Rocky mountains, and
It's population now equals eight millions The yet
lives who was living when almost the first tree fell be-
fore the woodmans stroke in this great domain, and the
man is now living who will live TO see 1t contain one
hundred millions of people Already the hardy western
pioneer has crossed the barrier OF the Rocky mountains,
and the forest is giving way before human industry upon
the very shores that look out upon China and Japan
The Mississippi the great artery OF this REGION which,
drawing Its supplies from the fountains of the north,
pours them into the under tropical sum- and drains
its own course and the course OF Its mighty tbu
taresrhutares name, but equals and rivals in fact
the most magnificent empire which God, in his provi-
dence, has ever given to man to reclaim and ENJOY.
have myself descended that great stream two thousand
miles IN birch canoe, admirlDg the country through
which passes in state OF nature, and lost in the con.
temptation OF what that country is 10 be when subdued
by human industry The statistics OF such region IN
years TO come subject too vast Tor calculation Its
extent fertility saluby, of internal navigation,
and the character of the people who will nhabit it, battle