The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-06-01
Cuba---the President---Mr
Wcbster's Remarks.

~ the Sonale,on Tuesday, ME- Walkcrnioy.
ed to amend Yulcc's resolutions Of inquiry
concerning tic despatch of armed vessels to
Cuba, "a IA u requos; the President to state
hy what authority said vessels bad hccn 30
despatched. Upon this subject VT wcbscr
spoke US follows
Tic regretted lliai Mr. Walker had thought
necessary TO move the amendment Ice had Of
tered; because IL was rather offensive in IT,
terms, aud WAS not exactly regular, rs il ~.
puired under what authority a certain alleged
act hqd been DONE bcfuro any evidence of
the execution of that act had been furnished
Tie hoped the amendment would be with
drawn, but II IL was not, lac would vote for
tho resolution, even M amended. lie had
been exceedingly surprised az some OF the
propositions asserted 10y the Senator, who
had said among other things, that this sup
posed net Of the President looked Ike an act
of war. War against whouf Wha; coun-
Try? What eolonyi What proyncc? il
WINS important lhat we sl0uit PoNcto oOf-
selves 10y some distinct understanding of the
neutral duties of this government, aud of all
her clizons as defined by the law oIlsl6-+
ar We meant 10 be neutral we were To consid-
ar our treaty slipulnlions. Every body knew
that IN our stipuintions with SPAN, tie exec
utive power OF tho. United States has, over
aud over again. assured Spnn--as far as The
Executive could give such nssurnncc---that II
slin would not voluntarily give up her posses
sion of Cuba 10 European power, tho
United States would do all in their power to
nssist Spain in maintaining her possession.
lilo did not say how far these stipulations
were binding on Congress, but simply 10 re-
mind the Souutu that such slipulatieHs had
been given as far back as Juckson's admins.
trat,on, and made for the purpose aud with
the view Of inducing Spain not 10 part with
Cuba to the advantage oian European pow
or, aud the consequent detrlmcnt OF our in
teresls And the Vows and acts oflhe Exec
ative bud been published again and ngain
aud no objection to thom had ever been
hcard but what was il that had been com
planned about? II was said that the Presi-
dent had directed portion the naval nrm-
ament of the United States 10 60 10 Cuba, for
certain specific purposes, mud if the facts
sNere as stated, and supposed to be, those
purposes were not only legal, right and con-
4sttulonnl, but the course ascribod 10 the
Executive was made his duty by positive
statute. This was military expedition fitted
ont in the United States to act against Cuba
If that was the fact, as the law forbade, and
WINS Designed TO prevent Tho hitting out oil
such expeditions ia the United States, what
ever Inc frUhluGul uuu uOlEb WIS CoIliSN'
whatever had been done had been placed
upon the ground that the expedition was a
military one, and that it had been projected
and eaasmrnccd in the United States IL so
the Executive was 10y law directed, wherever
hc could within aud under the jurisdiction of
Rhe United States, to exert both the military
and naval power to suppress the Expedition.
irnn American vessel was found on the coast
of Cuba in the execution of the purpose of
gthe Expedition, il was as much under our
jurisdiction as lying nj one of our hnrbors,
Tor il was n generally admitted fact, thai ia,
i jurisdiction of the United States on board of
American vessels extended wherever our
,flnu fonts The Senator had also said TINT
IL a landing was made upon the Island ofCu-
bn under a revolutionary flag, that was Il
breaking out of civil war, in which we must
remain neutral between the parties engaged
lin il. That he admitted to he true, but when
such civil commoiion wns nidcd on the one
side Or Tie Other by ri1u fitting Oft III tittt
country Of ali armament, That was against the
law of 1913, aud what that la~,was express.
dy designed to prevent. The Senator hnd
also thrown out general remark, that he
.Gyns afraid this act of the President was an
other Of several acts calculated TO lead to tho
suspicion that the policy ofthe administration
IL rather Rnli-republicnn. Mr. Websiei
thought the remark graiuitous aud untound
ed; he believed the President designed to cN
e.cnte tho Law honestly. fairly and firmly. liz
&new of nothing IN his life orncis to lead
~rrte