The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-24

repose in the consciousness that however desirable
TO ua Cuba may be- all that we demand OF her is
that she shall keep it, and not part with il; and
rely upon It, in the fulness Of time and before very
long. even Spain will yield to that inevitable ne
e"ssity which governs Inc events of the world The
geographical position OF Cuba, with the inc reasng
growth OF this country, will determine all the rest.
have said that In much OF the Presidents
message as have read was contained n narrative
only OF the fact that he announced In the con
GLIDING sentence OF that paragraph the President
expresses an opinion. He says
~ have, however, in common with several OF
my predecessors, directed the mluisters OF France
and England to be assured that the United States
entertain no designs aga!nct Cuba
IN the expression Of that opinion | fully agree
with the President; We entertain o. designs
against Cuba But he continues:
but that, on the contrary, should regard its
incorporation into the Union at the present time
as lraught with serious peril"
] regret that the President deemed il necessary
TO express that as the opinion Of the Executive
nor need Suggest to tire Senate upon what that
opinion s founded. 1t speaks for itself; but am
free ~ declare as OF the tatves Of the
States most deeply concerned, that I know of no
peril which should ensuc, or which should cause
US to hesitate If Cuba were ready for annexation
10. morrow. Bot let the opinion Of the President
pass for what II is worth. In the present attitude
Of the affair in hand, to discuss it would lead to no
practical result; but could not dismss il except
under protest.
Mr.. President, in making these remarks to the
Intended
do no more than express my opinion a n Amcri.
can Senator upon the relations that exist betw cen
! this country and Spain in reference to Cuba and
! to express further what hold to be the duty OF
! every department Of this Government and OF
| every American citizen, to recognize Cuba az
| the property OF Spain, aud ne such to recognise
! the munlInents with which civilization pro
| te''s all property Cuba belongs to SPAIN,
hands can be laid upon it, unless, throueb sn,nr
act OF Spain herself. forbearance our part wouId
Involve the safety OF our own people. And wish.
ed further to declare. in reference to the proposi
| tion made by those two powers Of Europe let IL
have what meaning 1t may, that VIII. never the
! hour comes, when in good faith and with due re-
as one oi these United States it will be done n md
! Europe may find il best to hold her peace
| Mr.. CAsS said
Mr. PREsIDENT: l have listened with great IN.
! terest and satisfaction to the remarks which the
! Senate has just heard from the bonora be ch,;
! man OF the Committee on Foreign Relations n -,
We may we'll congratulate ourselves and the conn.
Ty u'at az ms tune, when 30 many difficult md
delicate questions Of foreign intercourse are unon
US, or threatening US, have at the head or H..
| important committee gentleman go well caicn
lated TO discharge his duties satisfactorily 10 tho
Senate and so honorably to the country, and III.
! Posrd equally to avoid raehness and pusllanmitv
We cannot disguise from ourselves thar No.
/ never was period in our history frauoht wi,h
more momentous subjects connec tod with our re-.
latlons with the other powers Of the ear,h MD
liable TO present themselves from hour to hour for
practca! confederation. We have heard n gre,t
deal about our mantle destrny and the tern h,s
occn equally assallcd by reproach and bv ridcu,a
TOW. elr' II by that phrase it ia meant, as I sun
pose II H. that the great characteristic features of
the age are to produce n influence a decisive IN.
upon our course and policy, then believe we bo
manifest destiny, from which we cannot escnne.
and It is destiny by which we shall advance in
All the elements Of knowledge and prosperitv in .
tc!iectually and materially As to fixed immob;l;
W We may talk bout il rs would about an ante
cliuvian speculation, but While we stop 10 t,l, ~
World OF progress ID moving on, and we must rc
double our pace to overtakc it. We cannot isolate
ourselves from the other n'ions Of the earth and
we have rights and interests connected with tbor,
whSh demand cur constant, and often our ieaIous
attention Mr. Canning said, truly and empbnti
La,y' ws mua Keep on NE line Of political hnop-
.aee. When one cheek ID struck in national A.
lairs, II we turn the other shall soon have moi
'h'r chctN, nor head, nor body, to enable us IA
tepeat inc movement. And it was in this spirit
Ce7lr"d last year, when occasion called f,r il ~
repudiate. by soiemn public act, an jnter
collation. made In the law Of nations bv IN.
Emperor OF Russia, striking at the yery roo,
81 national freedom and independence. But
u wac opposed and defeated; and zee tbo, the
PRECEDENT. in his recent annual message ,c.am
some OF the adverse views then presented, md ex
pfrsses his appreciation Of them. Sir rrgre, III
r""tse' because have a high personal regard for
Inc president. and approve much he has donr. ht
must be permitted 10 cay that the action pronoeed
ny myeell and others upon this matter was M
more calculated To produce war than the exercise
OF any Other unquestionable national right
think he charge docs injustice TO those viii v,io
acted We all disc lancd the remotest intent;nn
OF provoking war, and mantaned, both bv reoson
and authority, that the expression of a nntion,i
opinion upon great question OF public r, Chi mo.
as mech the preroRative Of n republic as n nov
archy, and that such proceeding gave no c,u.e
" "1|h'e' no 'n"e; man the enunciation OF great
principles IN our Declaration OF Independence:
bot that II put the dissent on record, lcaviI,g
the GDvernm"nt dissenting unco,nro,t,cd LS
the dcCi9retun, and free TO adopt its ow, cn,,s.
at any time thereafter. ! know of no ,nh,,c
man. no private onc indeed who dreamed of
accompanying or following the declaration viii
actual hosulitics. But VIC we're friebtcned n n",
ont OF o"r pr"pr'ey, at least out OF our ;true dn,v
amt dignity. The wonderful discovery was mad.
,n'' Washington and JEFFERSON had warned us Of
the danger OF ""utangiing alliances" and tina,
lhlsPr"Ccrd,ng would be an "cntanplno Ilf,nca ),
ana waa, therefore. TO I've avoided with natr;,';c
horror. with whom we were to form IN aIl,,nr.
10y "'ciaring a principle OF public law no one
has told uH and ii is yet discovery which Ia IN -
ward SOME iuiuTc Historian. However, tho ,h;.c,
wh4 gained, We were humbugg.d or we hunb,yas,,
"nrselv's But we shnl! c"lnr to il yet for this ia
an age 81 WosTtss, ia the PRECEDENT says and !
already see II has told upon this question FL, ,h,,
very respectable body. the Wing convention If
New York. hns pronounced lis adhesion to the TINS
'oc'I'hr' IN the following resolution. every word
Z" "h II heartily approve.
"a ga TO forrgn policy Peace cver,,o . o
lar as IS consstent with the due assrrtion NJ ony
rights, careful avoidance Of all cntapelng ,IIi
anccs with foreign powers, but a solemn orotes,
against any deliberate defiance OF the Ia wa NJ M,
tons far the furtherancr Of the nteres,s Of de.n,
IAN. a"d generous and active sympatbv win
ana moral support to. all oppressed nations and
tacta' struggling 10 aasert retain their Iibe,
tes" ~ '''e'
And we shall not only come up to this good work
OF participation in the public law Of the world bni
we shall adopt and act upon the pripcio,. nd.
Vanccd by Mr.. Monroe and Mr. Polk. tb,t tho
powers 81 Europe should not be permitted TO colo
nizc any part vi this continent--not 10 maintn;,
existinE coIones, az the English pape mpudent |
y and false asserted and az MANY timid nersons
III th!a country made themselves believe Tor both
Of those staic.mcn expressly excluded such n nrc
tehsIpn, Irating untouched existing riybis. 'bn.
ihcy sIught TO prevent the 81 bjugation 10 a cola
nal s!at" Of any OF the new governments which |
haI assumed and established their indcnende,cs
but we were also twice frightened out of ,his
measure We could not get on the line Of ,oi;J
en! knonIsdge But TdD-heod- and biood,-bons,
"'li NOT always b. scarccrows Gr u.s. Mai
Iest destiny is doing is part. aKi VIC shall Gro
long lie t'uni warm and efficient supporters of
'oosc t"o great ARTICLES OF political faith, peculi
'fly our" by position and insti,utions. Tn, Gund.
auon Il this 'Iai'n OF American exemption rcsia
upon cuhdr 'Ous!"ratiOns. " hich are not Icsa
pst than they arc t"rthr. The law of II ,tio,, IA |
not rigid inticaIJ!c code, bu; it accommodate. H.
T. y ~ iio,, e ~