Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-25

paragraph the President expresses an opinion He says
have however in common with several Of my prede
eessor directed the Ministers Of France and England
Cuba" se 49,
In the expression of that opinion fully agree with tn
President; we entertain no designs against Cuba IN
he continues:
But that on the contrary, should regard its neorpora
ton INTO the Union at the present time faught with Sc
rous peril"
regret sir that the President deemed ii necessary u
express that as the opinion of the Executive nor need
suggest 70 the Senate upon what that opinion is founded
il speaks for itself But free declare as one Of
the representatives of the States that know of no peril
which should ensue which should us to hesitate
If Cuba were ready for annexation tomorrow But let
this opinion Of the President pass for what it is worth
In the present attitude Of the affair in hand to discuss
II could lead TO practical result but could not dis
miss il except under protest
Mr.. President in making these remarks to the Senate
upon offering this resolution, intended to do more
than express my opinion as an American Senator upon
the relations that exist between this country Spain in
reference to Cuba and to express further what hold
be the duty OF every department of this Government and
Of every American citizen to recognise Cuba the pro-
perry Of SPAIN and as such to recognise also the mun
ments with which civilization protects all property Cuba
belongs to Spain; it does not belong u.s. and but
profane hands can be laid upon it, unless through
act Of Spain herself, forbearance part would in
vove the safety of people. And wish further
to declare In reference to the proposition made by those
two Powers of Europeletit have what meaning it may
that whenever the hour comes when in good faith, and
Cuba as of these United States it will be done and
Europe may find it best then to hold her peace
Mr. CASS. Mr.. President have listened with great
interest and satisfaction to the remarks which the Senate
has just heard from the honorable chairman Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations and may well congratu-
late ourselves and the country that at this time when
many difficult and delicate questions of foreign intercourse
are upon US or threatening u.s. have at the head Of
that important committee gentleman we'll calculated
to discharge its duties satisfactorily the Senate and
honoraby to the country and disposed equally to avoid
rashness and pusianimity.
We cannot disguise from ourselves that there never
was period in our history fraught with
subjects connected with relations with the Pow
ers Of the earth, and liable to present themselves from
hour to hour for practical consideration We have heard
great deal about manifest destiny and the term has
been equally assailed by reproach and by rdcue Now
sir II by that phrase it is meant suppose is that
the great characteristic features of the age pro-
duce an influence, decisive one upon and
pohcy then believe we have manifest destiny from
which we cannot escape, and it is destiny by which
shall advance In all the elements of knowledge and pros
perity intellectually and materially As to fixed mmo
bility we may talk about it would about
dluvian speculation but while stop talk the world
OF progress is moving and must redoube pace
to overtake it. We cannot isolate ourselves from the
other nations of the EARTH and have rights and ne
rests connected with them which demand constant,
and often jealous, attention. Mr. Canning said truly
and emphatcay "We must keep the line of political
knoWedge When one cheek is struck, in national af
fairs if we turn the other we shall soon have neither
cheek, head, body to enable US to repeat the
movement And it in this spirit desired last year,
when the occasion called for it, to repudate By solemn
public act an Interpolation made in the law of nations
by the Emperor of Russia striking at the very of
national freedom and independence.
But it was opposed and defeated, and | that the
President In his recent annual message recalls Of
the adverse views then presented and expresses his ap
probation of them Sir regret this course, because
have high personal regard for the President and APP
proye.much he has done but mustbe permitted say
that the action proposed by myself and others upon this
matter was no more calculated to produce than the
exercise of any other unquestionabe national right
think the charge does injustice to those with whom act
ed We all dsclaimed the remotest intention Of provok
ing war, and maintained bohby reason and authority
that the expression of national opinion upon great
question of public right much the prerogave of
republic as of monarchy, and that such proceeding
gave no cause of offence than the enuncaton of
great principles in Declaration Of Independence but
that II put the dissent record, leaving the Govern
ment proclamng it uncommited by the declaration and
tree TO adopt its own at any time thereafter
know of no public man-no private one, indeed-who
dreamed of accompanying following the declaration
with actual hostites. But frightened, if not
out OF our proprety at least out Of duty and
dignity The wonderful discovery made that Va sh
ington and Jefferson had warned of the danger Of
tangling alliances and that this proceeding would be
an entangng alliance, and therefore to be avoid
ed with patriotic horror. With whom were to form
an alliance by declaring aprincpe of public law no one
has told US and it's yet discovery which is to reward
some future historian. However the object was gained
We were hup1rgged, hum5uggcd ourselves But we
shall come to it yet for this age Of progress as the
President says and already see that il has told upon
this question: for that very respectable body the Wing
convention Of New York. has its adhesion to
the doctrine in the following resolution every word Of
which heartily approve:
"3d As to foreign policy Peace evermore so far az is con-
sistent with the due assertion Of rights
Of all entangng alliances with foreign Powers but solemn
protest against deliberate defiance the laws of nations
for the furtherance Of the interests Of desposm and
rous and active sympathy with, and moral support all OPP
pressed nations and races struggling retain their
/ liberties"
And we shall not only come up to this good work of
participation in the public law Of the world but we shall
also adopt the policy advocated by Mr. Monroe and
| Mr.. Polk, that European nation shall be per-
United to colombo hereafter any part Of this continent
Not to maintain existing colonies as the English papers
impudenty and falsely asserted and as MANY tmid per
sons in this country made themselves believe for both
OF those statesmen expressly excluded such
leaving untouched existing rights but they sought to
prevent the subugation to colonial state of any Of the
new Governments which had assumed and established
their independence But also twice frightened out
OF this measure We coudno get the line Of political
knowledge" But "raThead and bloody bones" will not
be scare-crows for Mana destiny Is doing its part;
and we SHALL ere long, be found warm and efficient sup
porters OF those two great articles OF political faith pc
culiarly ours By position and institutions
The foundation Of this claim Of exemption rests upon pc
cuiar considerations which less JUST than they
are orcbie The law Of nations is not rigid nfexible
code but 1t accommodates itself to the varying condition
OF the world and history filed with proofs Of this pow
er OF adaptation to existing circumstances This hemi
sphere besides its general relation the older continent
has peculiar interests Of its own which demand its vigil
liant protection Settled first with view to commerce,
and then held as the Of power and wealth. the
rous portions OF IL colonized By European Powers
and we're involved in the wars of Europe without the
slightest interest in their origin objects However
frivolous the cause OF whether social POLITICAL