Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-01-05
SENATOR MASON UPON CUBA.

s. THE Senate Chamber OF the Union mas Decn
somewhat cnvcned, early stage of the present
session, by debate arising upon that portion of
President FIlLMoRE's Message which refers 10 Cuba.
Among others, Mr.. Mason, Of Virginia, participated
in the discussiun advocating non-intcrference with
the rights of Spain in the matter, but determined
opposition to any attempt, on the part OF any other
government whatever, TO gain possession OF this
great prize, by treaty or otherwise.
The Senator from Virginia takes the high and, rs
we conceive, the only tenable ground, that "any
attempt, whether made by individuals In violation Of
the laws Of their country or by The Government in
its polite capacity to dismembcr Cuba from Spain.
would tarnish, forever tarnish, our national fame
And vet he gives i. his opinion that in the full
ness of time the fruit will rpcn and fall from its
parent seu In another place lie uses still stronger
terms Granting that Cuba may not he our1 in this
generation nor even in the next, he still feela conf
dent that come it will, (sooner or later just
a. certainly as the world rcvolves its axis" Mr.
MASON then, (nfter differing distinctly with tile
President n, the impolicy Of annezing Cuba under
sny circums,ancca,) conclude. BY asserting, that
Whenever the hour comes, when, in good faith, aud
with due regard 10 national honor, We can incorror-
ate Cuba as one Of these United States, 1t will be
done aud Europe may find it bes. to hold her peace
Fer cur OVID part, we are gradually coming to the
conclusion that after ALL the Cuba uror will resrn'
bic the KossUTn fermentation in poin, at least
which is that it will turn out to be call smoke and
no fire." Here now il a Southern Senator, announc-
ing 10 the country his attitude upon this question, and
he cue will he akcn doubtless by the advocates oi
Southern Rights generally. And what that nttf
| tudc right and honorable one, beyond Question:
But what does it amount to- in view Of the dcsep-
nen of any progressive steps towards the n'lannrm
of this stronghold! Let US briefly examine. First
Cuba lit is announccd not property but Spains
Right enough. hut certainly proposTion familiar 10
every schoul.boy Secondly, we must not snatch
Cuba from Spain, for the very good reason that we
have no earthly right to do SD. Neither IL this any
new Interpretation of International law. lhiFuly'
we must have patience. "Wateh and wait i' now
the generally adopted Southern maxim. And, lourh'
w. in few generations, (tiery FIbustcros, attend
in few generations (when the hot blood oi lSoo,
that flows so radRllY at the thought of grasping
Spanish wealth, shall have been chilled in death)-ln
4 few generations (when reproduction OF the same
fervor in the year nineteen hundred and one shall
| have fallen victim to the same sickcning diS"P
puiutncnl)-yes in few generations, Cuba in''st be
| ours At least, so says MIR. Mason. But, with a
possi BILE respect for this distinguished FIglnlans
opinions we must regard even this well-prorded
remark of his in the light of bare and unsupported
assertion. To allow it the merit Of prophecy, wculd
he going little further than judgement can in
| any Wise sanction.
Because there is no proof whatever that Spain has
| of
any government, any ,eisss Ii size lIao, there
are the three great powers of England, France anu
the United States, each one Of them standing ready
with al its MEANS TO defeat any attempt, OF tile part
of either of the Others to reduce into possession this
much coveted Queen Of the Antilles. Great
Britain and France, with their immense wealth and
power, their contiguily and direct influence over
old Spain can always succeed in preventing a ces-
sion 10 the Uunited States. On the other hand il is
bv no means probable that either OF them will effect
the acquisition, with full knowledge that bioody
s,rurnl. with Brother Jonathan is 10 be the certain
consequence IIuse, then. it can be o,hcrw re than
that Cuba must still remain in siatu quo, for long
and indefinite period Of time, we are at Il loss 10
perceive.
It is thought that some such canscs OF offence, ns
recently transpred at Tile port OF ilafana' VIII Sooh
give us the pre,cx,, and that the rest will be easy
enough This we regard as the himsiest chance
imaginable. Spain is now fully awake to our inten-
tions and will certainly be on her guard for the
future 1t would be placing poor estimate upon
even Spanish diplomacy 10 suppose that We will ever
again be allowed. TO occupy any thing like the van.
t,pe ground in collisions of this kind
There is another prospect, however, OF rather
more hopeful character than the rest; which is, that
Cuba may throw off the Spanish Yoke, declare her
Independence, accept our recognition Of the same,
and eventually knock for admittunce into our Union.
This would be grand. 1t would give us the right,
(and we already have the mighty to receive and p-o-
tect the darling beauty against world in arms
Yet even this is among those dim and underlined
visions which lie entirely in the womb Of the future.
Upon the whole, although we desire the acqusi-
ton of Cuba as much most people, we yet regard
all hopes of ss speedy accomplishment as partaking
much more of fancy and enthusiasm than OF either
reason Judgment
! SII!SISGS OF THE MONTH