Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

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APPROPRIATION BnLs-cUBA--LT. GENERALsHIp.
On motion of Mr. HOUSTON, the House went into
Committee of the Whole the state of the Union Mr.
RICHARDSON Of Illinois in the char,) and resumed the
consideration of the bill making appropriations for the
Both of June, 1854.
Mr. POLK remarked that as he returned from the en-
oymen Of the Christmas holydays yesterday entering
the hall he found the gentleman from North Carolina Mr.
VENABLE discussing the Cuban question. He listened
him with great deal of interest and admired the arot
ness with which he applied his arguments but at the
same time it struck him that the gentleman occupy
ing the same position Gen. CAss. He (Mr. Pr was
not able to ascertain whether his friend from North Caro-
lima had turned "old fogy," whether Gen. CAss had
turned re-eater Both of the gentlemen occupied the
same position and It might be possible that Gen. Glass;
aware OF the great which the executor Of the char
acter of Mr. Calhoun took of it. might be using the same
kind of influence to let his mantle fall upon the shoulder
OF so worthy an executor. at.a
The gentleman from North Carolina opposed to the
acquisition of any territory at all. He Mr. Pr could
only conceive then, that the gentleman had adopted the
principle in the report of the Secretary of War; and if he
was in favor of ultra doctrine he would go for that
portion Of the report which proposed to sell New Mexico
to the Indians, delegate and all.
The gentleman yesterday said that every one entitled
to freedom enjoyed it, When did this become so Such
declaration of sentiment had suited better the British
Parliament of l76 than the American Congress of 1853
He would not stop to examine the mischief which would
follow the promulgng of such doctrine, and the effect
1T must have upon our own institutions. Because we
enjoyed freedom we for shutting down the gates
and saying to the enthraed nations of the world while
your chains cankng required to be gener
to raise the and break the manacles which now
bind you. You are unworthy of freedom.
How did the gentleman know they unworthy of
freedom Had they tried it Had they had fair OPP
portunity as we had had? Certainly not; and here he
would dismiss his fogy friend from North Carolina.
Now, he noticed that the of Mr.. Fillmore upon
the Cuban question had been entirely approved by
men belonging to the Democratic party, and by newspa
pers of that party scattered here and there throughout
the country and he believed that the gentleman from
North Carolina did the thing yesterday. He did
not approve of it. And why? Because he objected to
the slaughter of the fifty at Havana. The treaty of
commerce, peace and navigation between the United
States and Spain required the President issue his pro-
clamation He could not say thahe admired the phrase
ology the FORM the extent of that proclamation but
when it issued had performed our part of the
treaty Did Spain the Cuban authorities when those
men were taken in arms observe the treaty treaty be-
tween two Governments must be mutually observed it
was null and void The Government of the United States
had observed their feature of the treaty. and the Govern
ment of Spain had violated theirs Although those fifty
men were taken in arms yet by the treaty between the
two Governments they had right TO fair, impartial
public trial This distinct stipulation in the treaty
and he would say that the Spanish authorities Knocked
it, and that those tried if tried at ALL in secret
and carried out and shot down in violation of the
treaty which Mr. Fillmore trng to carry out Now,
he anxious TO carry the provisions of the
treaty against the fbusters, why did he not show equal
industry and equal good will carrying out that feature
Mr. BROOKS wished correct the gentleman with
gard to matter Of fact Those persons oil had trials be-
fore the court Of Havanabefore the high Of adj
judcature. They openly examined, and each and
every Of them had fair trial
Mr. POLK, resuming said that in this country justice
altar at which we all worshipped and he was as
tonished to find that the gentleman from New York APP
proved Of Spanish justice Would they subject the Anne
rcan citizen it who protected by thishe had
almost said pusilanmous Administration, but he would
not? Did the gentleman from New York approve Of and
say that the Government correct in submitting
mock trial Of those before a military commission
without any counsel upon the behalf Of the prisoners
without an opportunity Of communicating with their
friends and without the poor privilege Of bringing
the facts to light
This Government stood in this light We had ffty men
slaughtered at Cuba in violation Of treaty obligations
and submitted to it, And was this the only ignomi-
ny that branded itself upon the American character
No; not only submitted to that, but broke down
the American honor by agreeing to salute returning
consul in honor of the slaughter Now what kind Of
spec could look for from any foreign country What
ndignity would not be shown to aags 'What wrong
nations would ask can we erPetrate to drive you into
stration should be carried out the only question with
foreign nations would be, not win this ofend but to
what extent can we ofendr
He would not stop to number the ignomnies one two
three, and four He would stop discuss the Thrash
and the Crescent City IL the Of the Ad
minstration upon the slaughter Of these fifty in
Havana, upon the Crescent City and Thrasher cases.
graced the Government in each instance
Was this all with regard TO Cuba The best way to
present this question was How stood our diplomatic
agents in Europef We're they respected This Admin
stration had broken down the responsibility and honor
Of the nation abroad by publishing correspondence
which bore upon its face the mark Of privacy.
Mr. Z. then opposed the resolution Of the Senate
ferrng the title Of lieutenant general upon Gen. Scott
He opposed upon principle, and he did not think the
records would show that Gen. Scott worthy Of it.
He opposed to 1t upon point of magnanimty and
assumed that Gen. Scott had never been generous to
friend or foe As long he could obtain twenty
gentlemen to give him the yeas and nays he would battle
this measure.
Mr.. LANE intended to say few words about Cuba
which he held was foregone question He believed that
the fate Of Cuba sealed and that power earth
could change it, IL unnecessary for the House at
this time to say any thing this subject for Cuba was
destined to be While he said this he hoped this
Government would do wrong would never violate
our treaty spulaons; would trespass upon the
rights Of other nations but would always maintain an
honorable and upright towards all nations Of the
earth But, while did this he desired the Govern
mentand he knew the incoming Administration would
to ask OF all nations of the earth what was right and
submit to nothing that wrong Could any man upon
this hoor say that the Of American citizens
upon the island Of Cuba right and just and that it
was in accordance with treaty spulatons or that il
was human or chrstan-hkeY lie held that the autho-
rites OF Cuba had heavy sin for which atone and il
would never be wiped until that island should be
made free, and be relieved from the tyrannca Govern
ment which now oppressed thousands Of hearts beating
with the pulse Of liberty The people Of Cuba deserved
TO be free and ere long they would enjoy liberty He
the peace and harmony Of this country lie held that
there would bel danger in adding territory this
Union Our area Of freedom was not extended enough
Cuba at some future day would come in legally and pro-