Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-12


spirit which sweeps abroad upon the wings peace she'd
ding life and light and happiness land and en- the
which sends the missionary among the heahen and
gathers the ine and the unbeeyer beneath the gospels
ample she; whic doubles the productions Of EARTH and
lays bare the treasures OF which plants the church
OF God in the wilderness vi thu West and substitutes the
Sabbath bell for the howl OF the panther which carries
literature and science the cabin Of the pioneer and
connects every part Of this wide Republic by links
strong close that the traveller feels every spot reads
is home, and every hand he grasps brothers handf
TINS be the progress which meant most gladly do en-
list under its banner.
But sir, i am not permitted 80 to understand it,
understand progress interpreted by modern politicians
to be quite different thing The first lesson they in
imitation OF the worst practice Of olden chvarythe
practice of hanging glove in some public place
challenge TO every passer engage in mortal combat
practice in degree based upon wrongs be redress
ed or injuries to be avenged but upon pure, unmit-
gated love of blood and strife They have borrowed also
from the crusaders another vicious aud ndefensble ha
bitthat of mpoverishing themselves at home raise
the Of transportation to other lands erect affairs
and ncucate principles by the edge Of the sword They
propose grasp the territory of old and faithful ally
not only without the shadow of claim, but without
the robbers plea of necesstyto hush the busy hum Of
commerce-to withdraw the artisan from his workshop,
the aborer from his field the Of science and the
Of letters from their high pursutto convert the whole
land into vast camp and impress upon the people the
wild and fierce character of the followers Of King Clovis
Sir wish 70 indulge in exaggerated statements,
but let in the cant phraseoogy Of the day, establish
|
that indeed 90 Power upon earth" Let rob
Spain of Cuba England of Canada, and Mexico Of her
remaining possessions, and this continent will DO too
small theatre upon which to enact the bloody drama Of
American progress Like prophet Of the East, who
carried the sword in hand and the Koran in the other
American armies will be cent forth to proclaim freedom
to the but If he happens love the land in which
he BORN and exhibits manly attachment to the
institutions with which he is familiar his LIES blood
will saturate the SOIL and his wife and children be driven
forth as houseess wanderers in proof Of tender
Port tho rssrlfu Of hrpno ,stxy
ces Of progress with which Satan himself might fall in
love-
Mr. President there in this connection still other
lights in which the question before may be presented
Look at America as she is prosperous in all things
splendid magnificent rich in her agriculture, rich her
commerce. rich in arts and Sciences rich learning rich
IN individual freedom richer still in the proud prerogave
OF bending the knee to but the God who made and
Of worshppng in His temples according to the forms
which conscience not the law has prescribed Gaze upon
that picture until your soul has drank its beauty all its
glory and then let me paint for you that which offered
substitute. Look upon land where war has become
passion, and blood welcome vsitant; where every
avenue to genius closed that which leads through
field of strife where the widow and the orphan mngle
unayaing tears for the husband and the father whore
literature has become mockery and religion reproach
upon people strong indeed but terrible in their strength
with the tigers outward beauty and the tigers inward
ferceness upon people correctly described by the poet
when he said ri
"Reigion blushing, wells her sacred fires
And unawares morality expires;
Nor public fame, private, dares to shine,
Nor human spark is left glimpse divine.
Lo! thy dread empire, chaos, is restored
Light dies before thy uncreating word
Thy hand, great Anarch, lets the curtain fall,
And universal darkness buries ALL"
Let tell me that these are imaginary dangers
AT the of the French Revolution if any
had predicted the which gave birth he would
have been regarded mailman. What security have
against the occurrence of similar scenes? We are
human, they Our law of being is the same and
if depart from the plain path of prudence and
of rectitude human wisdom foresee the result
The present acquisition of Cuba my opinion in any
way of questionable propriey butif it us
the result of and violence instead Of blessing it
will prove deadly ILL., When Caractacus was carried to
Rome to grace the triumph of his conqueror he gazed
with wonder and awe upon the spendor and magnfcence
with which he was surrounded Then, turning to the
Emperor he expressed his simple wonder that rch
powerful blessed with the possession Of every thing
that earth could bestow, should have enyed him his
humble cottage home In the forests of Britain With what
force, with what proprety might not Old Spain address
a similar appeal Possessed Of territory extend
ing almost from the Northern the region Of the
tropics embracing every variety Of soil climate and pro-
ducton why should envy Spain the last little island
Of her mighty dominons? We do not need it for
agriculture do not need it for purposes Of national
defence
The assertion that Cuba commands the Gulf trade is
falacy which it requires very slight examination to dis
pei Tortugas and Key West command Gulf trade and
not only that but they command Cuba itself With those
points properly fortified hostile feet in the harbors Of
Cuba would be poweress for mischief This fact has long
been familiar TO English statesmen and on that account
the cesson Of Florida to the United States made the
subject Of excited debate in the Parliament Of Britain
Spain greatly censured for making the cesson while
she professed to be ally Of England and the conduct
Of the Ministry in permitting 1t to be done animad
verted upon in terms equally severe. Nor with
out authority from officers Commodores Rodgers,
Perry, and Tattna have all made reports showing the
immense Importance Of these points and their absolute
command Of the Gulf trade Commodore Porter repeat
edy expressed like opinions, based upon practical
perience while he in command Of the Mexican feet.
Gen. Toten has submitted to the War Department Ella
borate report to the effect; and Lieutenant Maury,
in one OF the abest papers written by him. shows
clusivey that vessel under leave the Gulf
without passing in sight of Tortugas and Key West and
tons at these points at something less than two millions
Of dollars
1t thus appears thatits the part Of economy well
OF honesty to fory possessions, and leave
neghbors in undsturbed enjoyment of what belongs to
them II is surely better TO appropriate 900 to
complete Forts Taylor aud jefferson, than expend
800 600 in the purchase Of Cuba uncounted mill
lions in its subugaton and conquest Nor would the
heavy outlay rendered by either mode Of
alton whole loss. We derive from duties
upon Cuban imports annual Of IS 600 600
&c. 000 000 IL Cuba be annexed that
trey. Higher duties must be laid other articles and
shall have renewal of the dscontents, chickering's
and dssensons which attended the passage earlier
tariff laws not in the habit Of using arguments adj
dressed to the North to the South No argument
be good which does not address itself the whole
country and the statesman whose patriotism is limited by
State line is unsafe legislator for great people But
sectional appeals have been made and propose to meet
them. In aspect in which can look at this ques
ton does present any appearance but that of injury
the South. IL Cuba came in slave State, it would
give additional political advantage additional
political power The once cherished dream Of Southern