The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-05
FRO BE CONTINUED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
: - 4 ! 4 ~. 4

Mr.. SIBLEY asked leave to offer resolution
But Mr.. SIANLY objected; so leave was not granted
But many members obecled so leave was not granted
Mr.. HOUSTON offered resolution to close the debate
in Committee OF the Whole the state of the Union on
the Military Academy appropriation BILL in one hour after
1t shall again De taken up to-day therein;
Mr. RICHARDSON proposed to amend this resolution
by extending the time tor closing this debate until after
the said bill shall have been considered for hour
tomorrow.
The question being put on this amendment il was not
agreed to--ayes 81, noes Ga.
Mr.. HOUSTON demanded the previous question on
agreeing 10 his resolution; which not being seconded
Mr.. HOUSTON, by leave, next modified his resolution
80 as to allow two hours, instead OF one for the connu
alton of the said debate in Committee of the Whole on
the stale OF the Union; and the resolution. modified
MI HOUSTON moved to suspend the rules to go into
Committee OF the Whole on the state of the Union
which being agteed TO, (Mr RICHARDSON being again
called TO the Chair,)
The committee resumed the consideration OF the Mill
tary Academy appropriation bill
Mr. POLK, who was entitled to the floor, then deliv-
cred speech, 10 which he held that the position
pied by MIR. VENABLE on the Cuban question the day
before was identical with that OF General Cass Indeed
he Mr.. appeared TO have taken post the ground
OF the Secretary of War; and he should not be surprised
to find him next standing with that Secretary in favor OF
selling New Mexico, delegate and all, TO the Indians
He ielt compelled TO protest against MIR VS. assump-
ton that all who were entitled TO freedom enjoy il a,
this time That sentiment would better become the Brit
ish Parliament IN l776, ~ speeches against the American
revolution, than the AHerican Congress in 1853. He
could not Join MIR. " in praisng the Cuban diplomacy
OF the present administration which bad in measure
resulted IN the massacre OF nifty Americans who had
formed part OF the Inflated Lopez expedition. While
this government had faithfully complied with each and
every of its obligations 10 Spain under the treaty. the
latter bad grossly violated her treaty obligations
especially in refusing TO thsse fair and open trial
Mr.. BROOKS interrupted Mr. Polk, and contended
that those prisoners had all received fair trial before
more than one court OF Cuba.
Mr.. POLK, resuming the floor, went on 10 show that
these prisoners had obtained no such trial. being denied
counsel and otherwise debared rights accruDg TO them
The Fillmore administration, he commended, had not
only submitted 10 this treatment of fellow citizens
but had justified IT, and had subsequently fired sort OF
salute in honor OF the murders thus committed. the
return OF the Spanish consul 10 New Orleans lie would
not stop to review the conduct OF the administration
the Thrasher case. and the Crescent City case, &c He
held that IN other matters the diplomacy OF the admins
Taon had dsgaced its representatives abroad, stripping
them OF all standing in foreign countries. The act OF
publishing the correspondence concerning the acquis
uon OF Cuba was an outrage, all the interviews the
subject granted by the Spanish officials being granted I'M
der pledge OF secresy. This violation OF governmental
aith had lis origin IN two purposes: first, in that Of
strengthening the wing party and next in defeating the
acquisition He had personal hostility 10 the present
Executive but felt called thus 10 protest against every
distinct feature of the diplomacy Of his administration
Nr. l.. next turned TO the question OF comforting the
MAJOR General Scott. which
measure he opposed at length; contendng that to
Ter 1t would be IN time regarded as a coemporaneous
congressional endorsement OF all his many quarres with
Wilkinson, Jackson, Worth, Pillow, Duncan and others
He was not willing to place General Scott by the side OF
Washington in time TO comethat 49, in the estimation
OF postery.
Mr.. p then went on to common, in detail upon the
differen, personal difficulties which General Scott had
mad during h,s long career quoting the opinions which
Wilkinson, Jackson, DE Wit Clinton, and others had
expressed OF him, to sho that he had right TO claim
OF this government to be placed by it in the niche OF
tame IN which the peoples gratitude had placed George
Washington.
Mr. LANE then addressed the committee con,ending
That The tate OF Cuba is sealed the island being destined
IN Time, to be ours He however hope that this
government would take steps for The acquisition OF
the island in violation of treaty spulaiions, or to
permit any such steps 10 be taken by individuals this
country lie conceived, with Mr. POLK that the Span
ish authorities had gevous 10 answer for in the mat
ter oil the massacre OF those composing the unfortunate
Lopez expedition.
MIR l. next turned to the eutenan -general question !;
ana after expressing his admiration OF and respect for
General Scott be argued at length that confer the rank
be asked would be undemocTatc; and. further that
would be cevanS another to the position only obtained
by Washington. He also opposed TO the joint
lnhon, because its enactment would make entire
VISION OF our army necessary; the IMPROPERLY OF which
be explained at length,
Mr.. l.. also urged that Congress had not discharge ed
ia duty to General Wool and to Benjamin Mccullough,
both OF whom, IA he explained, were most effective in
brngng about the result oil the battle OF Buena Vista
Mr.. BROOKS, next obtaining the floor. replied at
ength to the remarks OF Mr. Polk. He contendel that
while The wings would vote for the lieutenant general
a. il had been introduced by democrats it
was not wing. but democratic measure. He con-
eived that the Lopez expedition had violated the laws
II this country well those OF Spain, and had thus
orieed, under the laws OF nations the right 10 look to
his government for protection, Yet he held that those
composing that expedition had received the benefits of
he treaty the trial accorded to them being precisely
nch az the Spanish colonial laws accorded TO citizens Of
spain arra'gned under like charges. |
Mr., FOLK, in'eHupiing Mr. B., argued that the trial
ccorded 70 them was fictitious, embracing no real priv
under which they would have had fafr vhn., a.