Litchfield enquirer., 1853-02-03
The Debate in the Senate.

l
The Debate going on in the Senate un,
der MIR. Cass's resoI utions is an interest Ing
one, though not Immediately practical -
1t appears rather as gu attempt TO fore.
shadow the foreign policy of the next ad
ministralion, possibly to dictats it. 1t has
however, one uSe-it will serve 10 point
out to the nation and TO The world moi
merely the private opinions Of, the indivi>
! dual Senators, but the doctrines of the
various cliques they represent. In the
mean time, the public needle under NO
fear of extreme or violent measures yet :
there is a wonderful tendency among our
great party leaders to buster anu boast,
but, when the question Of war comes on,
there is TOO much Of the Yankee calculus
ton OF dollars and cents among them to
admit Of extremilies.
The principles now under debate are
that European powers Should not be per
United 10 inlernedIle with Cts Atlantic
affairs, SO fur as they relate 10 the politieaI
condition OF the people of this continent
This is the first broad outline OF the Mon
roe doctrine, which Mr.. Cass wishes to
revise. 10 this position, there is 10 be
as a matter Of course, one exception, that
the existing colonial rights of European
powers in this continent should not he
interfered with. Some politicians wish,
at present. to confine the assertion of this
right to North America. and particularly
to aim at England in her enroachments in
Central America, and France in ST, Do
ningO. The seizure Of Rua,an aud the
reported occupation OF SANTANA are the
two events that have called forth the
efforts for this doctrine.
All this would be we'll enough, If the
mere declaration of our wishes was sniff
Gent, but here comes in the second stem
in the Doctrine that this doctrine shoul,
be adhered to even at the expense of war.
Here many Of the leading Democratic no.
lilicans pause and hesitate. We are IRE .
pared, say theys for war, on proper
grounds, but this nation should hesitate
abcnt establishing any general propositiop
'hat would involve Us in an expensixe wa1:
and injure our commercial prosperity 49,
Such an inference in North American af-
fairs, say they. may be cause for war,
but we do not choose 10 establish princi-
pie that it, of necessity. should be such
cause. We prefer that, where such an
important step as war is concerned, to al.
low each case to be governed by its own
circumstances, and not bind Ourselv
down to declaration Of war, where the
enroachment is trivial one. At this point
OF the dispute, most Of the Southern mem
bers stop and refuse to involve the country
in war for any me- political doctrine /:
while the filibusters men who care little
upon establishing doctrine, but much
huU ohfNs, l,,l
beca use i, may lead to annexation.
The next step is. VIVA. sha Il be the fate
OF Cuba The doctrine would prevent
either England and France from acquiring
its possession, but would not give it to US.
Its independence would satisfy the mere
advocates OF the Monroe proposition blu,
would not satisfy young America. The
declaration OF that part of the Democratic
party has already gone forth We want
Cuba, and will have her. Mr.. Everet.'s
refusal to enter into the Triparlite Treaty
gralities the annsx0tionists, because il
leaves the island for future ambition. But
here large and respectable proportion of
the Democratic party take firm stand,
that Cuba must not lead US into a war
They know full well that any attempt a. a
forcih,e possession of the Island would
lead to war not only with Spain. but
possibly with England and France. Here
they pause.
Such is the present situation of this in
teresting debate now going on in the Sem
ate and now in process Of discussion by
the whole press in the nation. On this
point. the policy of Mr.. Pierce's admins
istration is anxiously looked for and the
complexion of his future cabinet canvasssd
as indicating what that policy will be.