Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19
SPEECH OF Mr.. BOWIE,
HOUSE, or REr4AsrsrArIvrs, FspnvARr 25, 1858.
OF MARYLAND,
on THE NATIONAL DEFENCES AND IMPROVE
MENTS IN TIE NAVY


The bill making appropriations for the naVal service
for the year ending June 80 1854, being under con-
sideration--
Mr.. BOWIE said Mr. Chairman, the foreign and do
nestle policy of the country are 80 intimately blended
with the annual appropriations Tor military purposes
that hone may be INDUCED in brief reference to them
before to the specific objects Of the bill now under
consideration. 80
When an honorable member from New York city, (Mr
BpooKs on second day Of this session, startled the
House by his proposition revise and reduce the mposts
to revenue standard one of the few Of my politi
cal party who voted against it. There was not in my
Judgment any such imminent danger of financial crisis
as to render it necessary for Wing to cardi
nal principle Of policy. On the contrary, remembered
there then pending before Congress many unsased
claims Of public and private character resulting from
sacrifices made by citizens in behalf of their country be-
fore and during the second of independence from
foreign aggression and maritime invasion many exposed
cities and harbors tempting the cupidy of enemy to
be fortified system OF internal communication and
ternal eences be perfected which would depete the
surcharged Treasury, if fulfilled the obligations Of
justice prudence and patriotism IL was premature at
least before surveying the foreign relations Of the
try; before its actual financial condition ascertaned
before receiving the annual authentic official report of the
Secretary of the Treasury to attempt to remodel the re-
system Since the actual condition OF the Treasury
has been ascertained apprehend the proposition which
deemed plausible at the time of its introduction would
now be considered quixotic.
1t would be financial folly for Government to conem
plate reducing its already decreasng because
of casual surplus Of 600 000 O0O which
has public debt of 81 Do0000, which owes to private
claimants perhaps $50 600 900 yet be qudated which
requires from ST. 600 900 900 to carry on the
mint, and So, 000, 900 basis for the subreasury
which has unfinished Notifications requiring l5,OoO,000
and steam navy build independently OF large terri
toral improvements rivers roads apd harbors to open
construct, and preserve.
We informed by the Secretary of the Treasury the
duties imports have declined nearly million and
half What may be the extent OF that tendency
whether it is permanent temporary is yet to be de-
veoped but other and more grave considerations make
the idea Of reducing the revenue impoic and wholly
unsafe.
recent election hes transferred the power Of the peo
pie from the Wing to the Democratic party. The promi
nen features of the incoming Administration viii be
bold progressive foreign policy; sympathy with the down
trodden people OF Europe defiance to oil European colo
nization the American continent; annexation of all
adjacent territory longing to be free and raernize with
the United States.
is not sound, that foreign relations are Of
delicate character Distinguished and eloquent gen.
emen Of the triumphant party in their places and upon
their responsibility Senators, have ayowed that the
most momenous questions (Which may from hour TO hour
require practical solution) pending Senators
celebrating in grave debate, in the other end of this
Capitol whether Of the leading and most formidable
Powers of Europe have violated the established and
proclaimed integrity of the American continent and
thereby endangered republican institutions; solemn in
quiry is being made in that pussant chamber of
Congress what steps it behooves the United States
adopt to protect its principles and honor.
The learned grave, and impassiye chairman of the
Committee Foreign Affairs in the Senate is reported
to have sad whether the British Colony Of the Bay of
Islands be violation Of the Monroe doctrine not it
must be removed
The sententous venerable and eloquent Nestor Of the
Senate has labored necessarily, for weeks past to
vince his associates the contingency has arisen to require
its practical assertion
Dialogue between Senators CAss and DOUGLAS Febru-
airy IA, 1853:
But the Senator insists tina. his resolution will have and
ought to have retrospective effect So let him amend
his resolution to make it declare distinctly that all Euro
pean colonies established in America since Mr. Monroes
memorable declaration, and in violation Of it, together with
all which shall hereafter be established be resisted
rSat?
"Mr. cAss. Perfectly.
"Mr. DOUGLAS. Then understand that the honorable
Senator is willing to in his resolution Resored That
all colonies which have been established upon the American
continent by Great Britain, any other European Power
since 1929 in violation Of the Monroe declaration, and all that
may be hereafter established be deemed hostile to
interests and safety and be resisted by the full power if
necessary, Of this Government
Mr. CAss. win vote for it to-day.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Why did he not make his purpose ap
parent the face of hisresoution?
Mr. CAss. Certainly; that is my idea that is my
struction 1t Is plain talk, and like it.
"Mr. DOUGLAS. That plain talk. Then, let where
Does the Belize within this restriction and is Great
Britain be required to draw her boundaries to what they
Mr. CAss. She draw it in just far she has
tended it Illegally, or in contraventon Of our rights
Mr. DOUGLAS The seizure Of the Bay Islands is to be
dsavowcd, and those islands to be restored?
Mr. CAss. Precisely.
"Mr DOUGLAS. The seizure Of the town Of San Juan,
Mt the mouth of the San Juan river the 9Th Of February
1915 at to be dsayowed and Is to be restored to
Nicaragua
:" Mr.. CAss. Certainly.
"Mr. DOUGLAS. The British protectorae the Mos
quito is be abandoned and treated if it had not
existed?
a. Mr.. CAss 1t is abandoned by the treaty
Mr. DOUGLAS do not think it has yet been abandoned
shall wait patiently for the Sem bring forward his
modified resolution in such terms embrace all the objects
to which Ihayc referred looked vain through his speech
c for something show that he ever dreamed carrying his
resolution back to the past.
Mr.. CAss never thought Of any thing to the con-
trary'
Another late prominent candidate for the Presidency
{Senator DoUGLAs) has said:
"Si what right has Great Britain call upon the United
States, she did in late application to into nego
tiaon guaranty Cuba Spain? Such step might have
been necessary the part Of England in order satisfy
Spain that she has abandoned the policy which for centuries
has marked her colonial history with plumber and apne.
Why does not England first Spain the island of ia
maca by the seizure and possession of which she is enabled
to overlook Cuba while il gives her the command Of the
trance Of the proposed Nicaragua cana Why docs she not
restore Old Spain Gibraltar which from proximity and
graphical position naturally belongs her and is essential to
her safety Why does she the colonial possessions
which she has stretched all the world commanding
important military and naval station both upon land and
ter? Why does she not them their original
from whom she obtained them by fraud and violence? Why
does she not do these things before she calls upon
into spuatons that viii not rob Spain of the island Of
Cuba !?
"Thc whole system Of European colonization upon
seizure violence and fraud European Powers hold nearly
all their colonies by the the other Of these enures
Ihey show other evidence other imminent Of title.
What is there in the history the United States requires
Ia -.