The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-08
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
MONDAY, February I, 1858.
SENATE.


The CHAIR laid before the Senate report from
the Navy Department, in compliance with q reso-
luton calling for information as to the quantity
and the relative merits of the several kinds of coal
used in the naval service. Referred and ordered
to be printed.
THE FISHERIES.
MIR. HAMLIN presented the memorials of seve-
raj of the masters and the crews of American fish
ing vessels seized in the waters of the northeastern
fishing grounds, claiming indemnity. Referred.
LABoRERs ON THE CAPITOL.
MFR. SHIELDS presented the memorial of the
laborers the Capitol, recently discharged pray
ing some allowance in consideration of their being
thrown out of work.
= Also, petitions from citizens of Washington.
praying the removal of the Franklin engine. house
from its present site.
eEoReETowN AND oArocTIN RAILROAD COMPANY.
MIR. SHIELDS, from the Committee on the Dis.
trict OF Columbia, reported bill to incorporate
the Georgetown and Catoctn Railroad Company.
AMENDMENTS.
MIR. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance
reported several additional amendments to the
Deficiency bill
ported several amendments to the bill providing
Tor the payment of the claims due the creditors
of Texas.
CONVENTIONS WITH NICARAGUA
MIR. DOUGLAS submitted the following resolu-
ton, which considered and agreed to:
communicate to the Senate copies of any conven-
tons which may have been entered into by Mr..
Hse on the part of the United States with the State
of Nicaragua, or either of the five States composing
the late Republic OF Central America, land which
have not been submitted to the Senate,) together
with any correspondence with either of said States
and also all correspondence between Mr.. Hise and
the Department of State of the United States.
DEFENcEs OF CALIFORNIA.
MIR. GWlN submitted the following resolution
which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be re-
quested to communicate to the Senate the shortest
practicable time and the annual and total appro.
priations required to place the harbor of San
the shortest practicable time and the appropriation
required to fabricate, transport, and place in Sc
cure depots and magazines. the necessary arma.
ments and munitions.
PRE-EMPTION RIGHTS.
On motion of MIR. FITZPATRICK, the Senate
proceeded to consider the bill to extend the right
of redemption on certain unsurveyed lands and
lands of which the minimum price was two and
a half dollars acre; and the bill was amended
debated, and passed.
COLLECTION DISTRICT.
On motion of MIR. HAMLIN, the Senate took up
the bill to create additional collection districtin
Vermont, and the same was explained and passed.
REMEDIES TO PATENTEEs.
On motion of Mr.. MILLER, by vote Oft ayes
to Is noes, the bill granting further remedies to
ed in Committee of the Whole; it reported to
the Senate, and was-yeas %, nays 2l-ordered to
be engrossed for third reading.
MONROE DoCTRINE-cUBA.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the joint
resolution Of Mr.; CAss, to reaffirm the Monroe
doctrine, and applying it to Cuba.
Mr.. CLEMENS said: There are periods in the
history of nations of individuals. One false move
must be followed by years of suffering; one neglect
or improper use OF the right moment or the right
lnffl nsenn tpfo he nod l;t,o
which no remedy can reach. Wear approaching
such period, if it is not already upon US. From
the line OF conduct now to be adopted much that is
good, or much that ia evil, will be sure to ensuc
10 render ALL have to say perfectly Ineligible it
Will be necessary to enter upon brief review of
the past. Heretofore the advice Of Washington
has been respected, and have succeeded in
steering clear of the tangled web of Eurooean poll
tics. Besides, the growth of the American Union
has been rapid to defy the calculation of Eu-
ropean craftsmanship. The merchant, when he
found rival taking away his most profitable traf-
nc, the manufacturer as year by year the demand
for his productions diminished, the fisherman when
ne saw Yankee sails invade the haunts of the great
masters of the deep, by these understood that
new power had sprung into existence. and felt that
they were engaged in rivalry IN which Euro
pean energy and European intelligence we're des-
tined to be overshado we'd. But kings and cabinet
ministers could not comprehend that few scattered
colonies, but short time since feeble dependency
of Great Britain, had indeed become powerful ma.
ton. The monarch who looked back upon line
of hundred sires could comprehend no stable
form of government save that which was endeared
to him alike by interest and by education or pre-
JUDGE. If, in his imperial Dreams the vision of
America ever before his eyes, it was only as
people whose unbridled passions would drive them
into anarchy, whose turbulence and discussions
would furnish only another reason to the world for
committing all government 10 sceptred hands
In the mean time, the neglected and despised
Republic was moving steadily and rapidly along
the road to wealth, to power and to honor but its
ia vic nEpou
abroad. The war with Mexico followed, and
little handful of citizen soldiers overran nation
OF seven millions of Inhabitants, and dictated the
terms OF peace from the national capital. Here
was a lesson which even kingly dulness could not
misunderstood, nor ministerial servility misin-
terpret.
of Europe was changed. Prior to that time they
had derided our progress and laughed at the fee
bleness of our military force. 1t was assumed to
beam possible tor Government like ours to carry
on q war OF foreign conquest. Foolish editors
writing at the dctaton of still more foolish mas.
ters, argued themselves into the conviction that
the first summons of the drum to an aggressive
war would be the signal of ruin to the Union.
That summons came, powerful nation was van
qulshed, and yet little the ener ges of our
people taxed that it would have been scarcely
known that war was going except by the
reports of battles and of victories Thus vanished
one delusion and with it the old system of politi
cal tactics. 1t was longer our weakness but
our strength which became the subject of COM
Luent. lne aggressive spirit, the grasplng ambl-
ton of America were portrayed in the darkest CO
lors, and Europe called upon to interpose some
check to the territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the great
Republic. Wrong in apathy, they ware reused
only to involve themselves still more deeply in
error by their action. From newspaper articles
they progressed to diplomatic notes; and now
England and France have made formal PROPOSE
ton to the United States that the three powers
should unite in assuring to Spain undisturbed pos
session of Cuba for all coming time
am willing to go with the Senator from Michi-
gan, and TO say that this proposition meant some-
thing. | am willing to go further, and say that it
does mean what it imports its face; that it was
known it would be rejected; that the idle form of
making the offer would have been dispensed with
but for Interior considerations. Let it be conceded
that was intended to ntimidate the United States,
and to give US notice that France and England
were watching Cuba, and determined to prevent
any efforts upon our part to acquire its possession
But while conceding all this, do not agree with
that Senator as to how it should be met / do not
think 1t ID the part of wisdom, or of sound policy
to permit ourselves to be hurried into intemperate
action because France and England have made a
foolish parade of their future policy. To redeem
threat from contempt it is necessary that the party
making it should possess the power Of carrying it
into effect AS long English statesmen keep
their senses, thousand Cubas cannot induce them
to declare war against the United States. With
hold the of md IN