The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13

appropriations for the support of the Military
Academy for the year ending June 30, 1854.
Mr.. Venable, of North Carolina, after q few
preliminary remarks, said that, in this age OF
progress, they had heard gentlemen occupying
high places and prominence before the COM
munity declaring that our capacity Tor swal-
lowing territory is so great that we can swal-
low Mexico, and then annex not only the
islands of this continent but those adjoining
them and these propagandists chalk out the
enlarged sphere throughout which liberty is to
be diffused. Now he was opposed to interven-
ton of all sorts. When a notorious foreigner
was in this country year ago, seeking to in
yolve us in the troubles of Europe, he denOunc-
ed the effort as fraught with danger to our in
situations. He found many friends, and made
strong appeals to the Government and to the
people. After filling his pockets with money,
he is exceedingly quiet abroad, and it was to
be supposed that he would remain so until his
funds shall be exhausted
He (Mr. V was against intervention, be-
cause his constituents are conservative. He
never would insist upon n policy applied to
them that he would be unwilling to apply to
the country therefore he was opposed to in
PREVENTION. They who are in favor of it must
abide the penalty. While he mourned the tie
of those who persisted in the invasion of Cuba,
! he justified our Government for giving no en-
couragement to the enterprise. If Cubans had
landed on the coast of North Carolina to revo-
lutionize the Government, the people of that
State would have hanged them with grape
vine, without the formality of q trial. He
could not say that Spain did wrong in pursuing
the principle of selfpreservation. Permit this
| spirit to have full scope and the principle to
go forth that We are the disorders of adjoin-
ing nations and We will concentrate the ill-will
of Christendom; and this ought TO be upon US.
What is true in private life is true in politics.
| II the United States become the brigands of
the universe q nation of buccaneers appropri-
ating to themselves the possessions of adjoining
States and if we are thus to fill our cup of in
EQUITY until il runs over, he would raise his
hands in the face of the world and Of God,
and say that his hands are clean. Ii is guilt,
and most damnsble guilt.
He said he would stand up for the doctrine
announced by Mir Monroe. and resist the in
reference of European Powers in the affairs of
and their establishing new Governments on this
continent. While he remarked that he would
not consent that Cuba should pass into the pos.
session OF any other Power he Was satisfied
that Spain should hold it forever. He believed
tudt tilie WOulu Uc DtbttT IOF NDdln. unless we
can acquire it by purchase. 1t can never pass
from Spain without the United States being
an honorable party to the transaction. Have
gentlemen reflected upon the consequences of
attempting to take Cuba by force! Spain re-
pudiates selling Cuba as firmly as we would
selling New York and as long as we outrage
that Government and foment revolution in
Cuba, the mother country will be more and
more unwilling to sell.
1t had been said that Mr.. Calhoun was for
taking Cuba. This is a mistake. It was like
wise said that Mr. Calhoun was for Cuba, right
or wrong. Mr.. Calhoun, on his death-b bed, told
him that Cuba must come to us by treaty, hon.
orable and satisfactory to both countries.
There was at least one gentleman present who
listened to the conversation. And he said to
two gentlemen from Cuba, that the people of
that island were not ripe for revolution and
that the expedition of Lopez would fail. These
were the words OF man, purer than whom
never existed
He was not willing to disturb the laws-the
Compromise measures-which he was bound
to obey. He would not prophesy evil concern
ing the future, but he could not be ignorant of
the fact that the acquisition of territory will
reopen the slavery controversy, which will
DTtuh iOTJu WIFI TtHcWCu NlgUf Ill over the
country. Spain would set the slaves of the
island free, and we should have another Saint
Domingo on our coast. What do we want with
Cuba! He did not, nor did he desire the &C
QUESTION of Canada We have territory enough
in our broad land. He complmented the Ad-
minlstration for the part it has taken in sup
pressing flibusterism, and said that he firmly
believed and cherished the hope that the in
onp,ipv Al
pure and stainless on this subject
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia thought that the
gentleman had been kicking dead lion. Fill
clustering was at par q ghteen months ago, but
he believed it was now decidedly below par.
He did not exactly understand the object of
the gentleman but to some remarks which fell
from him he wished to reply. Now, he (Mr.
| s. was not in favor Of taking Cuba. He was
not however, one to declare that he was I'M
willing to have Cuba under any circumstances
He did not want it nor did he think it proper
to say that it was best for Spain to hold Cuba
Let the future take care of itself He was will
ing to declare, as he did two years ago. that he
had no desire for Cuba but the events in Eu-
rope of the next six months might make this
right at future day Great national events
might render this necessary. The gentleman
it was to be hoped that the day for this would
never come. He was for the arts of peace AS
much as gentlemen object if war must come,
we must be prepared for it. 9" If offences must
needs come, wo to him by whom they Gomez
But he was not going to deprecate, in advance,
the evils of war. He repeated he did not
know and understand the object and purpose
of discussing the Cuban question at present
At the time of the expedition there, when pa
trotc citizens went out on the enterprise, he
thought proper to warn them not to incur the
impending hazards But the remark which
the gentleman from North Carolina made was,
that the acquisition of Cuba would be danger
GUS to our Union. 1t was to that he wished to
speak. The gentleman alluded to the fearful
| agitation which lately passed over, and spoke
of the reluctance with which he in conformity
with the will of North Carolina, swallowed the
Compromise measures, at the same time por-
traying the danger to result from the acqusi-
ton Of Cuba What is the great principle of
| the Compromise! That, so far as the Terrific
| ries are concerned the General Government
has no right to interfere with the people mould
ing and forming their Government just as they
please.
| Mr.. Nenable replied, that the mere acausi-
ton of territory was, in his opinion, an open
question
Mr. Stephens resumed saying the point in
the argument is this that the acquisition of
| Cuba would have tendency to renew section
al feeling in any event. He repeated he was
against the acquisition of Cuba, but, if it should
become great national object to have Cuba,
he could not conceive that danger is TO be APP
pretended from the acquisition. He thus re-
piled to the gentleman who spoke of the reluct-
ance with which he subscribed to the Compro-
mise, to show him that North Carolina " AZ right
and he wrong One of the leading terms of
settlement was, that all territory acquired and
belonging to the United States should be left
open for the people to form such institutions as
they should see fit. He considered this cues
| ton not only for the South hut for the North