The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-27

- - Ss9Ssse9 - Catet mdR1btfdI0. he Will
neg limalsse the sswasm- hesrtsd and gallant
nsgWho aound in our citiss to such esnoble''
egg Prisesss the laws Of their own country
Eans & s4of civilization dsaounce. He viii
Eex obedllAce to the statues of the United
81 H will respect the moral sense of
-. ME- SoULE closed his speech with dis
clailher Of any wish to acquire CuBA by anv
means unknown to the strict requirements Of
the laws Of nations" And yet the only infer
ence to be drawn from the three hours, ha-
rangue which preceded the conclusion was
simply this: that we want CuBA, and must
have it--and inssmuch as SPAIN will never
sell it-by hook or BY crook, we must have it
somehow, immediately.
We regretted to hear General CAss compli-
ment the Senator from Louisiana for his ILL
princiPled, not to say unprincipled. farrago.
Never have we listened to speech more tho
roughly Objectionable in its morals, or rather in
its immortality. And to our mind it was not
the less Objectionable on account of the Jesuit
cal protest with which it concluded
-s.i-t ..rs AS.
French spoIiations.
! The following letter has been handed us
with request that we should insert it in our
columns.
The claims which General JACKSON desired
to satisfy from the surplus revenue have been
advocated for the last half century by distin-
guished men Of all parties. w. Vans MURRAY,
r. r. LIVINGSTON, MADISON, MARSHALL,
JEFFERSON, GILES of Virginia, LowNDEs of
South Carolina, MARION Of the same State,
GEORGE CLINTON, EDWARD LIVINGSTON,
WEBSTER, C. j. INeERsoLL, and many other
eminent statesmen Of both the great parties
have borne ample testimony to the justice of
hese claims. They have never been made
opic of party controversy. As Mr.. WEBSTER
aid in his speech on the subject in 1885, in the
Senate of the United States:
This is no party question; it involves no
party principles, affects no party interests,
seeks no party ends or objects; and as it is
question of private right and justice, it would |
be fragrant wrong and injustice to give it, anyl
where, the, character of party measure.
The petitioners, the sufferers under French |
spoliations, belong to all parties. Gentlemen
Of distinction, of all parties, have at different
times maintained the justice of the claim. |
The present bill is intended for the equal re-
lief of all sufferers; and if the measure shall |
become party measure, | for one shall not |
pursue it. It will be wiser to leave till better
auspices shall appear"
We annex the letter to which we refer
bove:
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAnnEa,
s M March l, 1851.
SIR: In answer to your inquiry, bearing date
yesterday, have to say that the principal facts
n which the claims of those suffering from the
Id French spoliations rest are matters of public
otoriety. 1t would seem that nation ought to
Q just before it is generous; and that, while the
esources of the nation are disposed of every day
the way of free gifts, claims on foreign nations,
ountarily relinquished for public reasons, might
Ike precedence of such gifts.
1t 10 within my knowledge that, before the dir.
'ibution of the surplus moneys to the States,
General JACKSON and the leading members of his
abinet were DESTROYS that these claims should be
rged and paid.
If the claims were just then, they cannot be un-
,st now; though, 30 far as the question may be
ne OF expediency, every one will form his own
pinion of the condition and prospects of the
easury.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) R. RANTOUL, il.
on. H. w. BlssELL, of the House of Represen-
tatives.