Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-06
CuRA. INTERVENTION. Nc.

In the House of Representatives on Monday
the bill making appropriation for the support o.
the Military Academy at West Point, being un.
der consideration in Committee of the Whole -
Mr. VENABLE addressed the committee upon
the subject of our foreign relations. He de-
clared himself strictly conservative and opposed
to intervention of all kinds. While no man
more deeply regretted the fate of those who in
vaded Cuba, he could not say that Spain did
wrong in her course toward them. He expires
sed himself strongly against flibustiering, and
said that if the people of the United States would
permit themselves to be considered the brigands
ofthe earth, they would unite upon themselves
the ill will of all chrisendom, and they would
deserve it. If we were to become the brigands
of the world; if we were to become buccaneers;
five were to adopt the policy of falling upon
the weak aud appropriating to ourselves all their
wealth; if we were to fill up the cup of inquiry
until it should run over, he would wash his
hands of it-he would be clear of any such guilt,
for it was guiit--guIt of the deepest and most
damnabe dye. He would be satisfied to stand
by the doctrine announced by Mr.. Monroe. He
would stand upon that doctrine, and take it to
its fullest extent. He would not consent that
Cuba should pass into the possession of any ma
ton other than Spain. He believed it was best
that Spain should hold it forever, even though
the United States might be able to obtain it by
purchase.
He said he would take this occasion to do
what he considered pious duty, to yindicate the
memory of distinguished statesman now no
more. 1t had been said that Mr.. Calhoun was
in favor of the acquisition of Cuba. This was a
mistake which he desired to correct, as
Mr.. Calhoun charged him shortly before his death
to correct any misapprehensions which might be
made of his views upon the subject. Mr.. CAL
bot ubo shnu
from SPAIN it ii ust come to us by treaty hon
orable aud satisfactory to both countries; ether
wise, it was forbidden fruit TO the United States.
This was the expression used by Mr.. Calhoun.
Several gentlemen and himself were with Mr..
Calhoun when two or three individuals from Gu
ba entered into his presence. He (Mr. W
and his friends rose to leave the room, but Mr..
Calhoun requested them to keep their seats
He said to the persons who had just entered,
''Gentlemen, you are mistaken. Cuba is not
ripe for rebellion, and ifLopez nvades it it will
prove failure; aud | tell you, under no circum
stances this Government be complicated with
the transaction"
Mr.. V. then gave his views against the acqui-
sition of Cuba, believing it would renew the
agitation which existed two or three years ago
He was in favor of preserving our treaty stipula-
tions with Spain, and thought that the President
deserved the respect of the country for the course
ne 1ilQ pursued In reference 10 LnlS SuDloCt.
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, believed that fiji
clustering was now decidedly below par, and he
did not exactly understand the object of the gen
tleman from North Carolina in making the speech
he had Just delivered. He Mr. 81 was not ia
favor of taking Cuba, but he was not going to de-
clare that he would not have Cuba under any cir
cumstances that we did not want that island, nor
never would have it Nor did he think it proper
to say that he thought it best for Spain always to
keep possession tf Cuba. He was willing to de-
clare, as he did eShteen months ago, that he had
no desire now for the acquisition of Cuba; but
six months hence events might happen which
would make it great national duty to obtain that
island. Hetrusted such day would never come.
He was for peace; but if war should be forced
upon us, we must be prepared for it.
The gentleman had said that the acquisition OF
Cuba would be dangerous to the Union, and he
Ind spoken Of the fearful agitation through which
the country had lately passed. lie had also stu
ted with what reluctance he swallowed the cup
which North Carolina compelled him to put to
his lps---the compromise He would say to the
gentleman hat If he would look to the principles
of the compromise, he would not see these dan
gers from the acquisition Of Cuba for the great
principle of those measures was that territorise
should come into the Union with such institu-
tons as they themselves chose to adopt. Let this
christian principle, this republican principle, exc
tend with our flag aud with domain, and we
would have an ocean-bound republic.
Mr.. BArLY, of Virginia, said that this was a
question in which he took vast deal of interest,
and he had just been to the Senate to ascertain
what had been done with the resolution proposed
by his colleague, and had found that it had passed
that body this morning. Fl preferred to reserve
what he desired to say on the subject until the
correspondence called for by the resolution should
be submitted; and he begged leave to suggest
that it would be quite as we'll To postpone this
discussion until they should know precisely every
thing that had been done by tho Administration;
until they should ascertain officially tho precise
condition in which our reationsto Spain stand
He should embrace the earliest opportunity, af-
ter this information should be submitted, to give
his views on the subject.
Mr.. BRowN, of Mississippi, after replying to
some of the arguments of Mr.. Venable, said that
if he should go for the acquisition of Cuba, or
any ether foreign territory in the South, he wish
ed it to be understood that he would Go so because
he desired an outlet for slavery. There was o
day when slavery had existed in Rhode Island
1t was known that that State boosted that she
emancpated her slaves, but she did not do I'M
til the great body of them had been sent to the
South and there sod 1t was the same way
with Pennsylvania and New York. Virginia
and Maryland, the border States, were now un-
dergoing the same process, and the slaves were
leaving the border States to go further South
Now, if they should force all the slaves into the
cotton-growing States of the Union, and leave
them no outlet, they would have that kind of
disaster which would follow the damming up of
the mouth of the Mississippi. He was not going
to second any fibustiering movements against
Cuba. He was for this; for demanding and OK.
acting at all times and under all circumstances
proper respect for the flag of this country; and
if in doing this we should become involved in
war with Spain or any other country, he was for
fighting it out. If, in settlement of the diff
culties we could obtain nothing but land, he was
willing to take land. Laughter He thought
that the President, in the lae transactions at
Havana, in which the Crescent City was involved.
altogether wrong. He hoped that if such