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

/ them as the French had TO aid US IN tue wa
against Great Britain Our forefathers wer
not buccaneers, nor were the French, WIFI
! came to our succor in that glorious struggle
/ His friend did not draw the proper distinctlor
between the acts of this Government ana th'
acts of the people.
! He was not to be understood rs saying tina
! the United States ought to wage war agaihS
Spain He was speaking Of individual enter
prise; the same that was manifested IN the al
! fairs of Greece, the South American kepuohcs
and Texas. If he went for the acquisition o.
Cuba at ALL or other foreign territory let It DC
understood it was because he wanted an out
let for slavery. There were now three and q
half millions of slaves; and IN thirty years
there would be seven or eight millions OF them
He came from that portion OF the Contederacy
which will be the last resting-place OF slavery
unless it shall have an outlet. Not having this
in the cotton. growing States, 1t would he as
great calamity as damming up the sources OF
the Mississippi.
Mr. Venable, the gentleman having the floor
giving way, made several explanations
Mr. Brown said the gentleman was never
more mistaken in his life when he supposed II
possible for his State Rights friends TO coun-
tenance any violation of treaty stipulatlons OF
good faith towards foreign nations, or oblga-
tions to the States composing this Union or
any other of mankind. He was perfectly free
TO say he was not gong to second any hlibus-
tering expedition against Cuba, or any other
part of the world; but he was for demanding
and exacting, at all times, and under all cir
cumstances proper respect for the flag of tins
country; and If, in dong this, We become IN
yolved in war with Spain, We must fight II
out and if in the geperh settlement We can
get nothing but land, he ~as willing 10 take 1t
lLaughter He thought that the conduct OF
the President in the late transaction at Havana,
in which the steamer Crescent City" was
involved, altogether wrong, and that Spain
violated our treaty Of smity; and he trusted
that the Incoming President will ask satistac-
ton Of Spain for the outrages blurred over by
the retiring Administration.
Mr.. Wilcox endorsed IN toto what was said
by the gentleman from Georgia, Mr.. Stephens
He trusted that the incoming Administrators
will be characterized by the spirit Of conser-
vatism, and hoped that economy, retrenchment,
and reform will be carried out, and that the
banner of peace will be uniured at the cons
mcncement of the new Administration He
was not prepared to say that he was not in
opposed to its acquisition in any shape man.
ner, or form whatever, because he conceived
that the wants and emergencies of the Govern.
ment do not require it. But future events may
render it necessary. The day is not distant
when We will have an ocean-bound Republic
which has proved itself sufficient to protect all
It's various interests.
MIR. Polk obtained the hoer, and, after say
ing that new element had been introduced
into this Cuban question by the gentleman
from Mississippi, Mr. Brown, and that he de.
sired an opportunity for considering what should
be said in reply, moved that the Committee
rise.
The motion was agreed to; when
The House passed the two bills which had
been laid aside, making appropriations for navy
and invalid pensions.
Mr.. Fickln, from the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia, by unanimous consent, re-
ported bill to suppress the circulation of small
notes, as currency, in the District of Column
bia, and moved that it be printed.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee moved that it be re-
ferred to the Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, and made the special order
of the day for tomorrow week.
The question having been taken, the rules
were suspened, and the motion agreed to.
The House then adjourned.
TUESDAY JANUARY A.
Mr. Houston introduced resolution prOpO-
sing to terminate the debate on the West Point
Academy bill, in two hours after the same
should again be taken up and, after an inef-
tectual attempt to extend the time until to-
morrow, it was passed
The House d sn resolved itself into n Com
mlttce OF the Whole on the state of the Union
(Mr Richardson in the chair) and took up the
bill making appropriations for the support of
the West Point Military Academy for the year
ending June 80, 1854.
MIR. Polk, being entitled to the floor, said
that when he entered the Hall yesterday, he
found his friend from North Carolina Mr..
Venable discussing the Cuba question. He
listened to HIM with great deal of interest,
and admired the adrotness with which he
piled his argument but at the same time it
occurred to him that the gentleman was occu-
plying the same position with Gen. Cass. He
was not however, able to ascertain whether
the gentleman had turned "Old Fogy,D or
whether Gen Cass had turned "Fire-eater. y
They certainly occupy the same position. 1t
might be possible that Gen Cass, aware of the
great care which this executor had taken of
the character of Mr. Calhoun was making use
of the same kind of influence to let his mantle
tall on the shoulders of 80 worthy an executor.
The gentleman said he was opposed to the
acquisition of territory at ALL This being the
case, he could not but conceive that the gentle
man should adopt the principle urged in the
report of Mr.. Conrad, Secretary Of War and
go in for the ultra doctrine to sell New Mexico
to the Indians. Laughter
The gentleman said that every one entitled
to freedom enjoys it. When did this become
500 Would not the declaration of such sem
timent as well suited the English Parliament
in 1875, as the American Congress in 1853
He would not stop to examine the extent of the
mischief of promulgating such doctrine, and
the effect which it would have on our institu-
tons. AS We enjoy freedom, it is rs much as
to assert that we should shut down the gates,
and say to European nations, "You hear your
chains clankng, but you are not required to
raise your arms to break the manacles which
now bind you How did the gentleman know
they are not entitled to freedoml Have they
tried it. and had as fair an opportunity as we
have had No But he would dismiss his
Fogy friend from North Carolina.
1t had been said that members of the Demo-
cratic party, scattered throughout the country
approved the policy of Mr.. Fillmore on tho
Cuba question but he did not approve of it.
He objected to the slaughter of the fifty Ameri-
cans at Havana. The treaty Of commerce and
amity required the President to issue his proc
lamation but he could not say that he admired
its extent. We performed our part of the
treaty but Spssn did not and violated it. AL
though those Fifty men were taken in arms,
they had right to fair and public trial.
This was clear and distinct stipulation in the
treaty; but the Spanish authorities denied it.
They were tried in secret, and shot down in
violation of the treaty which Mr.. Fillmore was
trying to carry out IL he was trying to carry
out the treaty against "flibusters' why did he
not show equal industry and good will in car
rying ont the feature which gave to them a
fair trial