Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-09

Hale on Cass.

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The speech delivered in the Senate on the 18th
Of January, by Mr.. HALE. in support OF his a
mendment to Gen. GAss' Cuba resolution, is one
Of the best things of the season. We are no great
admrer of the New Hampshire Senator--not that
we consider him as much of fanatic as he is gem
orally supposed to be-but there is a degree of
levity, if not buffoonery, in his department which
is unbecoming in one occupying the dignified po-
stion of Senator of the United States. This
speech, however, while it abounds in humor, is
really statesmanlike, being 4 complete refutaticn
of the arguments advanced by Gen. CAss, and
putting the ridicule upon his resolution in most
etlectual manner.
1t will be rec5llected that Gen. CAss introduced
q Joint resolution INTO the Senate on the 4th ulti-
mo, declaring in substance, among other things,
that Spain should not part with heisand Of Cuba
to any Power except the United States. Mr..
HALE moved an amendment, making similar dec
laration to England with respect to Canada. He
argues at length in his speech that if it is neccsa
ry for our safety and welfare to serve ,nis notice
upon Spain, much moro shoGid we extend it to
England. Engla.d, 20 be sure has manifested
no dispersion 10 sell Canada; but neither has
Sns..n to sell Cuba, but on the contrary has fatty
refused the round sum of one hundred millions Of
dollars offered her for the island. The only diff
ference between the two cases is, that England is
a powerful nation and Spain is comparatively a
weak one. Unless, then, we mean to play the
braggart downright, England and allthe world
should be notified that we claim a monopoly in
the business of buying colonial possessions. and
that they need not look about for any other market
One fact mentioned by Mr.. HALE to illustrate
the power possessed by England to annoy us
from Canada, was sort of argnnentun ad
homiaem, and seems to have told well in the Sen
ate. During the political canvass of of l64S, he
said, the candidate of the great Democratic party
of the nation did notgo to bed single night when
he was not withnthe reach Of British shell that
might have been fired into hisdwelling by Brit
ish mortar
In one passage of his speech Mr.. HALE has hit
nail upon the head which we hope will fix IN
the minds of some clustering patriots an idea they
have not been able to retain heretofore. lie says
"Whenever an emergency does come that calls
upon the people of this country to throw aside the
pursuits ofpeace and go out and render themselves
it may be, victims for their countrys good-When-
ever the defence of their resides and their homes
shall call forth the hearted and brave who are
ready to do and to die in their country's behalf
my word for it you will not always find the most
selEdenying patriots amongst those that have made
the loudest professions; but in the quiet retire;
ment of life. in the shades of privacy, you will
find hearts that have never given utterance to noisy
sentiments men who have not speculated nor act
ed upon that course of political events which has
had so important an influence upon the destiny OF
their country, and therefore have not been heard
TO utter sentiments in regard to what was becom-
ing and not becoming the country. You will find
many and many such men as these come forward,
who, will, by the eloquence Of action, put to 81
lence the declaration of those whose hot-headed
councils have plunged the country into what may
be an unnecessary war. | think that will be the
history of the patriotism this country" o-