Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-06-01
Benton's Second speech--Cuba and Mex

On the Goth ult., Mr.. Knox of Illinois,
gave way for Benton, who spoke in reply
TO Mr.. Seward Of Georgia:
Mr.. BENTON. l concur in the truth and
justice of everything which the member from
Georgia has here said, but differ from him
in the conclusion TO which he arrives-that
of voting for the bill; and find in his reasons
for that vote, additional reasons for my own
vote against it, but lie votes as southern
man, and votes sectionally also am a
southern man, but vote nationally on nation
al questions. He sees in it principle set
up which is false and useless in its applica-
ton to Nebraska, but which is to be asser-
ted in future, and which is put into the bill
as the basis Of some grand impending move
ment in this country. OF the nsture of this
movement, which is TO be so grand, and at
the same time sectional, the member declares
himself to be Ignorant; and that ignorance
would suppose, should be reason for hol-
ding back from bill which commits its sup
porters to great unknown things. That is
the way it works with me.
I am also ignorant, that is to say, uninfor-
med of this grand movement which is 10 be
in this country, but l believe in it, and so
believing am the more against the bill; am
against AIRY thing that | do not understand
and which nobody will explain to me, and
which, according to my own short and du-
bious lights is dangerous 10 The peace and
honor of the country. l believe in the flu
tlity Of this bill-its absolute fuiility to the
slaveholdng States-and that not single
slave will ever be held in Kansas sr Nebras-
ka under it, (even admitting it 10 be pass
ej.) Though adapted TO slave labor in two
of its great staples, (hemp and tobacco
do not believe that slaves will ever be held
there. The popular vote will expel them.
Kansas is contiguous to middle and south
ern Missouri, where slave trade is profita-
BILE, and slaves held in great numbers-a
single ownerwilhin two hours ride of the
line, holding one hundred more than the five
hundred of Randolph of Roanoke: and five
thousand in his county alone; but the holder
of slaves will have but one vote and will be
beat at the polls by the many who have
none. In relation TO Kansas and Nebras-
ka, then, / hold the bill TO be deception
and cheat-what gamesters call CANNON,
congressman buncombe, and seamen tub
to the whale: that is to say, an ambidex-
trous operation upon the senses of coniiding
people, by which they are made to see what
is not, and not to see what is. This is what
! believes. and not being obliging enough to
Join in scheme of self-deception, or to suf-
fer game of deception TO be played upon
me, must now turn my back ur on the Illu-
sions of this Nebraska bill, and look out for
its real object-the particular purpose for
which it was manufactured, and the grand
movement of which it is TO be the basis.
In this search naturally look about into
the signs and rumors of the times, and into
the contemporaneous events which may con-
meet themselves with the grand movement
in questions; and think find in them two
diplomatic missions, Of which the country
| has heard much-but not all. speak up
on rumor, but neither tell, nor believe, the
! half Of the half of what l hear; but believe
enough to excite apprehension, and to justi-
| fly inquiry. What is a State secret in the
city of Washington is street talk in the city
of Montezuma.
1st. The mission of Mr.. Gadsden to San
| Ia Anna. 1t must have been conceived about
the time that this bill was; and, according to
! TRANSPORTING accounts, must have been grand
movement in itself-$5 100000 for as much
Mexican territory as would make five or six
states of the first class. The area OF the
acquisition, as understand it, was to extend
from sea to sea, on line that would give
us Santander, Monterey, Saltillo, Parras,
Sonora and all lower California. This was
certainly a large movement both in point of
money and ofterrjtory, and also large in po-
litical consequently and clearly furnishing
a theatre for the doctrine of non-interven-
ton, if there should be any design TO con-
vert the newly-acquired territory from free
soil, that it is, into slave soil, that it might
be desired to be. Here, then, believe
have found one great branch of the grand
movement; and although Mr.. Gadsden re-
turned from his mission with small slice
only of the desired territory, yet he has re-
turned to his post, and may have better luck
on second trial-if Santa Anna escape from
the speckled Indians Los Indios Pintos )who
have him at bay in the Sierra. say moth
ing on the merits of this new acquisition, on
ly that it is an old acquaintance with me,
having first heard of it in November, 1916,
and afterwards in March, lS49-at which
latter time it was proposed in the Senate
(by Mr.. Davis, of Mississippi,) on the rat
ification of the Guadalupe-!i idalgo treaty:
and rejected by the Senate. Ivoted against
the San ander and Monterey line then, and
have not seen cause TO change my opinion.
(IIere Mr.. Benton read the article propos ed
by Mr.. Davis for the new line.)
ID. The mission Of Mr.. Soue to Madrid,
also grand movement in itself, if reports
be true--two hundred and fifty millions for
Cuba; and a rumpus kicked up ifthe island
is not got. Here again might be found a
case for the non-interyention principle;but
of that say nothing. because know moth
ing and wish to know something. Ofthe
acquisition itself | say nothing now, but did
say something about four years ago in a
Nashville newspaper, published by Thomas
Eastin, called the1mpartial Review;in which
l discussed Cuba as the geographical APP
purtenance of the valley of the Mississippi
and eventually to become its political appur.
tenanee; but to be got with honor when
. o,ot. "A ~, oil tbot @; 7