The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-28
CONGRESSI0N
sprEcH OF HON. O. n. SINGLETON,


SPEECH OF HON. o. n. SINGLETON,
OF aIssssIfpL
On our relations with Cuba delivered IN the House Of hep
resentatyes June H. 1884.
The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state
the Union
Mr. SINGLETON said Mr.. Chairman having imposed
obligation to silent during the session. un-
10 mpeled by OF duty to speak, IL ~ wlth besit
Jon that offer to address the conn''ee a' .s ou nua
r. our relations with the Spanish government growing
Of series Of aggressons upon our rights by Cuban a
hortes have assumed such an aspect as TO render mol
only proper that every member Of this body ana more e
ciay every southern representative should speak ai
npon the subject but silence, under such circumstances,
would amount almost to criminal derelicton OF duty
nations representatives intrusted with nations honor
while they should be careful to preserve peace and Sc
cure tranquility their government ought never to think
for moment of purchasing either at price so dear as
that Of national disgrace.
If there is any one truth taught by history more clearly
ban another which accords too, with the individual ex-
eneo Of every rejecting sober-minded man. 1t is that
aon TO respected at home or abroad to have the con-
dcnec of its citizens or to retain its position OF re-
pectabilty among overegntes must guard with jealous
re s national honor must bear about 1t spirit TO
ent and if need be, to repe afront from
What quarter it may 1t matters but little what may bc its
resources what number of citizens may be intruscd with
national arms for national Defence what fleets may ride at
ease in their quiet harbors what heaps may glitter in
ations treasury If there be wanting of national
honor if il be blunted from luxury and ease growing
and ndgntcs from others that nation has taken its first
step downfall and must become the sport and the
So of every respectable power And sir it to be
one of the immutabe laws OF Nature that when have
est the respect Of our peers forfeit self
seem and hurrying TO state of degradation and
dependence, to end in imbecility and slavery.
To guard against this tendency the hand BY
testing determination To see that our rights are respect
ed and our honor remains unsued and upon the other
act with due of our responsibility and proper
gard for the peace and happiness Of the nation otentmes
becomes trust Of most difficult and delicate nature
The only true and legitimate mode of solving questions Of
this kind il appears TO me, il to make far may be,
individual case Of each matter to be aetermined assu
ming the position Of the nation based upon its consti
ton guided by its laws surrounded by its treaty stpula
tons laden with its duties and obligations to all mankind
and having determined what line of conduct should be
individually adopted let that be the guide TO
and the lamp to feet as constituent elements OF
ion know better rule, have found out better
Standard by which to nationa: wrongs than that
which have suggested and which have adopted for the
government OF my actions 1t is too often, and lam
ably true that where the responsibility of action rests
upon aggregate number of persons individual RESPONSE
y is thrust aside to find support upon the shoulders of
others or to meet with criminal neglect While then, as
body the representatives Of the American people,
should feel individual responsibility and whatever
path duty points out should trend it, regardless of
sequences Duty belongs to man-eonsequences rest with
higher power.
In the remarks which shall make it is not my purpose
lash myself into fury that by vehement defamation
animated figures Of rhetoric may win applause for
myself at the expense of truth No such object have in
View such unworthy motive shall ensavc me; but
viii endeayor to be just honorable and truthful will
nohing extenuate, atght set down in malice
TO present this subject properly il will be necessary
veS briefly Tor few years past the social political and
commercial intercourse between the United States the
hand and the government of SPAIN and its province
the island Of Cuba, the otherto ascertain If possible
The causes and motives which have acuated Spain and the
Cuban authorities in their unus6abe conduct towards
lhe consequences to which II lead if perseyered
n-and finally what action it is proper should take
IN the premises. In examining into the relations existing
between these and the in which our
ecproca duties have been carried out il is wellnay sir
the part Of wisdom and Of magnanimtyto lay the
axe at the root OF TIE tree TO look first
Duct and the fault lies with there is end Of the
eraIninaon and all we have 10 do is to make the oed
honorable to correct abuses that peace and amity
may be restored Bat sir in the calm dispassionate CON
nderauon which have endeavored to give this subject
the solemn conviction Is forced upon my mind that against
| IS as government Spain has cause of complaint
Have violated any Of the principles of international
aw9 II so, when and where Have not our treaty sip-
alations been faithfully Observed III not in what in
stance have they been broken? Have we not sought TO
cultivate and to sustain amcable ons reciprocity OF
good feeling In social and mutual advantage in our
commercial intercourse If not in what essential particu-
r have we been deelie2 Let Spain herself answer these
inquiries and her candid judgment would render verdict
aeqnttal IN fnvor Of government True she may
el pqued aud irried at the expedition gotten up re-
fhly against cuba which so soon exploded, with the
most disastrous consequences to all engaged in it. But
ao not Spain know and does not the civilized world un
drsand, that whatever blame may attach to this matter
ehargeabe TO the individual Of those who en-
oafked " the enterprise Sir far from the constituted
authorities Of our country failing in their duty 10 Spain
endeaNoring 10 suppress this expedition my humbl,
pagment The late President of the United States in his
tuaGdnary anxiety to convince Spain that our govern
ent mad no intention 10 interfere with her regulations
opeorshp in the island OF Cuba in more than one in
'ance orrasd the line OF duty In his bearing toward.
own citizens and In that spirit OF subservicncy adopted
gNarus SPAIN wounding by this course scnsib
ues and encouraging the Spanish government 10 commit
some Of atrocities that blacken and dis
ace he pages Of history Why, sir IL within the rec
LECTION OF OIL OF nS, that upon that certain
our citizens had assembled upon Round Island for pur
os but supposed TO lie preparatory 70
puluoh against Cuba without definite or reliable infor
On ene subject the President felt IL to be his duty
aIspaeu revenue cutter 10 intercept their movements
"se away ueir vessels of transportation To cut of
ner supplies and, after holding ;bcm In duress lonv
"ough ior nakedness and almost starvation 10 snpcryene
aa tof landed upon the gulf coast Of Mississippi hungry
Mn, "a raRs pennies and iriendess For this case a par.
~ = 'o' 70 DC iound upon The pages Of history When
p Young republic OF Texas was Struggling for indenend
ehce-when, with fearful odds against her sbe va on
sqgeu apparently hopeless conteswhcn every nerve
vas sunhen 70 the utmost ienson-when life and ana,t
we're staked upon the issuo-what conrso did ,b ~
Jackson pursue lie issued his proclamation Il Is ,
warning our citizens that Mexico and the Unoa So,
tcnoy powers that any interference upon our par
sou" pe pteneh OF good faith and that The ofende
M ooN 70 is own personal safety IN nc thought nrono
~ usegard The warning voice Of iat PROCLAMATION Ti
a. resident u was his duty 10 do but not aeohe
erops s ~ sse prevent them from following the gcu
[ [lpuses o. thc'r nature in joining the weak and on
Wesseo against their heartlcss powerful onnrossor
eYenua cutters were then called into rrouison NJ ~
vere taken to csiingish tbe fires OF patriotism
blazo srt :. ~ 's o the American people, which eve
" ~ zach successive struggleno matter in vba,
may occur-betwecn the oppress,r and lilo
I've wen tyranny and liberty fad he purs,,ea ~ e,r
srr.n go lnore dd had he intorposed the arm of gov
Tsn, nnnnly to cut on recruits from tho u;o
| a, A, fbp, nwfl = III