The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-06

the cmef ornaments OF the city. The majority
favor the undertaking, and we hope that the
proceedings before the. Commissioners of Esti-
mate and Assessment will be concluded with
as little delay as possible. W
The Administration and the Cuba Question
In n Pccuniary Aspect.
Our Washington correspondence this morn
ing discloses the proceedings at the White
House last week, when the democratic members
of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
met the President to consult as to his plans for
the future, in the adjustment of the difficulties
with Spain The statement corroborates our
view, that the administration, notwithstanding
the alarming reports in the cabinet newspapers,
were exceedingly peaceably inclined, and had
no more intention of recommending extreme
measures towards Spain, than they have of
turning ont the free sellers and abolitionists
from office, and thus showing that upon one
point, ct least, their practice is in keeping with
their professions.
The commission then is to 60 to Spain And
it would appear that they are to emulate the
conduct of that doughty sovereign, who
With twice ten thousand men,
Marched un the hill, and tnen-marched down again.
They are to return home, and then-and then!
Oh, then, we are to have war! The President
is to have several millions of dollars at his dis
posal either jeff Davis or John Forney is to
command the forces, and Cuba, like a ripe pear,
is to fall into our lap.
We must say we admire that idea Of placing
several millions in the hands of the President
to be used at his discretion, without the annoy
ing Inconvenience of having to apply to Con
gress for every Insignificant million he may
want. Much can be said in its favor. In the first
place, it at once furnishes an easy mode by
which the surplus gold in the treasury can
be disposed of. The Gadsden treaty only alb
stracts ten millions of that surplus, leaving at
least twice as much behind. 1t is true, Mr..
Guthrie has made suggestions to reduce the
duties on certain articles Of import so as to
bring the revenue down but there is no pros
pect of the recommendation being acted upon
this year, and, therefore, some other way of
getting rid of the superauous cash is absolutely
necessary. The plan Of giving it to the Presi-
dent is positively sublime. 1t does away with
all further trouble as to the surplus on hand
it saves the time of Congress quarrelling over
mere trif1es as to details and it will enable
the President to reward his true friends and
obsequious servants.
We have no patience with those so-called
economists who desire to be advised, in ad-
vance, what disposition is to be made of the
public money. They viii probably find out in
time. Neither have we any respect for the
opinions of persons who may think that the
government of country Dung, vigorous,
abounding in resources, and powerful in all
the elements Of greatness-should boldly avow
what it demands Of other nations, and having
avowed it, call upon the representatives of the
people to sustain, to assist and advise with
them. 1t is quite evident that such people are
Utopan in their ideas, and know not the merits
OF lndirection, indecsion, and humbug gene
rally. We cannot be accused of partiality to-
wards the present administration, but we would
scorn to hesitate in doing them the justice to be-
lieve that, upon the points just mentioned, they
are adopts, both by experience and from natural
taste
We confess we are at loss to find suitable
language to discuss seriously this most impu-
dent proposition to place the public money,
upon q bald pretence, in the hands Of the Presi-
dent, uncontrolled by any of those checks which
the constitution contemplated in the disposition
Of the revenue Of the country We are aware
that precedent may be sought to be found in
the case of the Northeastern boundary question
but there is in fact no resemblance in the cases
In the Northeastern boundary difficulty our
territory was invaded and our citizen soldiers
had muskets in their hands. 1t was matter of
pressing moment. requiring immediate atten-
ton. But how stands the case with regard to
Spain? For years she has perpetrated outrages
and indignities upon our citizens almost with
impunity. AT length matters were supposed to
have reached crisis, and our Minister near the
Court of Madrid was instructed to demand in
slant redress for all the outrages, and in order
TO prevent their recurrence to clothe the Can
tain General Of Cuba, for the future, with power
TO negotiate directly with our government
Our Minister Mr.. Soule. made these demands for |
instant redress-and they were instantly re
fused. Instead Of resenting this refusal for it |
admits Of no argument that we should make no |
peremptory demands unless we are prepared to |