Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-05-27
HON. JOHN PERKINS, Jr., AND THE
CUBAN QUESTION.

opinion, cannot fail to meet the entire appro-
baton of all good and patriotic men, who have
the boldness to speak their sentiments, and to
contend for national ri~ht and national honor,
under whatever kind Of Administration either
may be assailcd.
The Union Of the 18th inst, says: SIN anti.
cipation Of the publication in our paper Of the
able speech delivered by 1ir. INGERsoLL in the
House on our foreign relations, we cannot re.
train from inserting at once the concluding re-
marks Of that gentleman, together with the ell
oQucnt response Of Mr.. Perkins to a question
propounded to him by Mr.. IsGERsoLL:'
Mr.. ~IDeersoIl said: | will not pursue this
discussion farther. | might have much to say
npn! what seems to me TO be the threaten
ing aspect Of atfiIrs nearer at home. Irefer to
Cuba, and, if he will permit me, | will ask my
colleague upon The Committee on Foreign At
fairs, The gentleman from Louisiana, Nh. Per.
kins, whether he concurs in the views express
ed by the senator from Louisiana the other day,
as we sec them Published in the papers a few
days since; and WGu.I farther ask him whether
he believes such axe ijr views of his OWL State?
Hith this que>t!o, ! Weld the floor to the gen.
tieman from Louisiana for an answer.
"nr. Perkins. OF Louisiana. have been IRA
tilted by the able speech Of the gentleman from
Connecticut, and certainly have no objection to
answering his question SO far as it is in nv
power 10 do so: but that does not extend much
beyond the mere expression of my own belief
npon the point referred to. Louisiana has a
decided interest IN the position of Cuba, and |
share IN the views OF the senator from my State
in regard to the interference of other powers in
the affairs of that Island. If the gentleman's
question, however, extends 10 the views Of the
State of Louisiana as TO Spanish policy. it is
my belief, drawn from various sources, and as
asserted in the message Of our governor, that
although as 4 nation we have been protesting
for years, in various forms, that We would never
submit to the transfer of Cuba to any foreign
government, vet at this very moment she is. for
al practical purposes, under tie control of
France and England, and by them used as an
annoyance TO Us inf a manner and to an extent
that would not BE- to'eGated if either of them
held open dominion of the Island.
II believe, further, that in my State, or at
least in my immediate district, the conviction is
general that Spain will never part voluntarily
with that Island; and that if it is ever sundered
from her, it will be by violence. | believe that
France and England are under obligation to aid
Spain IN such a contingency, and that they, in
spite, endorse The sentiment of the Spanish
statesman, who said: Let the Island sink into
the ocean rather than transfer it to America
'ilore, sir: | believe that this feeling upon
the part of those who direct the policy of these
powers is the result of hatred, intense hatred.
for our Institutions. | believe that they feel
that in Cuba is 10 be fought the battle for SUI
premacy between the Cd World and the New,
and that they would hold her as a mailed SEN
tInel over our commerce, emblematic of the des- !,
potism Of a past age, breathing hate and def.
ance against everything which speaks Of pro-
gress. | believe that, with this state of circum.
stances, we have the right, and it is becoming
to US to inquire, when foreign governments III
teriere to protect despotic rulers in the unjust
aud tyrannIcai exercise Of power for our injury,
1t We are not under obligation to interfere for
SET defence, and the protection of the subjects
OF that tyranny. which is in such close %contisu.
ltV as to be at orr very door.
Il will go farther, and say that | believe there
is also Il settled conviction in Louisiana as TO
what course this government ought to pursue.
l think 1t is a general conviction that, as this
government has protested, in every form.
against the transfer Of this island to any for.
eign government, and against the policy which
Is now being carried out there; and as France
and England are almost designating the cover
nor, and revising her laws, aud actually writing
US dispatches about her future welfare, it is the
duty OF Congress to act. If we content our
selves with merely endorsing the manly senti-
lnents OF the Presidents inaugural, and 90 no
we will deserve TO be considered as hui
before the world. !
I'll has been said, and it is published to the
pvnrfH in thu p,x.t ,,tIz-,. p
The signatures of the President and the Secre. {
'ary OF State, that citizens of the United States
lave been, and are still, subjected to o%utrares j;
'pon their person and property of a fragrant
character, inflicted by Spanish authority. We
lave been denied any redress for the past. or a
ny guarantees for the future. Spain refuses n
o form with US a commercial treaty. and vet :,
irects the whole force of her laws against our
Commerce. and she permits England and France II
0 Interfere with her domestic institutions for
he avowed purpose Of influencing our own v
jnder these circumstances, believe the time II
as CONF when, by principle and fact, we are
lstitled in abating a nuisance.
"One other word, and | have finished. 1t is
1t will be a complete answer, as far 7
5 am concerned to the question of the gen.
eman from Connecticut-.How would YOU
,dress these outrages" | would do it. sir, in &
J open, manly, and direct manner; and would te
. IT at once. 1 would have other nations to b,
nderstand, that it is not only a sentiment, but
conviction in the United States, that the :,
rongs OF individuals are national wrongs. -
Mr.. lngersoll. Mr.. Chairman, | am happy pi
e gentleman from Louisiana has replied So
and eloqnentIyto the question which F,
put to him. More than gratifed am 7 at the all
ews winch he has seen fit to promuIgate here oh
trust they are the views of every !.
ember OF this body; and that if, when the des- ~
iches, which | think we must shortly have
lore us, show that England is at the bottom thu
1nls whoIe question of ours with Spain, I an
nope this government will have the energy
ana the representatives of the people of The .he
antry will have the eneray-to proclaim our i,
hts, and stand to them 10 the last. n.
New Boat. pr
from the following paragraph, we may ex- !