The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-18

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and become school for the eduvtion ana discipline
of hardy mariners IL the contrary the island Is
on slight and insufficient provocation then we may es
pec from the ierocy which has sgnazed nll Spanish
warsespeciay when they parook Of the nature Of
lutiontha Spain will seek TO destroy the value OF the
island by violent change in its social institutions which
may destroy its producveness Spain viii the despe
RADIO and be revenged for her loss Unable to defend the
island against superior force she may resolve last
resort cancpate the African slaves to punish the dis
loyalty OF the Creoes who would the island the
United States and render the acquisition OF
yexaton and trouble And although England and France
might not publicly approve of such act yet would
clearly meet the views Of those which, for the
last ten years sought 70 circum
scribe our power on this continent Dtcil England and
France might advise such course though they might
be prudent enough not to avow il
II the government Of Spain resolved on 50 inhuma
and suicidal course 1t would, indeed entail no HInA
calamity on us II the seven hundred thousand slaves
the island Of Cuba enancipatAd than, we are
warned By recent procsedings the people of this country
by government and the domestic troubles that may
will in small degree harass and perpex our for
csn in all ages has been the bane Of humanity and we
need not cherish the delusve hope that the world will
wholly be governed by and justice IF Spain alone
or aided directly or indirectly, by England France
should succeed in abolshng slavery in the island Of Cuba
aud we should acquire il subsequent to that act 1t will
gure military force TO protect the lives Of
the white inhabitants and large expenditure Of blood
and treasure to rensate them in their possessions Then
win arise the question whether the einroducon Of slavery
into Cuba be effected without giving rise to one Of
those terrible sectional struggles which experience has
taught to avoid if is possible SO without aban-
doning principles essential TO the maintenance of the
suon and the Union The experience OF the past war
rants indeed the conclusion that the national men would
triumph all obstacles and that our mission as people
would be fulfilled but the practical question for states
Isl whether the same result might have been OBJ
taned in manner much direct and far less expen
sve and without renewing the sectional agitation Of ques
tons threatening our domestic peace and the prosperity Of
our institutions a
Mr. Chairman, imagine the in which, even with
all these fearful contingencies attached to it would still
advocate the annexation of Cuba but would certainly
try other means congenal with the feelings Of the
American people to attain the same object / would not
resort to force till all peaceabe exhausted and
then should only have recourse to force after being fully
prepared to do So and without leaving Spain any
other power the nest hope of proraced struggle Sue
should not only be probable it should be certain and
that not only in the end but at the very outset II not
my business here to enter into details to show that in the
present state Of army and navy would be rah to
stronger term to expose martial reputation to the
chances and casualties Of war with second-rae power
that it would be fatal to the prestige have acquired
during the brief period Of national existence obliged
to declare against Spain for the possession Of the
island of Cuba military apd naval operations against
the island TO meet with check, and forces
be repulsed With the laures of the Mexican yet
fresh brow, the smallest temporary of Spain
would spread gloom the land from the effects of
which subsequent success however brilliant and
plee could entirely save us The very fact that we might
Spain into recognition Of an unavoidable conclusion
would be fatal TO national dignity while il would lend
certain dignity bordering heros to her protracted
resistance What if this giant conederacy, the
bound republic of the nineteenth century, 10 be for
months engaged in subdung the island What " Eng
land or France or any power, prohting by this delay
were to offer its mediation in other wor1 presume to
impertinently interfere in this quarrelY
Sir when strike blow for Cuba it be but one;
and when il is struck Cuba must be irretrievably it
be accomplished fact" and such invite in
reference the part Of other nations This cannot be
done by noisy and wordy diplomacy, by resolutions in
Congress which give the world warning of intentions
hopes and prospects and the pth and substance OF
foreign policy nor IL be accomplished by long
and formidable discussions In this the other house by
attitude Of defiance assumed by members senators,
by display Of patriotic eoquence whose thunder II s
perhaps calculated shall shake the foundation Of Moro CAS-
tie These speeches do great deal Of harm but they
can do no good They do harm by revealing position
to those who opposed to us and by exciting
people acts of lawess violence destructive 10 them
selves and dsreputabe to nation Sir the power
make Is of the highest attributes of sovereignty
which cannot be usurped by body OF within the
State 1t belongs to the collective power Of the govern
ment and usurpaon Of IT, by sovereign State of
this Union would be revolution and act of treason to
the conederacy From these remarks you may infer sir
that though "Cuban annexauonist' sp6 mode am op
posed TO fllibusterism in toto ~. /.
England pursued different course in India, which she
conquered not by resolutions ia Parliament but by hard
fighting, silent diplomacy skliul management and alas
but too often by bribery and reachery But not single
province added to the British empire in Asia by par
amentay heroism though there were OF all times naval
and military officers enough la the British Parliament 10
have furnished apology for such act For upwards
Of sixty years England medtaed attack China but
patiently waited for ~ occasion 70 do So One admins
tration bequeathed lis resolve another until opPor
tuny presented tsef strike the A:st blow with eect
This done abe did not Immediately turn her feet and her
toward Japan and compel that country TO open her
ports once British She left that wisely TO
the United States and in the time fortified and CO
tabished herself at Hong Kong She courisd no dipo-
matte failure and waited for the return OF appetite before
setting out for a fresh conquest
The President of the United States by the constitution,
has the initiative In all matters belonging TO our foreign
relations and ii is necessary that should be IL Is he
who selects his cabinet minister's and who appoints our
diplomatic agents abroad. Foreign ministers and dpo-
matte agents confer with him and the Secretary OF State
all concerning their respective governments
rgn governments OF receiving propositions from them
except through the medium Of the President OF the United
States and the agents and ministers of his choice
Resolutions may be introduced into Congress for the
purpose OF attacking defending the administration,
with view stimulate public opinion, by sort Of rho
toricnl 6busterism, as have already remarked but
cannot the administration into the adoption Of
course which IL deems unwse ncxpeden at partou-
lar time As general rule these resolutions can only
enbarrass negotiations and render the position OF our
diploma tic agents abroad difficult than before They
seldom leave sufficient margin for their discretion and rem
der diplomacy either entirely Impossible OF supehuous
while, at the time they accomplish nothing sup
posing the President and his cabinet from all the nforma
on their command Judge that the time for action has
not vet arrived what then, possibly he the effect OF
introduced into this House urging him to act
exeep 10 establish antagonsm between the admin'sus-
zion Congress- that our weakness to foreign
powers and our want of harmony TO the opposition at
and objects of the administration, what good they
do it2 In what respect will they tender its acts