The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-02-06
ACQUISITION OF CUBA.

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Synopsis ofeRIr. Boyce's Speech Oh
the Annexation of Cuba, delivered
i'll the House of Representatives.,
january Is, 1855.
The House being in Committee OF the Wh"le
on the state of the Union
Mr.. Boyce said Mr.. Chairman, l propose
to make some observations on the annexation
of Cuba. -
A feycrsh impatiencc seems to be seHlng
upon our people for territorial expanslon'-
III some quarters the cry is for Canada: IN
other quarters the cry is for the Sandwich Is
lands; some are wishing for another partition
Of Mexico; others are looking TO the regions
watercd by the Amazon more are bent on
the acquisition of Cuba all various phases
of the manifest destiny idea. LIDO not sym
pathize with this idea. Our true mission is
conservatism. not expansm.
Why do we desire further extension DO
we need more territory? On the North we
lose our ourselves upon the verge of eternal
SHOWS; on the South We penetrate to the
fierce heat. of the equator; on the East and
West we pause only ON the beach OF the TWO
great oceans of the world. The United States
are ten times as large as Great Britain, Ireland
aud France combined three times as large
us the whole of France, Great Britain. Ireland,
Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Belgium,
Holland, and Denmark yearly equal to the
whole of Europe. Yet we crave more terri
tory Strange haIlucination!
DOVE need any more population Our
population is now, nearly thirty millions and
increasing at the fearful velocity of million
a year. If we had the same density of Popu.
Iation over our entire surface as III MassGchu-
sets, we would .nus,ber four hundred and
twenty millions and if we increase for the
next century in the ratio we have for the last
sixty years, our population will be within
fraction of FIVE hundred millions! When VIC
look beyond the present aud pierce the future,
| the increase of our population presents great
problem. When population shall be pressing
upon the means of subsistence, what will be-
come Of the Republic What will be the fate
of liberty itself? Instead Of desiring more
population, we would be most fortunate if We
could remain at what we are. a nation lAs
sufficient population, when it is able to protect
itself from external violence. We have already
fully reached this point
A Republic, a Federal Republic, in rarticu,
lar, cannot exist without external pressure. Ii
is tie fundamental idea upon which the whole
theory rests. Take away the pressure from
without, and Confederacy necessarily goes
to pieces. The history of onr own country. is
Instructive on this point. Before the war OF
ISi2. while the State WAS IN drpadS0r i|S1
pnwer, Sertionalism was unknown. Ent alter
that war had established our entire security
from. external force, sectional ideas and sec
lional parties arose. The North and the South
beu.me two hostile camps, and the gulf "i sep
aration has been gradually widening, as we ad-
vanced in our career ofgreatncis and power.
If We do not need any more territory or
any extraordinary addition to our population,
then upon what grounds can the acquisition OF
Cuba be urged Perhaps it may be urged on
the ground that it is necessary to us rs a mill
tary position to protect our commerce. Yet
canno, admit this; and, in considering this
point assume that it is the settled policy OF
our Government not to permit Cuba to pass
from Spain into the hands of any Of the great
European powers. We have nothing TO fear
from Cuba We have strong positions at
Key West and Tortugas. which can be made
impreenable; our naval power is Infinitely
superior to that of Spain and the idea OF our
commerce being in any danger from Cuba, Is
without the slightest foundation. 1t never has
been di t,rbcd in The infancy of onr power,
what we to fear now in lis maturity!
But I go further: the acquisition OF Cnba
would be Il source of infinite weakness
The contests in Europe, betweenthe great
powers, demonstrate the fact that maritime
colonies to nation Of secondary naval force
are great drawbacks Where did England
strike her great rivals, France and Holland
Not m the heart Of their d6minions, but in
their extremires their colonies The war
uow going on between tie allies and Russia,
demonstrates the fact. II Russia bad isolated
maritime possessions the Allies would wound
herseverely but as it is, she. has no. such
vulnerable points and in vain with frantic
rage they dash against Der huge bulk.
We are now in the position Of Russia, with
all her advantages. We are compact and ln'
vulnerable, defiant of the world in arms
Shall we weaken our position hy the .acquisl-
lion of maritime c0loues That is the ques.
ton. ........ sr ,r.........
Before we determine ON the policy of ac-
quiring maritime colo, les, there is. prior
question we should consider. Are we willing
to build up such Navy as will enable US to
contend with the great powers for the supre.
macy of the ssasl If not, then, indeed, would
it be IA sllort.sighted policy to acquire such
colonies, which we would hold by the uncer.
tain tenure Of European tolerance.
But it may be said it will extend our com
merce. | admit it. But although | see the
North would reap.a golden harvest from Cuba,
..,. I ann,,at -fnrnnn tha nl,in.tinnS [ hnua Ia