The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-06-25
Mr. Buchanan as Fillibuster- HIS Dangerous
Doctrine and Judge for Yourselves


Buchanan's connection with the same. we
deem the space it fills well occupied, IN view
Of the fact that the subject will undoubtedly
be much discussed during the coming cam
i, paign, and it is proper to know just what 1t
means. The position occupied by Mr.. Buch-
anan at this Ostend Conference, places him at
the head and front ofthe fillibustering spirit OF
the country. tits the first time leading man of
this country, clothed in high official authority,
ever assumed the position, that the possession
of a dominion or colony belonging to power
with which we arc at peace, being considered
necessary for the increase of our strength or
prospcrity-if that power will not quietly sell
us the coveted property, then we shall arrest
it from AerJy force Yet this is precisely the
position occupied by Jas. Buchanan N refer
ence to Cuba-and made the more outrageous,
uniustifiable and dishonorable, from the fact,
that Spain, the owner Of Cuba, is a weak pow
or, utterly unable in herself to cope with this
Republic. A more infamous suggestion, breath
ing the very spirit Of piracy, and recommend
ing for this nation a policy which we have
DCcn IHG IOuuCSL W COIuGIlln III OIuCIS1 duu
which if in principle were attempted to be
carried out in private life would thus far dis
organize society by trampling upon all rights
of property and all laws for its protection
was never made to the American people. Yet
the man who offered it, and i'll his official Ca
pacity, and in connection with the notorious
Soule, is now the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency Of this Union.
That our readers may not think we are
misstating Buchanan's position, we make
extracts from his dispatches to this government,
alluded to in the article republshed on the out
side of to-day's paper. The dispatch was
dated Oct. Is, 1854-and we trust the De-
mocracy will not plead the "Baby Act' in de-
fence of Mr.. Buchanan in this matter, as they
are doing to save him from the responsibility
of his old opinions. The dispatch was signed
by Buchanan, Mason and Soule 1t offered
long arguments in favor of the purchase and
against the right of Spain to refuse to sell
Cuba. Here is the first grand conclusion at
which these official fillibusters arrived:
ave have arrived at the conclusion, and are
thoroughly convinced that an immediate and
earnest effort ought to be made to purchase
Cuba from Spain at any price for which it can
be obtained not exceeding- millions of dol
lars"
By reference to the article alluded to above,
it will be seen this blank, with the permission
Of the Pierce administration, may be filled up
with the snug little sum of one-hundred and
twenty-five millions ofdollars! 1t appears we
have not got territory enough, but arc recon-
mended to purchase the little island of Cuba,
and plunge our government in debt, to the
amount of one hundred and twenty five mil
lions of dollars. But Mr.. Buchanan and his
coadjutors are not SO much to blame for this
ADVICE. 1t was but carrying out the instruc-
tons of President Pierce, by and with the con-
conclusion, in the events Of Spain's obstinatoly
refusing to sell what is her own:
But if Spain, deaf to the voice OF her own
interest and actuated by stubborn pride and
false sense of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba
to the United States, then it will be time to
consider the question, does Cuba in the posses
sion of Spain, seriously endanSer our internal
peace and the existence of our beloved Union?
Should this question be answered in the affirm
alive, then by every law, human and divine,
we shall be justified in a0restjng 1t from Spain,
if we possess the power We fear that the cur
rent and course Of eUests IS rapidly tending to-
vard 8acl, a cataSt'ophe."
OF course had this policy been attempted,
England and France would have given their
aid to Spain. Their duty would have called
upon them to do this-just as much as duty
would call upon the interference Of spectators
property in the possession of a weak neighbor
or half grown boy, should proceed to wrest it
from him by main force. These fillibusters
knew this. In fact, England had almost in
direct terms expressed the demand which duty
would make in such case Suppose, that en-
Pertaining such views as this, Buchanan had
been President Of this Republic with a Cabinet
to second his policy, instead of a mere minis
ter. We should now probably be wagng
terrible war with England, France and Spain,
with the pcejudices Of the whole civilized
world against us-and even if successful at
the cost of millions ofmoney, and thousands of
lives, we should only have secured a possession
worth but mite Of its cost, and so far as we
had the power, established one of the most IN
famous and dangerous principles ever held up
TO the gaze Of nations for imitation Yet
this same man Buchanan, is now sought to be
placed at the head Of this government by par
ty as corrupt as himself and entertaining the
same opinion as to our policy with Spain which