New-York daily tribune., 1856-02-28
THE WAR DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

H0
THE WAR DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Editorial Correspondence Of The N. Y Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb 26 1856.
have long regarded JOHN BELL as among the
wisest and safest of our Senators, and it was with
no little satisfaction that l heard him to-day OK.
plode what is palmed off by certain patrons Of
Fillibusterng as the Monroe doctrine" and de-
clare his unconquerable repugnance to the absop
ton of Mexico and to the Annexing policy gen.
orally. thought he weakened his position BY In
timating that he might under certain circum.
stances assent to the Annexation Of Cuba, and |
utterly dissent from his intimatOn that the profcr
of France and England to unite with this coun:ry
in compact that neither should ever wrest Cuba
from Spain was an INSULT or Gas he phrased it)
an "indignity" to our Government. SO far was 1t
from being an 'indignity," that / consider it 9
very reasonable and just proposition, which Mr..
Everett showed much smartness in repulsing, but
which ought to have been in substance accepted
nay, could have been, if we were as little cOvetous
as we require our neighbOrs to be. heartily
wish we were bound by treaty with all the Great
Powers that neither of the contracting parties
should ever acquire another rood Of Territory
That would be well for the contracting parties and
well for mankind.
Mr.. Bell showed that the essence Of Mr.. Mon
roes policy respecting our sister Republics south
of us was fraternal regard and friendly counsel.
Messrs Monroe and Adams desired to preserve
those Republics from civil cOmmotion and war.
fare with each other; they wished to throw over
them the protecting agis Of our sympathy and fra
ternity. 1t was in this spirit, and with direct ref
erence to an apprehended effort by the Holy ALI.
ance to conquer and resubject them to Spanish
domination that Mr.. Monroe, then acting In con-
cert with Canning, the British Premier, uttered
his memorable declaration, that the United States
could not regard this Continent as open to further
colonization by European Powers The difference
between this avOwal and what is now set fortb"
the Monroe doctrine-the doctrine that this coun
try has an exclusive right to invade, overrun, con-
quer, and annex on this Continents very broad
one.
Mr.. Bell forcbly exhibited the result of the new
Monroe doctrine in our altered relations with our
sister Republics on the south. There was time
he observed, when they all looked up to tb is coua
try as their model, their guide, their powerful
elder brother-when their sympathies, IL. case ots
war between US and any European monsrchJ,
would have been wholly with US; and now, s@
Mr. B., in case of q war between VI and Gfea
Britain-a war remotely caused by y 10 asseri~
on our part Of the new Monroe dOctri ne--I apprr
hend the sympatbies of most Of tn ,m would ~
with our enemy. The Senate felt tn at this reman
was true and to the point
But will not further follow NJ : Bells speech
Ii WAS very long. and missed tn first part Of ~
but nearly all that heard was Ound and cogent
And understand that Mr.. CRIT ENDEN yesterdg
fairly riddled the pretencs that Great Britain M
seriously wounded cur Natis lal sensiblties
honor by her absurd reeruitin operations n cef'
tain of our great seaports. 1t is all bank Of veq
thin moonshine, and the CeHtr al American difficulty
ia another. We shall have no war with Eogisna'
but we have had 8 very serious menace Of it. sns
without adequate reason. If Great Britain hs
offered to submit the diverse interpretations sf h'
| Clayton-Bulwer Treaty to arbitration and ON
Government has refused, then that refusal ~
placed US fsgrantly. in the wrong. The wa0e
matter in dispute is Of slenssr importance
either party, and this ClaytOn-Treaty 0'paI'
presents one Of the very questions Fn'''
ought to be arbtrated, and so peacefully e''''1.
As to the excuse that we weuld trust no p'"''
but Russia, it is an insult to hall EuiVp
Prussia, Sweden, Holland, or Switzerland, ~o'.
do us justice Prussia would be far ess hAep -.
favor Great Britain than the United States; "r
the fact that the illastriOus Humboldt holds =
place among the Prussisn monarchs conn''D.,
advisers renders q submission to that mona. ~.
highly appropriate. trust, for the sake " s..
example, our Government will yet consent !" IsJ
trate this difference. 1t is high time that Po.en
nations were setting pattern Of peaceful s''"
tion TO weak ones. N,
/ differ from many valued friends IN resl'"ns 4,
abrogation BY tho Clayton Bulwer Trea" .,,
epy circumstances. Let il be iaterpressd o. Z"