The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-07


Flo al fun prices Freets continued heavy for British
perts, and engagements haaed They lsactys and
unehaags 81 fot the Coni,aeut
|
Jefferson Davis Speech on the ArSuisitiOn Of
Cuba.
The progressive ideas that some Of the MON.
bers of poor Piercc's Cabinet have developed
since their reiremcni from Office arc truly wonder
ful. First we had Cusi,ing's speech at Neabaty-
port, now comes Davis at Vicksburg, and We
may soon expect TO hear Of Marcy's at Albany.
These gentlemen claim to be the very apostles
Of progress. While we are waiting for Marcy s
speech that Of Col. Davis claims passing atten-
ton. We fear that the late Secretary Of War
has become strangely oblivious 10 certain facts
| that occurred while he was member Of the
Cabinet, and his speech, as reported in the news
| papers calls for several corrections. Perhaps,
after all, the mistakes arc those OF the reporters,
and We are happy ia being able TO report the re-
/! marks of the late Secretary as they should haze
| been given.
The report says that the late administration did
all in its power to accomplish the very desirable
object Of acquiring Cuba and bringing it In to
the Union. II shon,d have said that the late
administration countenanced the Cubans and fill
busters in their efforts to revolutionize that
island, up to the moment that the revolutionary
clubs in Cuba refused to recall the chief com.
mand which they had conferred upon Gen Qait-
man, and confer it upon Mr. Secretary Of
War Jefferson Davis 1t states that Mr.. Soule's
failure in his attempts TO negotiate the purchase
OF Cuba Was owing to the non-actioa OF Con.
gress on the Black Warrior message, and tn,
want Of cooperation of public sentiment with
the Pierce policy. II should have said that this
failure was owing to several Causes, among
which are, thai the Pierce policy in relation to
Cuba never had one grain of honesty or common
sense in il from the moment Davis was refused
the command Of the Cuban expedition; that q
Congress ominently favorable to the question
was indignant at the cowaIdly tone Of the Black
Warrior message, the administration limiting
wish 10 obtain what il dared not ask for-no-
ney and authority; and many democrats in that
Congress declared that they would see JEFF.
Davis and Frank Pierce somewhere before
they would be cats paws to pull their chestnuts
out OF the fire."
The statement sis0 OF the relative positions of
the late and the present administrations. as
pledged by their platforms, TO the acquisition Of
Cuba, Is curiously erroneous The Baltimore plat
form had in it distinct and strongly expressed
avowal Of the Cuba annexation policy. During
the canvass Of 1872 Pierce Rugged the flibusters
to bis bosom, coquetted openly with the Lone
Star lodges, and vowed repeatedly eternal idcli-
y TO their principles and cause. lie kept his
pledges with average honesty until it was found
that his Secretary of War could not attain the
post Of chief ilibuster, when the whole policy Of
the administration was suddenly changed and its
aniiilibusier proclamation appeared. On the
other hand, the politicians that met AT Cincinnati
year ago dared not mention the name Of Cuba
once In their platform. The Cuba plank OF the
Baltimore resolutions was thrown overheard and
the question itself Is only limited al in the Cinciu-
natl platform. in some vague CANNON about our
supremacy 10 the Gulf Of Mexico. The pledges
OF the present administration in relation to Cuba
are Of the most indefinite character. The Cncin-
natl platform gives moi one: the Ostend manifesto,
dispassionstely examined, viii be found TO haug
liz commitalism upon the most unreliable Of ifs;
and the only thing in the shape Of pledge by
the present administration in regard 70 Cuba, Is
q letter from Senator Brown, OF Mississippi,
stating that Mr.. Buchanan told him, just previous
10 the late Presidential election something about
lis ardent wish TO acquire that Island. II may
be that as the late administration promised much
on this point and did nothing, the present one
having promised nothing may do much.
We advise the members Of the late Cabine!
no. TO be too fast in their efforts TO claim leader
slip. Mr.. Cushing viii hardly convert Massachu-
sctts to bis facile way Of thinking. Mr.. Davis
had better define more clearly his position before
be aspircs to be the exponent Of the South II
he regards the acquisition Of the Island OF Cuba
as important to the whole country, and indispcn-
Fable 10 The South, be committed treason to the
South ard betrayal Of duty TO the whole coun-
try in lsboring TO prevent that acquisition when
ii could have been done without war, and pro-
badly without price. At q time when Others
who had created the resources, and by their sac
riGces carried the movement nearly to a success
ful issue, would no. consent to place him in the
first position, and yield to him The chief honor Of
their labors In a cause to which he had eontribut-
Cd neither money. nor effort, nor counsel, he
made use Of the official power he welded to op
pose the very cause he now assumes 10 advocate
We hope our old iriend Marcy will not b. too
fast In following the example of Mcssrs. Cusliing
and Davis We advise him to wait aud sec which
side is likely to come into power fret before he
pronounecS