The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-30
A LARGE CORRUPTION FUND.

Mr.. Branch, of North Carolina, introduced a
bill in the House of Representatives Thurs
day last, "appropriating one million Of dollars,
to enable the President to conclude with Spain
treaty of amity, and for the settlement of all
differences between the two countries, inclu-
ding the cession of Cuba, to be used by him, il
he think fit, in advance of the ratification OF
such treaty by the Senate"
We have already Minister Plenipotentiary
resident in Spain, and Spain has one resident
in Washington; and plain people might sup
pose that all honest international negotiation
might be conducted through these usual and
appropriate channels. But supposing that the
case requires Minister Extraordinary the
proper course would be to pass law authorizing
his appointment, and the expense could not
exceed more than a years pay of the .diplo-
matte service for that Kingdom, say twenty
thousand dollars. Why, then, is this demand
made for one million of dollars? Is it not clear
that the enormous sum is to be used for the
purpose of bribing the Spanish officials?
No one dreams that Cuba can be purchased
for less than one hundred millions; and it is
not at all improbable that two hundred mil
lions will be readily paid down for tin Uni
ted States bonds. The one million in advance,
it is admitted, is to be paid before the treatyis
ratified, and before it can be known that it will
be accepted by twothirds of the Senate, and
the money voted by the House of Representa-
tives. The Spanish officials and oar Otca may
therefore revel in this million corruption fund,
should it be granted, and the United States not
come within gun-shot of getting Cuba after all.
Let it be remembered that this million is to
be expended as secret service money!" that
no vouchers will be rendered by the President
OF his agents for the manner of its expendi-
ture, and the dullest man in America will un-
derstand that it will be used in a way at once
dishohorable to the nation, and highly advan-
tageous to those who have the handling of it.
The least reprehensibe use that could be made
of this million of money would be to bride the
Sovereign of Spain and her Ministers, to part
with Cuba. And even this is a purpose so base,
that while the Administration expects it to be
taken for granted, it dareS not avow it to the
ask for the power to corrupt others, will them
selves preserve clean hands? Can they be
trusted Is it probable, that while up to their
elbows in the disbursement of this enormous
corruption fund.- they will keep an eye single
to the public good J.? The million, if voted by
Congress, will be expended in double quick
time but how, no one but the parties inter
ested will be able to tell, and they will not be
in a hurry to CRAFTY public curiosity. How
much of it will 90 into the pockets of Spanish
officials, and how much of it will cling to the
pockets of American officials, we shall never
know.
This scheme of Cuban annexation has its
origin in the two-fold purpose of Strengthening
Slavery and the sectional Pro-Slavery Democ-
racy. 1t is to be consummated by means so
corrupt that they cannot be avOwed and the
result, if successful, will be national debt of
perhaps two hundred Millions Of dollars. Are
the Peoples Representative ready to endorse
this grand scheme of plumber, corruption, and
taxation, for the purpose of perpetuating the
rule Of the Slave Oligarchy in the Federal
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