The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-04-30
MIR. Slidell's Speech.

The lioE. John Si.lr!i "i Louisiana, has re
Gently made speech in the United states Sen.
"tr, IN which liz advocates the tulicv nf vest
IN: ;lc Hrr.ilc!.:. vi ith the power .: susp,n,l.
t: "nrncu'rality laws, wh:m IN his opinion
tic rnbIc Interest demand. Unlc.s this pow.
o. lH conferred. lie declared himself in favor
CT the -rrcl Of those laws al,o,c,hcr, eycer,
90 Tar, aa they may he necessary to carry on,
Our trrniy s;pTlatIuns. Iu certain cuntipr.p.
e'., they conl,. not be enforced anl had better
he annuilei, than remain dead letters uron
our Statute book. The speaker shows clearly
that these law. are not in nflir,nancc Of the
laws of fnations. but that they go much further
anu deprive our Government Of powers, whicl,
Al! writes admit 10 be strictly consistent with
Neutrality.
l!ic reference to the Gnnexaton Of Cuba, in
the following extract, is interesting from ,h.
Intimate connection, which the speaker sus.
snins to tie Administration, and his ac1nain.
tancc with lite wishes and policy:
In Grea: Britain, the Queen, in council. can
Always suspend the operation. Of the foreign
enlistment t or prevent the shipment Of
Hrinr. ammunition, or other military STORES and
fIli nnrnis. This power desire to confer up.
on the President ~l:en Congrrs. is not in SEES.
sion. ] d" .lut attempt to conceal tha, it is
very grave, perhaps III the han'ls Of ini-
hrrc"t or INSCRIPTIONS man. dangerous. one ;
hut il is t" he exercised under "il III" high re.
rronsibilItrr- that n''ac!, TO the Chcf Mauis.
tratc; and it is Useless to disguise that, al
though 'h" wnr"akinG power is given l,v the
constitution 10 Congress any President can so
conduct our foreign rcl:t, ions that Co..r.ss
Will have but /" choose the Alternative of s,,s
tanning him or disgracng The country in III.
eyes of The world bvS,lrs. although my res.
"iution Is cuurl"d in general terms, aud iuii
eatcs no such limitation, do not desire to
confer on the President tn" power to suspend
the laws, except in cases where actual War cx.
ists between the powers in rcirrence,l 10 which
the suspension IL to operate, or when Il civil
var (nndbv this Il" m": mean n mere c,,n,.o
ton or rtbrlli"nl shall have broken out in -
foreign State, or il, colonies When | mad,
tour years since. inovcInnt for the suspension
IF "nr neutrality laws. I believed, AS now
believe, that large ma jnrity Of the people Of
cuba w"s prepared TO make n vigorous c!for,
10 throw off the yoke of their transatlantic o. 5.
rrcss"rs. and 30 far as my infnencc or coun.
ellis could b" useful was willing to aid them
| believed then, rs now believe. that n hos.
tile fcclin. towards us then existed with the
governments Of France aud Great Britain,
and ,hnt they desired 10 Airicnnizc Cuba.
avail myself, gladly, nf the occasion to say tha,
such, am satisfied. i. now The feeling Of these
c"rrrninrl.:S. l;c-cs this. ii,e people of Gu.
ha, alth"lsh dceir"uS OF peaceful ANNEXATION,
ar" not willing to tI,c risk Of civil and Ser.
filt insurr:cii"n I" become members of oar
contr!crary. Public policy must ncc"inlnn-
ha'rIter!' I" circumstances. and any a,icrnp,
10 Obtain Cuba, except by negotiation. should
Ill my "pin on. now he abar,lo cd But shnu. I'll
Spain bcr"-h enough to invade Mexico, with
'he pirposc Of establishing d-spotic govern.
nncht there under the naIc nf Santa Anna ns
dictator. Or under any other name or title
Then think that oEr citizens Should be per.
nnttcd 10 take part in the contest | wish
tins to he done Legally. All the power of the
government "ann"t Restrain them from t"i,,r
Il, and there. should be no law on our statute.
book that cannot be enforced. There arr. il,:nv
contingencies, alt,n' which do not choose L.
rr"c,ltate, wh"r" III" interests Of the country
would clearly ca!! for. the suspension uf our
neutrality laws; and if this power Le not Civ.
en- to the President, under such restrictions rs
Tue wiSdo,ir "t Congress may suggest | am moi
prepared TO say that !. would not prefer to
abolish Them altosel.er excepting go far as
'nty lnay he necessary to carry out our treaty
h1l'il:aiions. and these as have before re.
marked. only apply to The iiItin. on, Of ar,nc,
Vessels have little hope Of the passage of
such law as have suggested. | have M
pridc "i opinion "li The subject; aud if / fnl
shall be satisfied with the conviction that
have dune my duty in ca ling the attention of
IN" Sc,iate and the country to the subject and
IT, may he proper 10 slate, in conclusion, tha,
: m presenting md advocating my resolution.
speak only fjr myself. and act without con.
cert or understanding with any one