The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-10
Vol. XIII,

COhCOTu, uninterrupted WIN US.
When the message Of the President r,s
and we were told that our relations wif, :.
were notwhai they should be, and he re,.l "-
it, thought would look some years baT.
see some of the messages thai fora f.y.
past had been submitted to Congress. s,J
how long this dissatisfaction state Of tlin-.L
existed. When l turned to the meSsaoa. .,.1
immediate predecessor Of the President
ident Pierce-and read what he had >,.,'i.
us upon our relations with Spain found ~.
President Pierce congratulated the cour,..
upon what? That Spain had ceased la-
gressions upon us? That Spain had take, p
her hand from moleSting our CONNER. al
interfering With our rights in the N.lr.-
mean No, SIR; but President Pierce conc.
lated the country that he was enabled
nounce to them that no lawless band, hal p.
ted out expeditions within our shores H..
the past year, and made these uDar.L .
expeditions against Spain.
/ Sir, when the history Of the conne,ti.n
the manner in which the treati.. hat,y,.. -.
and the United States have been ob..r..G
be considered, | tell you that. In tin. ....
national honor, and in the obseryal,.. .f,..
stipulations, and Of Jealous regard o.. matt.
fame, we shall have nothing To boast. Ct
comparison. 1t will be found tina. our .,.-
slonS upon Spain-Some Of them nat.pr.1 -
OF them private-have been tcu-ioId mon. ,r'.
anything We have had occasion 4, co.a.I.. .
from Cuba. You will find that We L;.r. 49,.
IN time OF profound peace. our armies i,,. a..
national provinces Of Spain. and We have.
treaty, made liberal Stpuations for the d..
ment OF the damages which were unautLor..
winch nothing IN the treaties required al .-
hands. There IS pending upon your caI.,.l..
fQ-Ia n nj .
. colleague from the Committee on Claim. .
which it will appear that we are today ipaa,.-
to the asslgnees of claimants for the ir,,r..
upon the damages that we thus inflicted un...
Spain, or Spanish subjects, some fort. wear.
ago. Those claims are vet uuadjustcd AMI r.
paid. There may have been, and doulr..
have been, many things that We have had
right to complain Of In the conduct Of tH-4.
thOrtles OF Cuba, in regard to some CO.. .a-
merchantmen; but | believe that iu regard p.
the manner in which we have been treated b.
Spain, when these matters have been Ig..r
home to the cOgnizance of the Spanish Govern
ment, we have no right to complain. Though I,
| do not sympathze with the chairman OF ,r.
Committee on Foreign Relations in be State
ment which he makes vet the chairman of ,.
Committee on Foreign Relations has stated p.
you more dian once, this session, that Sr.r
does complain, and righttully complains. ,+u.
conduct of this nation, in not making Nh. Pens.
ration to her which is provided in a bin which
he introduced. | do not believe it, Id1r.,
believe that Spain has any such claim. I'M,
when our National Executive tells her .l..l..
when the chairman of the Committcc ou For
eign Relations tells her she has. iu,, claims
against this Government in that behalf we ,.r-
tainly cannot complain Of her if she assume,
that they are So.
Looking upon this measure I'm that E,l.
am opposed TO utterly, totally. and cm.r..,
opposed to ii. | want TO hold out uo induce.
ments to our people, or any part of them, TO- d,
anything that may have tendency 10 shah.ur
disturb, in the remotcst degree The hold nh.a
Spain has upon this island. Necessity, Sir.
necessity Is stern law; and it Is Dee 500 stern.
ask the minlsterIng priest, of Nccn~>itv. that sac
rlllce at her altar, to find some other territory.
some Other State, some other island than that
of a weak nation, with which we are at peace.
to satisfy this cornorant appetite of political
and geographical necessity. | would that this
country might expand and cover the continent.
| would that the blessings of free government,
might be coeXtensiye with the continent.
would that the American eaglg planting Im-
self on the dome Of this Capitol, might plum.
his wings for a flight that should cover the cJa
tinent but | would let him be the precursor
the ensign, OF higher civilization than thatH
the nations he has known. | would let oua.
vent be heralded byn clanklng OF slave cbUa-'
but | would that the genius oil our Ecl....,
when ii spreads itself over the continent Should
carry with 1t the hight OF civilization, OF Chu,
tianity aud of humanity | would that 10 Nigh.
be the precursor Of higher and Of Il hoh,r mis-.
SION !han spreading TINS Institution oi dJur,i.
Slavery 1t is time that we meet this question.
1t IS idle to say it is sectional or a lucal Unr
The reproach ofintrodUcng II cannot be charged
upon M, nor upon those who act with mr
When see the whole energies Of the land OBJ"
whole energies OF the Government. de|u@ 100
one end, one ann, and one purpose, and 'la
purpose subServent 10 the interest, the nuir.-
ton, the extension and the Pcrpctuity. o. IBIS
institution, have right To- call upon Do. Nr
pie To pause, TO hesitate, 10 strip oil disguise.
and lo1l, at measures as they really are.
Now. sir without preparation. and without
much Conference. / have delivered 10 Won ,,n..
of the. objections which / entertain 10 this
measure. | DO not coniine mv.elrto the time.
nor the mode. nor the manner. Of doing 81.
am AGAINST the thing itself Il d. not aa of.
lection to me that YOU want to to {, now. Ia.
not believe ii is a ripe apple: and lift IS 30 r.I.
apple, ! believe that it is an apple OF whr. 'L-
poet sung, Of which 1t was said th" mor'a. TASTE
brought death into the world, ana al our "o..
] believe that the history Of Spanish civilization
upon this continent is not such to make s
very ambitious and very DESTROYS of ucu1u@
ting a whole State Of that class of populate
into oiIr midst Though | would extend Pc
ligious liberty to everybody. | would throw -
impedments in the way Of any man nih /
infdeHty he may believe or disbc,i,.~ SHAT 4
he pleases, vet / have a right. and II q
duty as a member Of the Senate, TO look %, o.
question of the religious faith Of "a whole pee
pie, if believe that that faith is calcu.a..lp
exert am influence adverse to the best u..ras
Of our country. Sir, ] believe that r,pa.r