Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-04-06

WHICH SpallStl OuCidlS Ill Nuod d diHCu Nllu
power to inflct, but none to redress.
The following list of unredressed cases, pending in
1854 resembles more the criminal docket of coun-
ty court than the portfolio of minister plenipoten
tiary
l. The barque Zulette
2. Claim of the heirs of Alexander D. Harang.
3. The barque Godefroy
4. Imprisonment of Mr.. West.
3. Shipwreck of the North Carolina
6. Prisoners taken at Contoy.
Z. The Crescent City.
s. Schooner Manchester.
9. Firing, with ball, at the Black Warrior.
10. Seizure and detention of the Black Warrior
IL. \ large number Of claims arising out of the
irregular repeal of an order admitting grain
and timber free of duty.
II. Rcclamations for port and navigation duties
inn roperly exacted.
1fsomc of these cases have been settled since 1854
others have been added to the docket and it is not
likely that it will be reduced whilst our present re-
lations to the island are maintained
If Long Island was in possession of foreign pow
er, and the morning gun from its brs;ling foritica-
tons could be heard in our great commercial metro
polls, would it not be the signal to battle? How
long could foreign flag float there whether defend
Ell by twenty-five thousand or thrice twenty-five
thousand troops? What government here could
keep the peace with the intruder? Our government
hcFt peace Will apiiitl W
so S proof Of our scrupuOus respect for the rights
of others and of the obedience of our western and
southwestern citizens to law and the constituted
thorties 1t is we'll known that large bodies of men
in the United States have been eager to aSsall the
Spanish power in the West Indies, and have only
been restrained by the stern mandates of their
government They have passed and rcpassed, in
peace and in war; once, when returning flushed
with victory, and armed with the weapons that had
err than have been inflicted on by Spain. More
recently our squadrons have passed, to avenge on
Paraguay an insult to the flag. Yet. what has Par
aguay done, comparable to the insults that We have
more than once received in Cuba.
Under any circumstances, the geographical posi-
ton of Cuba would render it source of annoyance
and irritation to us, so long it remains in the
hands of foreign power, and it would constantly
disturb friendly relations with its pO>scsSOr.-
But the Spanish government has never seemed desi-
rous to render it as little so possible. 1t will
neither guard against wrongs to US redress Them
The President says:
whilst the captain general of Cuba is invested
with general dcspotc authority in the government
of that island the power is withheld from him to
examine and redress wrongs committed by officials
under his control citizens of the United States.
Instead of making our complaints directly to him at
Havana We are obliged to present them through
our minister at Madrid These are then referred
back to the captain general for information, and
much time is thus consumed in preliminary invcsti-
cations and correspondence between Madrid and
Cuba, before the Spanish government will consent
to proceed to negotiation"
The committee entirely concur with the President
in the following sentiments
1t has been made known to the world by my
predecessors that the United States have several
occasions, endeavored to acquire Cuba from Spain
by honorable negotiations. x We would not
if we could, acquire Cuba in any other manner
This is due to national character. All the terri
tory which have acquired since the org gin of the
government has been by fair purchase from France,
Spain, and Mexico, Or by the free and voluntary act
of the independent State of Texas in blending her
destinies with our own. This course We shall ever
pursue, unless circumstances should occur, which
we do not now anticipate, rendering departure
from it clearly justifabe under the imperative and
overruling law of self representation"
The attempts to acquire it, alluded to by the Pres
ident, have been made by the Executive without the
express sanction of Congress- though it not doubt
cd that they have met its hearty appreciation and
that of the American people. Perhaps PROPOSE
ton made with the express sanction OF Congress
may receive more favorable consideration from the
Spanish government. Until such proposition has
been made and rejected we ought not to consider
honorable negotiation" exhausted, nor would it
be proper to discuss what course would be demand
ed of us "under the imperative and overruling law
of selfpreservation" 1t is certain that the Execu
tive will take and Congress will sanction, no step
which will not be sanctioned by the practices, if not
by the public sentiment, of all civilized nations
In addition to commercial privileges for limited
time in the ports of Cuba, similar to those granted
to Spain in the ports of Florida and to France ir
those of Louisiana, and even greater privileges il
Spain should desire them, the United States eoult
afford to pay an equivalent in money for the change
of flags 1t is true that the principal pecuniary gair
from the acquisition would enure to those classes
of our citizens engaged in commerce. navigation ant
| manufactures, on whom the taxation to pay tn
| equivalent would fall with the least weight but tn
producing classes also would be largely benefited
and it is not doubted that in consideration of tn
political and commercial advantages to the who'll
nation, they would cheerfully bear their proportion
| of the burden.
No prospect of pecuniary gain could induce tn
people of the United States to sanction an act @
wrong, and no arguments will ever be necessary t
reconcile them to pay the cost of national security
But as the sum proposed to be appropriated large
and the people under our government demand an
have the right to receive, from the Representative
body full explanations as to every legislative act
is our duty to lay before the House the nformatio
which has guided US in settling the amount of apprt
| prlatOn recommended
| ino comulit1ee therelOTe, present TO the hOus
statistical facts, drawn from official and reliab
sources, showing the advantages which may be e,
pected to result from the acquisition to the leadin
industrial interests Of our country:
l. To the agricultural.
Q. To the manufacturing.
8. To the navigation.
4. To the commercial.
Most Of the facts are drawn from the official r
port on the Commercial Relations of the Unite
States with all Nations" prepared at the State D
partment and published by order Of Congress- ar
where o due regard to brcvity will permit the la
guage Of that report will be adopted.
!. The advantage to our agricultural classes wou
be twofold: it"'~s .r-.