Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-01

Mr.. Kennedy addressed the Senate. arguing
that the acquisition of Cuba was subvcrsire oil
the best interests OF the South.
Referring to the position Of our domestic al.
fairs. he said he considered that innovations
had been engrattcd on the policy of this gov
eminent which inevitably foretokcns its tii>so-
luton. The doctrine of State rights did well
while we were a homogeneous people. bound
together bv our common troubles. That day
has passed, and the unbounded prosperity ot
thi, country, its fertile lands and lncreaSin:
wealth, has attracted to il people from every
cline. There is no common interest 10 bihu us
together. The constitution and the supreme
Court are deridcd. and the constitution threatens
to be but i rope OF sand. unable TO BIND from
having no power to punish iniraetion> al is
provisions. He had bccn dcrided a an Ola
(cleraliSt, and the men who 80 denounced hlii'
had now on their table two bills more dangerous
in consolidating power in the hands OF one
man than any that ever cnlanatci from the ON
federal party.
They had also 4 bill to give away the public
lands 10 the swcepingS oi the European lazar
houses. TO squat thereon. and under an ea>,
franchise, to control this government before
they know 4 word Of our language or have one
idea towards the comprehension Of our inStitu'
tons. Yet while Offering this extraordinary
bonus to the Disconnected spirits Of the old
world. they refuse and dcnouncc the old soldiers
bill. IIow comes it, he asked, that there is such
diversity in the Democratic party. marching w.
der one banner and possessing common princl-
pies:
Mr.. Kennedy proceeded to ask how it was
possible for u> to hold Cuba with but tifty-sc-
ven ships in our navy to protect the fifty Cuban
harbors: Our Paraguay armada consists Of
canal boats and side wheel steamers. Have
Senators reflected on the ba!ciul effect the ~.
q%uisition Of Cuba would have on slave property:
He remembers the opening OF Alabama. Em-
ginia has scarcely vet recovered the effect OF
tina, exodus Of her labor to Localities where they
would be more rcmuncrativc. With the slave
trade stopped Cuba would bea perpetual drain.
and would put planters into 4 more unequal
contest By Withdrawing labor from their cotton
fields into the production Of sugar.
Ii is estimated that five hundred thousand
slaves would be distracted from the Southern
States, and II Thousand millions Of her capital,
within five years; and il We DRIFT into Il war with
England and France We will have to maintain
Il contest with l.5r0 ships of war OH orr cX-
tended coast line. These are considerations for
the American people TO ponder. If they will
change the whole course Of or policy, and III
a~usufatc . new era OF standing armies and
enormous fleets, the time i, also inopportunc.
What difference was there in our circumstance
uow, except that We have an empty treasury :
In conclusion, he did not admit tho right TO
bring in 4 foreign nation, viii. u foreign tongue
and foreign teachings, ignorant and incapable
Of understanding our institutions. In his olin-
ion We were fast losing all those landmarks
which characterized our early nationality, and
are fast becoming 4 mere confederation OF hctc-
roccncouS States. For these and other reaSVnS
he WAS opposed to the acquisition Of Cuba.
Mr.. Doo!ittlc moved to postpone the Cuba
bill and take up the homestead bill. and he pro.
cecdcd TO speak, when Mr.. SlidcIl called him 10
order.
Mr.. Doolittlc insisted.
. Mr.. Johnson. of Tennessee. although for iif-
teen years nc had advocated the homestead
measure, asked Mr.. Doolittlc to withdraw.
Mr.. Douglas, as Il friend Of TIE homestead
bill, made the same request.
Mr.. Clark said. Us l friend Of the bill. he
would move to adjourn; which was lost--aycS
l.. nays 80.
Mr.. Trumbull asked Mr. Hunter to pledge
himself not TO bring forward the appropriation
bills to prevent a vote on the homestead bill.
Mr.. Hunter would give no such promise.
Mr.. Trumbull appealed to Mr.. johnson TO
stand BY and press the homestead bill.
Mr.. Bigler asked Mr.. Trumhull for himself
and republicans to name an hour at which they
would vote on both measures.
Mr.. Trumbull said for himself he was ready
now, but he could not pledge his friends.
Mr.. Seward said that after nine hours dis
cu>Sion on Cuba. there was time TO come back
to the grca, question Of the age. Two PROPOSE
tons now stand face 10 acc-onc Is the IucS-
ton of land for the landlcsS. and the other i,
a question Of land for slaves.
Mr.. Slidcll here rose.
The Vice President said-Will the Senator
from New York yield the floor to the Senator
from Louisiana:
Mr.. Scward-No. sir. do not.
Mr.. Slidell called Mr.. Seward TO order. lie
was discussing the comparative merits Of the
two bills.
The Vice President decided that Mr.. Seward
was in order.
Mr.. Seward went on Z few moments, when
Mr.. Fitch appealed to the chair to put the ques.
ton of order To the Senate, with the view Of
s%topping what tl.rcatcucl To he All intcrmina-
'N'It"S
bic discussion.
The Vice President declined doing so.
Mr.. Seward went on saving that this is the
fifth Congress b. which the homestead bill has
been put aside, and he proceeded 10 contrast
the merits Of the two bills.
Mr.. ToombS said Is to land for the landlcSS. il
comes with some dcnaSosuical power. lie de-
spiscd 4 dcinagoguc, but dcSplScd still more
those who are driven by dcmagogucs, What
are they afraid of: If they do not want to give
: thirty millions to carry out Il great national
policy. say 80, but do not attempt To set rid OF
the issue by saying that they want t" give land
to the htrkLanisrs.
Mr.. Wade spoke for some time. The qucs-
ton was land to the landlcSs and nisgcrS To the
niggerlcss. lie would antagonist these issue,
and carry the appeal To the country. The
whole object of the Democratic party was togo
round the world hunting for nisserS. They
could no more run their party without nrgsers
than a steam engine without fuel.
Mr.. Fcsscndrn took Mr.. ToombS to task. and
asked if the language he had used was not an
imitation Of the great man at the other end OF
the aycnuc, who, in an open mir speech at night,
said nobody opposed this Cuba bill but COW.
ards. What would this imitation be when it
got down TO the taproom. When it was charg-
ed upon an American that he wanted t" shrink
and dodge 4 question, it was time to answer -
/ They were rot to be Scoldcd or laughed out III
their position. The Senate had had 4 sample
of what they could do. They would take their
own time to act upon this question, under the
rules.
\ long and exciting debate here followed for
two or three hours on the motion TO take up the
Homestead bill, during which innuincrablc
points of order were decided.
Mr.. Hammond said it was now II o'clock, and
it was evident that nothing would be voted upon
tonight. and moved that thu Senate adjourn.
hoping that the Senate would do something to-
morrow.
The motion was not agreed to--ycaS 10, nays
80.
Tho question recurring on the motion 10 take