The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-28


| rates. The trade generally firm, aud holders in
many demanded prices above the views of buyers
The Discussion and Test Vote on the Cuba
Question-What they Demonstrate to Eu-
rope and America.
The test vote taken in the Senate on Friday
night last, on the Cuba BILL achieves every prac-
teal result that was hoped for through the final
vote of that body on the proposition; and it was
never contemplated that during the present
acted upon by the House. Mr.. Buchanan's
policy in this important question of our foreign
relations has not only been sustained by large
| majority in the Senate, but the question has
proved throughout the country the most popular
one that has ever been brought before the people.
On Friday noon the bill was taken up by the
Senate, with a firm determination to ascertain
the sense of that body on the proposition of Mr..
Slidell and one hour after midnight Mr.. Brown
moved, as test VOTE to lay the bill on the table,
announcing at the same time that he should vote
against his own motion. The test vote was then
taken, and the motion was lost by yeas IS, nays
80; majority in favor of the bill, IL. Here are
=
YkAs-Messrs. Broderck Cameron, Chandler, Clark,
Dcoe, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Hale Hamn, Harlan,
Kennedy, King, Seward, Simmons Trumbull, Wade and
Wilson.
NArs-Messrs. Allen, Bayard Benjamin, Bgler Brown,
Chestnut, Clay, Clingman, Douglas, Fitch Fitzpatrick,
Green, Gwn, Hunter, Iverson, johnson Of Arkansas,
Reid, Rce Sebastian, Shields sdel, Smith, Toombs and
Wari
1t will be seen that the democrats sustained
the bill in solid phalanx with the single ex-
| ception of Senator Broderick, of California,
whose resignation has been requested by reso-
luton which recently passed in the Legislature
of his own State by a vote of fifty to one.
On Saturday morning Mr.. Slidell, having attain
ed the object Of test vote in support of the
Presidents foreign policy, withdrew the bill,
after few remarks showing that the factious
course adopted by the black republicans was
merely for the purpose of wasting the time of
the Senate, in the hope thus to defeat the appro-
priation bills and render an extra session of
Congress necessary. In doing so he an
nounced that he should bring it up on the first
day Of the next session. Explanations were then
made by Senators Thompson, Of New Jersey,
Jones, Bright and Davis, who were absent when
| i
explicitly understood that they would have
voted with the majority.
The practical result of these proceedings is,
that the idea of annexing Cuba to the United
States becomes fixed as popular measure, aud
as part Of the national policy Of the govern.
ment Such a result must have an unmistake-
able effect on the public mind Of Europe, and on
the policy Of each Of its governments 1t will
show to them that the United States does not
hesitate to contemplate and prepare for such
changes in dominion in territories proximate and
intimately connected with us as are compatible
with the true interests of both the countries con
cerned, and Of civilization and humanity every
where. The history of the whole world presents
continual changes of dominion, as they have
been demanded by the interest of dynasties OIL
the ambition of princes. But it remained fol
the United States to initiate the new theory thai
changes of dominion should be made in accordance
with the popular interests of the nations in ques
ton, and that these changes shall not be at
tanned by violence, but by peaceful means which
shall extinguish the existing rights of dynastiei
in the same manner that private rights are ex
tinguished The proposition to purchase Cubs
is nothing more than proposition to purchase
the rights Of the crown of Spain over Cuba, and
to vest them in sovereign people, practising
the rights Of self government, in which the in
habitants of Cuba would become merged. The
withdrawal of the bill until the next session O.
Congress will give these principles time to per
meate Europe, and to become understood there
and prove to 1t that we have no desire to use any
other force than the force of reason; while thu
test vote that has been taken on them will mani
fest to the world that Cuba must and will ente
into the political scheme Of the American Union
In our domestic politics the effect of the Cubs
proposition has been most marked and rapid
Nowhere has 1t met with an open opposition