Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-07-15
The Thirty Million BIZ.

measure
Perhaps it might be just as well to quote the bill in
full so that all may read it for themselves. There are
great many things discussed referred to by their titles
of which not one reader in ten has the things them
selves The famous thirtymillion bill is as follows
Bill
Appropating money to enable the President to settle unad
5lst6d differences e0ih the goUerT'ent Of Spain, and for
Be enGcted By the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States Of America Congress dSSena6ed
SECTION l. That the sum of thirty millions of dollars be-
and the same hereby out OF any money
with the government of Spain treaty Of amy and for the
se Element of all differences including the cesson of the
advance Of the ratification Of the treaty by the Senate
Pr0vided said treaty. when signed by the authorized agents
en mt Of T Spain shall cali for the expenditure the Same
any part thereo full and accurate accounts OF which ex
pendure shall be by him transmitted to Congress at as
oay a'y as Bg9f1@R enacted That if at the time said
payments shall be required made there shall not be
in the treasury sufficient funds not otherwise appropriated
the President Of the United States is hereby to
borrow much may be necessary not to exceed the
of thirty millions of dollars, in the same manner and
act entitled An authorize loan not exceeding the
Of twenty millions of dollars Approved l4h June,
1858.
This is the bill reported back by Mr.. Branch from
the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House. Two
bills had been referred to the Committee,-House Bill
CTS, appropriating million of dollars and 684
thorzng loan The committee reported back the bill
which we nsert-hiry millions being substituted for
one million of dollars.
The report which accompanies the bill reviews the
history of our intercourse with Spain former
sons-the pursued in the acquisition of Louis
ana and Florida-the dangers and inconvenience to
which the possession of Cuba by Spain subjects usthe
constant difficulties between government and that Of
Spain, arising out of transactions between our people
and the inhabitants authorities of the sand the dsad
vantages thus exhibited cOntrasted with the mutual
advantages to Spain and to us likely to flow from the
acquisition Of Cuba by the United States.
1t is true that heretofore Spain has not shown any
willingness to SELL but it should be remembered that the
attempts to acquire Cuba hithereto made, have been
made by the executive without the express sanction of
Congress Perhaps proposition made with the express
sanction Of Congress might receive more favourable
consideration from the Spanish government. This con-
sderaon doubt influenced the President in making
the recommendation suggestion embodied in the fol-
lowing extract from his annual message to Congress-
"The publicity which has been given former nego
atons upon the SUBJ ect and the large appropriations
which may be required to effect the purpose render expe
dent before making another attempt to the negota
that should lay the whole subject before Congress-
This especially necessary as 1t may become indispensable
to that should be ntrusted with the of
king advance to the Spanish government, Immediately
after the signing the treaty. without awaiting the ratca
tOn of it by the Senate"
And again, in his special message, bearing date Jan
uary 81, 1859, he says that he deems it highly i'm
portan if not indispensable, to the success Of any ne
gotiaton which he might institute for the purpose,
that the should receive the previous sanction Of
Congress-
Towards the close of their report the Committee say
Approving the Recommendation of the President,
gress would take upon itself grave responsibility the
committee herewith report back the bill referred to it by
the House: "a bill appropriatng money to enable
President to settle unadusted differences with the gov
eminent of SPAIN and for other purposes with an amend
to strike out one wherever it occurs and insert
thirty" and recommend its passage.
The bill is, in effect similar to the act entitled An act
making further provision for the expenses attending the IT.
between the United States and foreign natons
passed 26 February, l803 to enable Mr. Jefferson to
gotiate treaty for louisiana and to " An act making
further appropriation to bring the existing with Mexico
i IS speedy anu honorable '0n'lo''0n passed "F'n
This is, we think pretty much the case as it stands
We might perhaps have referred to part of the argu
ment of the report wherein attention is called to the fact
that the peculiar position of things in 1911 induced the
Senate and House Of Representatives to authorize the
President to take possession of Florida then Spanish
colony which Spain refused to dispose of to u.s. and
which did not acquire by purchase for many years
after.
Although it pretty generally understood that this
bill met the views of the President we never heard that
any attempt had been made to draw any lines enforce
any test upon it, and lines drawn test made
in the House or Senate. Unquestionaby the majority
of Democrats in both bodies supported the policy
mended by the Committee Foreign Affairs but all
did not and we never heard that they who did not
any worse Democrats than they who did.
At any time the policy Of the bill might fairly admit
of question. At present it would be worse than the
heighth Of folly to divide the party over a measure
which has practical character. No dreams that
any such bill could pass the Congress which will assem-
BILE this winter in Washington We doubt much wheth-
err if passed. it could materially further the acquisition
placing such large in the hands Of any Execu-
tive to be paid any bargain prior to its ratification
by the Senate. We do not say this because of any
want of confidence in the present Executive Of the
United States, for we have the fullest; but the
precedent is risky one. The three million bill
of l847 was hardly parallel case, since that was
designed to facilitate negotiations, while this ap-
propriaes altogether too large for that purpose
and too likely to anticipate and foresa the constitution
al action of the Senate. There is nothing in either bill
unconstitutional nor in the hands Of the present Exec
utive even dangerous but speak of the tendencies
and precedents. While we see no ground for opposing
MIR. Branch or the President on this point we cannot
wholly endorse their policy nor submit to having any
issue made upon it and we are happy to know from
Mr. Branchs own public declarations, that he has
idea of any such issue being made
We repeat, we see no ground for opposition to Mr.