Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-25

PUBLIC RECEPTION are authorized 70
announce that there will be public recepuon
at the Executive Mansion this evening from
eight to ten o'clock.
THE CUBAN Quxs1IoN-In the proceedings
in the Senate, yesterday, the question Of the
acquisition OF Cuba was placed squarely before
the country. Mr.. Slidell, Of Louisiana, sub
United the report of majority of the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations in favor of the scheme,
and appropriatiDg $50, 900, 900, to be placed at
the disposal of the President, to effect its con-
summation; while Mr.. Seward, of New York,
introduced areport, signed by himself and SEN
ator Foot, minority of the committee, in op-
position to it. Both these reports are prepared
with great care and judgment; they are elab-
crate, and occupy the entire ground covered
by the question. Their importance j., prob
ably, greater than that which attaches to any
other State papers submitted to the people of
this country for years; insomuch as they pre-.
sent the direct issue, whether we shall seek to
extend the limits and strengthen the power Of
this nation; or, whether we shall seem to have
so much respect for the combined dictation of
the French usurper and Court of England, as to
cure us from the effects of their interference in
the affairs of this continent hereafter.
The report Of the majority of the committee
says it would be as much a work Of superero-
cation to enlarge on the importance Of acquir-
ing Cuba, as to demonstrate an elementary
problem in mathematics This acquisition has
long been known to be the fixed purpose of the
United States, and results from geographical
necessities generally recognized by all parties
1t contends that Spain cannot long retain
possession of the island, and that it must
shortly fall into the hands Of a foreign power,
and becomei nimical to our prosperity and
dangerous to our Independence. As for the
statement that an offer to purchase would
be an insult to Spain, the report deems that
unworthy Of notice; insomuch a. that nation
cannot dispute our right to make the offer,
while the alternative of refusing is not denied
her. 1t is thought, however, that Spain must
realize the truth that she holds the Island by
virtue of a precarious tenure, liable to be rup-
tured at any moment by movements of other
European nations over which she can have no
control; or, through a revolution on the island
itself.
The bill reported by Mr.. Seward, from tie
minority of the committee, does not wholly
oppose acquiring Cuba, but proposes to defer
it, In his subsequent speech, however, Mr.
Seward said the scheme seemed to him empty
and impracticable, and were it rot for the re-
spect due to the President and the committee
be should almost pronounce it ridiculous Be-
fore surrendering bis constitutional preroga-
tive to the President, he wanted to know what
was to be the political status of the present
population of Cuba when it should be annexed;
was it to be Territory or a State, and in what
manner should it be represented in Congress
lie could not consent to place so large a sum
of money in the hands Of the President without
more definite Information on these and other
important questions connected with the sub
ject.