Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-05

speech Of Hon. VIM. Il. Avery, OF Tcnnes-
sees in the House of Isepr. sentasiyes.

unfortunately, thrilled aud animated the public
mind have, st least for season. now 10 s'nmber.
Kansas, for instance, is quie am graifed that
the interesting and complicated questions OF for
egn character, can now justly claim the consilefa-
tion OF the Amer can Congress- Never did il seem
70 me that the matters which pertain to our foreign
policy more peculiarly press themselves upon the
tention OF the representatives. CT the American peo
pie, than now. Crest interests are at stake In
my judgment these interests are jeopardized II
beho0ves rs, as senii8els upon the wsichtoEer to
look 10 il well that they be not sacrificed Much
has been said upon these qpetions, and but little
dooe; the time for sction has come No stand still
policy cults people. /. is not adapted to their
destiny They are progressive pe5Ile anc demand
a progressive policy.
Look, sir, a moment to our present surroundings
Ulon our north, the border dominiOus of Britain
ffoWn uIon US forever, peacefully, quietly, to be
sure, and quite as neighboFly, 100 as some OF our
own northern sis er States. Cast your eyes 10 The
south how stands the case there? Does the
American patriot cause Of apprehension lest
foreign intervention may build about US in those
regions walls which will shadow our destiny? Mezi
co that land SO blessed By all the bounteous gifts
Of a prodigal nature, is rent and Torn by annual
resolutions, now in the MIDST of threat ening
the downfall of her nationality. rival military
chiefs oOnteuding for military mastery, with posi-
tiv, yernmene of any kind, the Opposing factions
holding fOrebe osseson Of different States Of the
Ret ubio Tee President tells lis in his recent mes
sage that
aNo American citizen Mexico lawful business
without imminent danger to bis person and porery Their
aegua protection either and In this respect treaty with
that Kepablic is aimOsta dead letter"
Our political relations between that Government
and this suspended, whilst England, France,
and Spain all openly intervening with her do
nestle interests; with ability 10 pay her debis
and 70 GeyCrnneht against which 70 enforce tlem,
ineomuch that the President renoEmends as a
Z r - L.
territory, as means to enforce our righs and re
dress our wrongs My friend from OHIO MIR.
Coxl has throwa a food of light upon the cpndi
tiou Of that country. 1 listened with profound in
erest to his very interesting speech the other day
But sir far above and beyond our interests
vita demoralzed aud di4m4mbered Mexico, great
as acknowledge them TO he, stand the questions
of our relations with Cuba and The Central Ameri-
can States They form, now, in my judgment, the
foremost questions for the consideration of Ameri-
can statesmen. cannot hope sir, in what Attle
orapose TO say upon these topics, te be abe to
awaken any new interest, or to shed upon them any
new light; aud my apology for doing go is that 1
! feel, concerning them, such deep solicitude.
And first, as TO Cuha There the sits, enthroned
in The sea- most lovely island, justly called the
'.Queen of the Antilles, almost in ght Of our
! shores; in length some six hundred ana ff miles,
! in BREADTH av. raging sixty seventy; with
an area Of some thirty ave thousand square miles
more tbsn three four;hs as large as the sovereign
| State of Tennessee Look, for moment, 10 her
| commerce. For the year 1851, her exports
amounted 10 thirty one million dollars; her i'm
! ports over thirty-two millions. The value of i'm
ports into Cuba, from the United States, ia 1851
| was over six millions, nearly all of which was in
American ottoms. The exports to all the Spanish
dominioDs was over thirteen millions The exports
to the United States over seventeen millions;
greater amount than was received from any other
country, cave England aud France. The trade be-
! AZ Hi n fluho in
ed to over six and half millions imports, and near
" eighteen millions EXPORTS ind, in 1858, about
the same. In 1850, the number OF slaves in Cuba
according TO the census returUs was over four hun
bred and thir!ys TX thousand The value of her
age lltural produc ions amounted to nearly sixty
millions. These facts family give idea of the
varied resources of the country, her grosiDg cons
mercia importance, the mutual trade between us,
the great commercial relationship we sustain to-
wards each other. 1t is unnecessary, however, 10
elaborate these items of resource, of a commercial
character, they have been SO deliberately and clos
| quenily interviewer into this debate By my dis
tinguisbed friend from South Carslina. Mr. Kett |
| Sir, the acquisition OF Cuba is no new question
Long ago il engaged the consideration of the first
Statesmen Of the age; at time, too, when its me-
cessty was not half as pressing as now. Mr.. JEFF
! ferson. in 1923, in writing 10 Mr. Monroe, then
! President, in the following strong language IA
| vored it:
81 canddly cOnfes looked most in
teresng addition which could be made system
which, with the Florida point, hisand give
us over the Mexico border
ing we'll those which flow into it, would fill
! the measure Of our political Wellbeing'
Mr. Adams. in the same year. Secretary of State,
seid:
Cuba's commanding position, with reference of
Mexico, and the West indies c gives importance in the
national interests with which that of other foreign
territory can be compared"
Mr.. Everett, in 1882 while Secrrtery Of State, in
his reply 10 the French Minister in opposition to
the proposed convention between England and France
and the Unilsd States to commit agains, its &C
QUESTION: clearly looked forward to it's accomplish
ment.
President Buchanan. some years since, when he
grsced the floor of the American Senate, warmly
advocated it, and, an proud to say, shown by
his recent message TO Congress, has not relaxed in
his ardent desire to consummae this great and vital
measure. In this connection he says
he Island Of ouba from its geographical position, commands
mouth Of the Msssspp and the immense aud annually
ceug trade foreign and coasEis from the va of that
river embracing half sovereign States Of Union
With that island under the dominion Of distant foreign Power
this trade, OF vital Importance to these States exposed to the
danger Of being destroyed in time Of war; and has hitherto been
The publicity which has been given to former negoa-
tons upon this subject, and the large appropriation which
ured purpose, rener Xpedent before
ing another attempt to renew the negoaton that should lay
subject before Congress This is especially necessary
itInay become indispensable that should be
trusted with the means Of making an advance 70 the Spanish Gov
Immediately after the 81 ming Of the treaty without
!
to suggestions the example of Mr.. Jefferson pre-
Louisiana France
OF the acquisition Of territory from Mexico.
the whole subject Congress- and commend to their
! ful consideration"
! Sir, | heartily concur with the President upon
these points. think that Congress should, at this
ss sou respond heartily aud daily TO these re-
concentrations |, for one, am prepared TO stand
| by him, and sustain him in every homo, able way to
accomplish this measure | am dasirous that no
! impeachment shall be thrown in the pathway of q
J speedy negotiation. That every facility shall be
/ afforded to further its accomplishment. And cir
wBea ell just and ress enable propositions shall have
| failed, when every just overture shall have been
| spuraed upon the part of Spain, am prepared to
! 20 as far as the funniest in any honorable policy
! looking to is accomplishment in some other man
, ner.
Paramount to every Other reason which may be
urged in favor of The acquisition Of Cuba, stands
! the great question of its necessity means of
national defense. That necessity, sir, which is
recognized by the visest ezpounders of international
law. as iurtifying nations well Individuals.
Di Cuba bring with her no commerce; had she
no resources, soil, climate, no productions;
we're she Wild, barren waste upon the waters her
geographical POSITION would sail decree that she
ghOald lie part and parcel of this Government
She commands the iDgress and egress to the Gulf
of Mexico. She is the key to our whole southern
commerce vast it is This subject has grown in
magnitude and importance with the spread and
growth of the great South and West The rapid
settlement of the great valley of the Mississippi,
with her many and mighty tributaries, press upon
our consideration its paramount importance. What
a boundess commerce is borne upon the bosom of
The great father of floods, every box, every bale,