The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-03

under European, civil and servile war
The ID Is annexation, and the question il
how is this To be dose! The answer is by
conquest or negotiation. Conquest, even
without the hostile interference Of other
powers than Spain, would be expensive,
aud with such int rference, would involve
the whole civilized world in war. Pur-
chase, then, is the only practicable course,
bat that cant be attempted with success,
unless the President be clothed with the
powers TO negotiate and pay, as he has said
/ in his message. Much has been said Of the
danger Of comforting such power on the ex
ecutve, but We have three examples in
1 Louisiana, Florida and Mexico. Much has
also been said Of the Ddeicacy Of the offer,
that it would wound the Spanish pride and
be rejected with contempt For many
years has our desire to make the purchase
been known to the world We simply say
I to spain, you have distant possession held
! by . precarious tenure which is almost in-
dispensable1 Ito US for the protection Of our
commerce, and which may, from its pecu-
liar geographical position, character, p0pu
lation, and mode 10 which it IL governed
! lead at some time " rupture, which both
nations would deprecate. This possession
| yields you net revenue not amounting, on
any average OF series Of years, to one
huudredth part Of the price We offer you for
it. True. you have refused to sell hitherto,
but circumstances are changing daily, and
our offer may now be more acceptable than
in lo4S. Should war break out 10 Europe
Spain could scarcely help being involved 10
it, and the Cubans would seize the opportu.
nifty to proclaim their independence. Fur
Their, our minister will not breach the sub
ject of the purchase till he has reason to be-
lieve it will be favorably entertained.
SPAN IL a country OF coup d'etats aud
pronuncismentos The minister Of to duy
may be Fugitive ,sEorrov, with he
forms Of a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Spain is depotism, sustained by the
hayonet. Her financial condition is one of
extreme embarrassment, and the crisis may
arise, when Cuba may be secured if q large
sum of money is ready to be applied to that
purpose.
The President says we would not, il We
could, acquire Cuba except by honorable
negotiations, and be will not depart from
such course unless circumstances, which be
does not anticipate, render the departure
! justfiable and overriding rule Of sell justiii
cation.
| lie tells US il may he necessary to renew
the negotiations and make an advance with
Ovt awaiting its ratification by the Senate
This, in point Of fact, is an appeal to Con
gress for an expression Of its opinion on the
propritty OF renewing the negotiations
Should we fail to give him the means, be
will consider it an imitation that we do not
desire the acquisition Of the island. The re-
port then goes on to say that il. ~ has been
said, the Cubans do not desire the trauier
il would be q very serious objection to
the measure but the Cubans would be less
than men il they were c0ntented With their
lot; and the committee have the best authority
for asserting that nearly the entire native
population Of Cuba desire annexation. The
report then proceeds at considerable length
to discuss the bearing oi annexation on the
slave trade, urging That that Illegal
traffic 10 now confined 10 Cuba and Porto
Rico, and that Spain could have suppressed
it as completely a. Brazil has done, but has
not done SO. Therefore those who desire to
extirpate the slave trade may find 10 their
sympathy for the African an incentive to
support this bill Then, turning round, the
report proceeds 10 relieve the minds of
Southern gentemen Of their apprehension Of
EVIL 10 their institutions, from the different
elements which Cnban society is made Of,
further adding that the annexation would
increase the comforts OF the slaves. Cuban
diplomacy is considered aud condemned
Statistics are cited TO show the value Of the
island, especially rs il would give US the
monopoly Of sugar. Aud finally, purcbas.
is recommended as a measure of economy
Since the reference Of the bill TO the com
mi,tce. the President has announced that no
correspondence has been exchanged and he
takes occasion 30 report that any negotia-
ton should receive the prior sanction Of
Congress.
This emphatic reiteratiou throws upon
Congress the responsibility Of failures. II
il he withheld, indeed, the reference is suf,i-
GENTLY clear that without some expression
OF opinion the President will not fell ju,'i.
ded in renewing the negotiations
Mr.. Mason II was understood that all
who coucurred with the Committee u the
presentation OF this report, did not concur
in some OF its recommendations The re-
port had stated that it is the policy Of this
government 10 extend lis domiGi0ns by suc
cessise acquisitions OF territory He did not
believe in such policy.
Mr. seward, As the representative u the
minority OF the Committee, introduced q
bill calling Oh the Presiden. to transmit to
Congress at the commencement Of the next
session, statement Of the relation then ex.
isting between the Untei States and Spain
The bill also rcquires the statement OF the
coalition OF the army and navy at the time
so as 10 enable Congress to Judge whether
It may be necessary TO adopt any e1traordi
barry measures "a MAINTAIN the rights aud
Interests OF the United States IL regard to
Spaio.
Mr. Seward proceeded To show The fnan.
cial hindranSs to the acquisition OF Cuba
THIS bill also conferred 90 the President
,,a~,sre xhirh unul1 rn,,,.sI 81 -. . -