The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-03-10

are willing to come to us. do not
know whether they are or not; upon
that subject I have no information
They seemed at Cardenas to receive
with "hospitable hands to bloody
graves" the men who, it was said, went
there to aid them in obtaining freedom.
You may say those who did that we're
the soldiery Well that Spanish SOL
diery is a mixed-up affair, and Isuppose
most of it is collected from the Cuban
peasants who live on the mountains,
and they will do the same thing again.
There is nobody to be benefited by
this except Spain, who would get large
ly more than the island would be worth,
and we would be cursed with q burden.
The Cubans might stand their ground
until they could sell out. Negroes arc
much cheaper there, I understand, than
they are in Louisiana, and the aunexa-
ton of the island would cause them to
rise immensely in value there. The
Cubans would sell out to the GulfState
men who wanted to 60 over there; and
even if they were forced sales they
would get more than they are worth
now. That is the way they would 90
off; that is the way the island would be
settled up; but I do not take it for
granted that they desire it, except as a
mere matter Of ambition, a matter of
avarice--avarice of the meanest sort
and that avarice which the Senator from
Louisiana says makes the Cuban planter
annually count what is the value of a
negro in sugar. He supplies him from
the coast of Africa, and, by his Internal
alchemy, makes him into molasses or su-
gar. If the best of the population, the
planters, are so cruel as to be profess
sional pirates and negro traders, and
regularly make calculations upon ne
grO's life in that way, I do not think
they are fit to come into this Union
With their barbarism and cruelty, they
would not suit us.
Mr. President, there are many other
things to which I should allude; but !
know the time of the Senate is precious.
Perhaps I should be INDUCED with a
continuance; but, condensing as we'll as
I can, l will make an effort to get
through with what I have to say. l
have an objection to the terms Of this
bill itself-an insuperable objection. 1t
provides
"That the sum of S3O,OOO,OO be, and
the same is hereby appropriated, out of
any money in the Treasury not other
wise appropriated, to enable the Presi-
dent to make a treaty with Spain for the
purchase Of the Island of Cuba, to be
used by him in the event that said trea-
ty when signed by the authorized
agents of the two Governments, and du-
ly ratified by Spain, shall call for the
expenditure of the same, or any part
thereof full and accurate accounts Of
which expenditure shall be by him
transmitted to Congress at as early a
day as practicable"
What does this mean? O'Donnoll, or
Espartero, or somebody else, is at the
head Of Donna Isabella's Government.
Who is in power, 1 do not know; but
the intention is, that the money is 10 be
drawn out and lodged safely with our
Minister, Mr.. Preston, under the flag Of
the United States, and then we are to
wait for a revolution in Spain, then we
are to make a trade with the incoming
Goyernment--say it is a de tacto Gov
ernment-get them to sign a treaty, and
the thing is finished. They will have
got $50 100000 of our money as a pre-
payment. 1t is to be in hand in readi-
ness to take advantage of the nick of
time for it cannot be supposed it is to
be used in any other way, or any other
juncture, or at any other time. Some
pronupciamentO or a coup d'etat upsets
the Government, and there is a trade of
this sort. Well, Sir, I am not much
for that kind Of negotiation; and, be-
sides, 1 am for keeping the money where
it is
The Constitution provides that the
President may make treaties, by and
with the advice and consent of the SEN
ate of the United States s-two-thirds Of
them concurring, The trainers of the
| Constitution were so cautious in regard
to this matter that they put upon the
President the check Of requiring two.
thirds of the Senate to ratify any treaty
he might make, before it should be bind,
ing. In the beginning of. the Govern.
ment the Senate was regarded as a con.
sulGng Executive Chamber How many
Senators the President has consulted
about this matter 1 do not know; what
Senators he has consulted, I cannot
tell. The money however, is to be
drawn out Of the Treasury and we are
not to know how it is to be used, but
after it has been spent, the President is
/ to flo full and accurate accounts. WhaI
is filing full and accurate accounts?
Suppose the money is mis-spent, sup,
pose it is lost or fooled away; you have
granted him n vote of confidence, anC
l would as soon grant a vote Of unlim
| tied confidence as to have no further
security than this, He is to iilc accounts
of what he spends He is to have thi,
vast amount of money in his pocket uu
der his control He is anxious to dis
/ tinguish his Observation-Disclosures
! if possible, to do something by which
posterity will remember him and con
meet his name with Cuba In addition
to his natural ardor, and the opinion
ho already has on this subject, no nigh
think if you vote him this money, tha
he vas under obligations to do some
thing-that ho must move. Well, Sir
I will not put any such embarrassing
obligation on him / do not care hoy
| fair or how accurate his accounts ma,