The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-12
honor the prosperity and the aggrandlsement OF 'nen
country above all political considerations ,,v,cv

honor, the prosperity and the aggrandsement OF their
THEODORE SEDGWiCk.
On notion the following committee were appointed On
resou,icns-Gco. W. Loyd John Chrystal, wm' brau5'
j. W. LAYTON, w II. Morgan and p. ID. Gallagher
The CnAIRMAX stated that among other gentlemen "no
hid promised to be present address the meeting were
VIM Little and Judge Bowe.
Mr.. T. W. Andrews, a citizen OF New hoone"e' "ss
then called upon to address the meeting
SPEECH by MR H. W.. ANDREWS
Mr. President and fellow ctizens-l am happy, SIR TO
disannonted at finding that tho gentlemen who
expected TO address this evening ana VINO the
President informs me had os .a'
have not attended according to your expectation came
here rather listen than to speaK-o receive instruction
rather hsn occupy much OF your lime remarks
of NV own STILL sir feel II to be my privilege, as
American citizen meet my fellow citizens in New
Rochelle or else TO discuss questions concerning
The nooy of with reference 10 the progress
and interests republic whether at home abroad,
or connected with our domestic foreign relations.
aa although the Tribune has thought tit to assail the
people meeting together to discuss questions Of vital
interest, uaducng and vhfying those who were
expected address this meeting yet shall not be in
midated from pursuing that right and privilege which
belongs as citizens OF the United States And,
although the Tribune charges some of us falsely with ope
rating agans, the whg party, cannot be denied that
the defeat of Henry Clay in lS44of the corypheus of
the party-was owing entirely to the Vaccinations Of
Thurow Weed and Horace Greeley, because some new
isInn had taken place and form in the bosom OF the
one and the other there personal feeling Of ami
mostly to Henry Clay Aud these were the men who
were the prime Of defeat which caused much
and sadness TO the Of thousands Of patriotic
hearts in this republic, Now, gentlemen ln what
which admit has not the attraction OF novelty
about it, for it is question which, for nearly half
century, has been regarded Of deep in
teres to this government; and it has commanded the
earnest consideration of many Of the most distinguished
of statetmen from the time of Jefferson 70 that of the
great Executive of government But although
the annexation OF Cuba 10 the United States Is not
question: it is one OF great and growing Importance 1t
has been discussed In the Legislature and has formed
the subject Of communications TO Congress. is indeed
rapidly growing important and such its position
now that il must very soon be decided either by peaceful
honorable negotiations between the two nations who
the parties directly Interested else by other
not entirely unknown in the history both Of the Old
World ard the New (Cheers.) 1t is therefore in
high degree important that American citizens we
should make ourselves intelligent ali questions
Iected with the interests OF our repu6lc-of which
atention-and one of the most e1ectua and to the
majority perhaps the most agreeable modes of accom-
pshng this end, is by the public discussion OF such Ques
tons in popular assemblies. Our prosperity nation
the very existence free insttutons-depends the
intelligence of the people-ther intelligence political
subects-subjects connected with the policy Of our 60
vernment both ut home and abroad-Our foreign and do
nestle relations and interests No citizen has right to
remain ignorance upon such subjects He Is soemnly
bound to render himself capable Of dischagng the duties
and obligations Of his citizenship Understandings Hap
PLY for have abundant means for doing this By the
power the press and the freedom of discussion every
citizen, however humble his position or scanty his means,
be enlightened on every question Of national interest
importance. may be permitted TO say that that citi
zen dwelling in bis log cabin and eating the daily
bread of hard handed, honest industry, who en-
hs mno ans 90 knowng and s
fully performs them, Is vastly more important
member Of this free nation than that citizen who, al
though he may roll in wealth and riot in luxury dsdains
all political subjects and gories in his ignorance of them
and who rather than he would dele his sacred person
higher responsibility Of American citizenship trust,
sir the time may never come when the majority Of our
citizens will be too indifferent to political subjects to
sembe together for their discussion Indifference TO
cs, of which some men loudly boast, Is indifference TO
the active interests Of our Observation-Disclosures TO
the character of rulers and to everything connected
with the pr ogress and position republic. say
therefore, let the time come when shall not feel
Interested politics and questions Of this kind but let
always assemble to discuss them freely, calmly and
dspassonately For this reason we have met here-uot
partisans, but American czens-not supporters
this political party that but members Of this great
free nation, and invested with the responsibility Of citizen
ship influential and more honorable than the world
ever saw before. (cheers) Now, let us look at the
subject little nearer, and inquire, is the annexation Of
Cuba this republic desirable 10 usS (Cries OF 'Yes,
yes y say yes too You are all acquainted with the his
tory Of the sand and with its physical and geographical
| character Cuba lies near us here-directly in the
mouth of the Gulf Of Mexico, between Cape Sable, the
| southern point OF Florida, and Cape St. Antonio, the
| northern point of Yucatan. 1t ia between seven and
eight hundred miles in length and upon average about
forty miles in breadth, containing not far from 80 900
| square miles. It's population about million and
half of which seven-eighths whites and the rest
blacks slaves 1t belongs to Spain and is governed
q
appointed by the Spanish throne The is
in reality pure despotsm-there is not an element Of
popular rule in it. 1t has soil of great fertility, and
climate whose salubry cannot be surpassed in the world
single glance at the geographical position of this island
reveals the ncaculabe importance of its possession
by the United States Of defence. II is almost
within sight OF In fact 1t said that clear bright
days. il be from Cape Sable with the naked eye.
II holds the entrance TO the Gulf of Mexico as completely
as an island the middle Of the Straits of Gibraltar and
extending half across its width would command the
trance the Mediterranean Its possession as impor
the defence Of vast commerce carried
the Gull OF Mexico and constantly growing out Of the rich
productions Of States the possession Of the mouth
river The extent and importance of that commerce
be appreciated when we remember that 1t embraces the
have with Mexico and much OF Central America
and that resulting from the rich productions or sixteen or
eighteen southern and Western States and Terrific
ries Let any naval power like France or England be in
possession of this island and with America, and
would have not only the advantage of splendid harbor-
and that OF Havana Of the most magnificent in the
wordbut they would also have absolute command of the
mouth Of the Mississippi the Gulf Of Mexico and the Ca
rbbean waters. The importance OF connecting this island
has been openly admitted all Sides and far there is
no difference Of opinion. From the time that pur
chased louisiana of France and thereby secured the
troll OF the navigation Of the Mississippi American
have been united In the opinion that the acquisition
of Cuba OF the highest importance TO US as means OF
national defence and safety Cuba then necessary 10
for the protection Of our commerce. for what benefit
could derive from the wealthy productions of six.
teen or eighteen Western which pass over the
Gulf OF Mexico if the island Of Cuba is commanded by
hostile natonS What would become of our commerce
which passes over. the Gulf OF Mexico9
| Captain ACKERMAyy-The whole OF it.
Captain Ackermann says the whole Of IL, which makes
| the necessity for the possession Of the island
| still stronger. Then there are the millions Of
| wealth which borne from and TO our
shores by the came great highway and any nation
cept America were 70 hold in possession they would in
time Of close up at once the mouth OF the Mississippi
and cut Off forever extensive which Goats
over the Gulf of Mexico Such is the great importance
the subject to government; such is the position in
which we stand relation TO Cuba and there ia no mar
in this republican, man in Europe-no man in ths
worldwide could look at AL the facts have alluded
and say that the island is not Of paramount importance
The European Powers have always been careful o
their territories In the New World England has her pos
sessions the West Indies France has hcr'sSpan ha
hers; Sweden and Denmark have their possessions also
but the United Sates-ths great republcto which
islands naturally geographically and by political propre
ty belong has not loot Of land there; and IN
European fleets may put into these shelterny s
and receiving supplies, sally forth upon coast, Will
| we left with nothing but our harbors on tn
| north from which our fleet could sail for tn
| protection of the commerce OF Our nation
and although there are some whose sentiments are diff