Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-19

fr,,m IMPLIES. of course, that we must own
the continent that bounds oar sea on the
west. as we'll as the string of islands that Ia.
close il on the east-that is, Mexico, Central
America, and all South America, as far
South mt least ~ the Orinoco. In that wide
comnass of sea and land there are a good
many native governments, and provinces be-
longing to the strongest maritime powers;
and a narrow Continental l%sthnus, which
we ourselves. as well as England and France,
are wont 70 call the Highway OF Nations.
T. fulfil the grand conception and perfec'
our tropical Empire, we must buy or con
ouer all these torrid countries, and their
mongrel populations. As to buying them
it strikes me, that we had better wait awhile
at least until the government has ceased to
borrow money to pay its current expenses.
And as to comQuering them, perhaps 1t would
be prudent to pause. and make some est
mate of cost and contingencies, before we
rush into war with ali maritime Europe and
half America.
am not one of those who believe that the
United States is not an independent and
safe nation, because Cuba is not a part OF 1t.
On the contrary. | believe that We are quite
capable Of self-detence, even if the Queen
of the Antilles" were a province OF England,
France, or Russia; and surely while 1t re-
mains an appendage of Il comparatively fee
BILE nation, Cuba has much more cause to
fear us than we have to fear Cuba. In fact,
gentlemen, | cannot help doubling the hon
esty Of the cowardly argument by which we
are urged to rob poor old Spain of this last
remnant Of her Western empire, for fear that
she might use it to rob w.
But suppose we could get, honestly and
peaceablv, the whole of the country, cont
mental and ~insular, from the Rio Grandc to
the Orinoco. and from Trinidad to Cuba, and
| thus establish our mare ciaHSum, and shut
the gate of the world across the lsthmus. can
we govern them wisely and well? For the
last few years. in the attempt to govern our
home territories of Kansas and Utah, we
have not very well maintained the dignity
and Justice of the nation, nor secured the
peace and prosperity Of the subject people.
Can we hope to do better with the various
mixed races of Mexico. Central and South
America, and the West India Islands? Some
of these countries have been trying for fifty
years to establish Republican governments
on our model, but in every instance have
miserably failed, and yet their was no obsta-
Gle to complete success but their wi inapti-
tude.
Formy part, l should be grieved to see my
country become, like Rome, a conquering
and dominant nation, for | think there are
few or no examples in history, of Govern
ments, whose chief objects were glory and
power, which did ever secure the happiness
and prosperity of their own people. Such
Governments may grow great and famous.
and advance a few of their citizens to wealth
and nobility, but the price of their grandeur
is the personal independence and individual
freedom of their people. Still less am | in
clined to see absorbed int our system ION an
equal footing with the original States the
various and mixed races amounting to i
know not how many millionsl which inhabit
the Continent and lsthmus, South of our pre-
sent border. | am not willing to inocculate
our body polite with the virus of their disea-
ses, political and social-diseases which, with
them. are chronic and hereditary, and,
with us. could hardly fail to produce corrup-
ton in the mind, and weakness in the men,
bers.
Our own country. as it is, in position, form.
and size. is Il wonder which proclaims a Wis
dom above the will of man. Large enough
for our progress, for centuries to Gomez; all In
the temperate zone, and therefore capable of
"A homogeneous population: yet so diversified
in climates and soils, rs TO produce every
thing that is necessary to the comfort and
wealth of II great people. Bounded East and
West by great oceans, and bisected in the
middle bv a mighty river, which drains and
f~ructifes the continent. and binds together
the most Southern and Northern portions Of
our land by a bono stronger than IRON
Besides all this, it is new and growing; the
strongest on the continent, with no neighbor
whose power it fears, or of whose ambition il
has cause to be jealous. Surely such a coun-
try is great enough and good enough for all
the seeds Of honest ambition and ylrtuous
power.
1t seems 20 me that IN efficient home-loving
government, moderate and economical in
its administration, peaceful in its objects,
and lust To all nations. need have no fear of
invasion at home or serious aggression abroad.
| The nations Of Europe have TO stand contln-
ually in defence of their existence, but the
conquest OF our country by a foreign power
is simply impossible, and no nation is so alb
Surd as 10 entertain the tDouRnt. We may
conquer ourselves by local strifes and sec
tional animositics; and when by our folly and
wickcdness we have accomplished that great
calamity, there will be none to pity US for the
consequences of SO great a crime.
II our Government would devote all its
energies to the promotion of peace and friend
ship with all foreign countries; the advance
ment of commerce.; the increase ofagrlculturc;
the growth and stability of manufactures;
and the chcapcning, quickening and secGr-
ing the internal trade and travel Of our coun-
try: in short, if it would devote itself in ear
nest to the establishment of Il wise and steady
policy of internal government, think we
should witness Il growth and consolidation
Of wealth and comfort, and power for good,
which cannot be reasonably hoped for from
q fluctuating policy, always watching for the
turns of good fortune, or from a graspinga am
bition, to seize new territories, which are
hard to get and harder to govern.
The present position of the admlnlstra-
ton is a sorrOwful commentary upon the
broad democracy Of its professions. In the
DRY the people have the right and ability to
do anything.-in practice we are verging
rapidly to the one man power.
The President, the ostensible head Of the
national democrats, is eagerly striving to
concentrate power in his own hands, and thus
i -1 H..