Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-02-25
he had better be short, as the Judge was
probably not accustomed to such things.
THIRTY.FIFTH CONGRESS. sgiis5.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Is.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON Feb. Is.
PRAYER was offered by Father Boyle, n
Catholic Priest. Not Senator was in his
seat ut the opening hour, save one. who re-
tired into the lobby during the prayer.
Mr.. Crittcnden took the floor on the Cuba
bill.
Mr.. Crittendcn commenced hy admitting
the Importance and desirability of Cuba, the
residence and resting place of Columbus.
lie also admitted the Presidents constitu-
tonal right to negotiate for it without
legislation, nay more, if the President sue
cceds in acquiring it by honorable means.
there are few who would not hail the
acquisition; but he (Crittenden) did not re-
gard his success as certain on tae contrary
no time can be more inopportune. When
the Message was promulgated, what echo
was returned from all Spain, indeed from all
| Europe, and even from the down -trodden
| province of Cuba. Spanish pride was
! touched The Cubans refused to be bought
and sold. We have the authority of the
Spanish Government, that not only is Spain
not conciliatcd by our manner of approach
ing hcr, but considers it as an insult. Would
the President have written that Message had
he known it would be SO considered? Mr..
Marcy to Mr.. Soule in 1853 says, it was not
cxpedent then to offer to purchase the Is
| land, and how much stronger were the cir
cumstances now? If the President. in the
face of the Spanish declaration, makes the
offer. how can he avoid the imputaton of
premedtated insult?
God speed him, however, in his negotia-
ton, and save us from those probable COM
plications and wars, of which this same
| Cuba NAV be the cause. Diplomacy, instead
of now pressing the obnoxious offer, should
now leave it open, and seek to renew 1T in
some one of the thousand events that occur
in the fate of nations. Suppose Spain were
to sell suppose England and France, who
propose n triparttc treaty, were to permit
her to sell the Islands she holds as trustee,
where are we to get the money? We have
been obliged to go in debt for our household
expenses We have raised one loan for mar
ket money, and another is wanted; Inc
Treasury emits funeral sound when we
knock for money, for none is there. lie did
not mean to cay the country cannot produce
anv amount of men and money, but it is
more convenient to do so at one time than
/ another Is it convenient now to have ias-
tened on us and our children, n ten million
| per annum interest on a two hundred million
loan for the purchase OF Cuba? Mr.. Chit
tenden here made digression to speak OF
Genital America and other weak States.
Once it was the policy, he said, of the Am
erican Government to maintain friendly
feeling with all the nations of the Continent.
lie remembered when the American name
was loved-whcn it Was dear to the strug-
cling republc-whcn til. declarations of en-
couragenent that had been spoken by the
voice of Henry Clay were read at the head OF
their armies How have we lost all this
Read the Message and there you will see that
we are at variance with Mexico, Costa Rlca,
Guatemala, and that we are buried in difh-
entities from the Feeiee Islands to the Span
sh throne Do all these specksof war augur
well to the revenue yet a bill is now pend
ing to place the military and naval forces in
the hands of the President, apart and above
the action of Congress. Has any one the Con-
stitutional power to make war except Con-
grcss? No But you can hold threat over
the heads of these small States, make them
tremble, and settle any claim whenever 1t
shall appear good to the President to do it.
Mr.. Chittenden did not think it worthy the
magnanimous character OF our country To
hunt out the weak and let the strong 60 free.
If that bill should pass, can we expect to bc
at peace. when we have even now to renew
our geographical knowledge to know where
the places are with which we have difficult
ties! lie referred, in illustration, to the
Paraguay expedition, the greatest armada
that ever left our shores. saying it was tC
fight Lopez, Paraguay chief, who, in
power and ability was not equal to John
Ross, the Cherokee Chief lie then referred
to the proposed seizure of the somewhat
populous states of Sonora and chihuahua, Il
defend the frontier Of the wilderness, poet
| cally called Arizona. The bill was most un
/ II. IL l..
little wars with little people. He then re
viewed the Ostend Manifesto, and its impli
ed hint that if Spain will not sell we vii
take. The President supports this demand
for thirty millions Of dollars by the exampl,
of jefferson, but the cases are not parallel
Before the treaty is assented to by Congress
and even if Congress never consent, the Pre-
sident can draw the money and take its safe
keeping into his own hands. The Presiden
himself may be above suspicion, but tn
Constitution does not entrust him with on
dollar. The hands of the Executive shoul,
be pure and unsoiled by money. lie shoult
be unsuspected and not even exposed to tn
unacceptable suspicion of money dealing
Further, it is Unconstitutional. because
augments the Presidents power and destroy
the balance between the States. IF W
had Cuba and had paid two hundrc'
millions for it, he would say to her, we hav
rescued you from European tyranny, an
have saved you from being bulwark agains
us in the hands of European power-estab
lish free and independant government q
YOUR own under our protection-it will b
better for YOU, and we believe for u.s.. ii
did not want to see our Anglo Saxon rae
mingle with people who do not understan
: or appreciate our institutions, and he di
not think our countrys greatness was to b
achieved by adding acre to acre, but by I'LL
ing it with arts and industry. He believe
this whole scheme of policy would burs
; like bubble. The bill is mere piece G
fanfaronade. 1t is a part of fireworks no'
set ablaze to give different complexion an
> hue to the rather darkened features of tn
: Administration party
: WASHINGTON. Feb. Il.
SESATE.-Mr. Hunter from the Financ
, Committee reported the Executive, Legisla
tive and Judicial Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Wade of Ohio, moved to postpone a
prior orders, and that the Senate take up tn
Homestead bill.
Mr. johnson of Tennessee, also urged 1t
The bill was finally taken up-26 to %
and read
Mr.. Hunter of Virginia endeavored
have it postponed for the Diplomatic an
Consular Appropriation bill
Messrs. Wilson, Stuart, Shields, SewarC
l and others opposed it,
o Mr.. Hunter finally moved to take up Il
bill, which was carried by the casting vo
of the Vice President, the ballot standing
to 2S.
Mr.. Pugh moved an amendment, propo
ing TO abolish all grades of ministers excep
u ing one, and fixing the salary of that graz
| z. l. n
all missions are to be special, and for reasol
explained to the Senate at the time of a
pointment; consuls general to be abolished
d consuls to have fees of office, to the lin