Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-02-25
sprEcn on noN. noNrn E. ROYCE

on THE ACQUISITION OF CUBA.

that Government which Is remarkable u Us character
and momcnt1us in IFS consequences upon the interests
vt this county, The policy which The President recon-
mend, looks 70 The acquisition of Cuba, dependency Of
Spain and OF which she has been BOO .u1s, unintcrupt
ed possession since It's discovery bv Columbus The ace
QUESTION o Cuba has hecn regarded desirable and im
poriaht 10y very many OF the public men 10 ihe county
It's Commercial i'm p1rauce and It's geographical position
such that its acquisition under scrau circumstance
would, no donhi, be- desirable But while admit this
deny that the mcts aud reasons SET forth n the message
ofthc President, warrant The conclusions 10 which he
has arrived OF will Justify Congress boz adopting the cN
uaordinaN course which lac has recommended, IN max
ing an appropriation in money 90 DC used hy him in Che
negotiation With Spain for tho purchase OF Cuba 900 adj
vance NJ any action on The part nj The Senate 90 whom
the Constitution has wisely vested the power 20 ntl
aud confirm all treaties which may be made 10y Che IRE
sidcut
The terms upon which the President proposes TO ace
quirc Cuba, arc hy honorable negotiation and be is
careful say that would not n We could acqute IL
in any other manner with the important qualification,
however. added, that circumstances may occur which
will JUSTLY It's acquisition n some other inAnncr-undc
the imperative and overriding law ~ scfprcscrvatnu.
The terms Of honorable negotiation, by which The ffcsi
dent proposes 20 acquire Cuba forbid the suppoluon
that the causes Of complaint against the Spanish Gov
eminent which he has made so prominent n his mcs-
sage designed 20 influence thr question, except TO
illustrate m Importance o It's acquisition 60 The peace
and prosperity Of the country.
The first complaint made is that Spanish officials.
der the direct control Of the Captain General VI Cuba,
have insucd national flag and in repeated instan
have. from time 70 time, inflicted injuries 900 the
persons and property " citizens. This Is grave
charge, ami u true il seems 20 me that the President
would better discharge his duty the country after The
failure o. all honorable attempts 10 obtain satisfaction, 10
lay the whole subject before Congress. with such facts
sud evidence would aid intelligent action and ask fr
such legislation a. pronc regard f the national nom
or and fhr protection NJ our ctzons. may demand
Mr.. Chairman. ! have Justification 90 ofcf Tor
Spain on account Of these charges. believe, SIR,
would 20 as far any man in dcfru4c of our national
honor and The protection OF our citizens. But sir. when
remember that within The past few years, Npcdous
have her foot n mis- country, violation NJ our
treaty obligations with Spain, u violation VI utemlou-
al law, aud in collation. Of our own laws, to subugic
and conquer Cuba Justice 10 ourselves AVID 20 the cnsht
cncd sentiments pf the civilized world requires that
these charges be freely and fairly Investigated before
any lcgisliuon Is predcntCd upon them, involving the
rnunfry in rccuuiary obligations 1r u war. Iva speaking
VT our claims against Span the President saws tlt one
class. 'he Cuban claims, have been Admitted, hut mot
paid. aud IL would that thcfc others but hr
President has not given any information 10 Cougr, VI
their nature 90 amount he alsu says, that thc mission
70 Spain has been ntrusted Go distinguished citizen pI
Kentucky, who will make another. and hual attempt,
20 OBTAIN lushcc iiom ihai Ho'srhm'hL lhi't from
The language OF the message thnt no prrtmptoy demand
his yet been made upon the Spanish Gn'eruncnt
Whoa such demand shall have been made and refused,
win be time for Congress 90 consider what further mca
required for The protection NJ the national hpu
and the enforcement of private rights
The fact mentioned In ihc message in connection with
these clls, NJ the orrcurug change 10 the Spanish
ministry Is. doubt, unfortunate 40 private claimants
Boz This country upon iha G1,crumrut and is probably,
We may wen regret this 'acanng policy ia mat Govern
ncnt. or any other, ser way in which Govern
mont can interfere 10 prevent No. Another cause of cont
pant which he President makes is "tle want OF sutho.
rity The ptrt OF tho Captain General of Cuba
anime and redrrs. wrongs committed hy Off als under
his control citizens of the United States The Span
Captain Gcuell and al the intercourse NJ our citizens
sith spanish subjects in Cubl is presumed 90 have bccn
bad with fu npaiels' u tue llws regulating that iu
rcousc, and while DC nu} Doe iucouycncut ior cite
zen TO be compelled To 20 Msddto sock rcdres, there
mty DE good and sufficient reasons why Sptn should re-
rain he rghri pas, upon all those questions affecting
the property " the state. rather than urust
that power O. subordinate officer The Spanish Minis
rr nf stae lD'n Otderon Cni2ntef IN hi5 message oi
the 9TH u Januny last in speaking Of this portion OF
the PRESIDENT message, says;
''But the demand Is made that the Captain General of
Cuba should have power % aduiustcr the government
ofhat eouny. and o net in 40 questions which may
rise. d, MT SEE upn what demand SO important can
not settled 10 The best way by her Aaesty'i Govern
ineni, and thar i'm short time. Communications with
tiosc countries are now frequent, much that the
lampicn rcpraiioh of which ! spoAe just now was
made on tho ls Of December Of last year and her MAJ
jcstys Government received the Acknowledgment during
the month
'ls Shows then how much delay occurs IN the COM
munieitiin OF the petitions of the Government Of the
Cnited States her Maicstys Government and how
ttuch time vii be necessary 90 return She answer which
thc Government may decide upon. But whether the
nnc which these communications require be long or
short. the Crown o Spain cnnnni be deprived If the pre-
r,gatiycs which belong 90 IL. The direction Of the for
cgu relations, inc determination of all international
conflicts, whuever may bee their nature, belongs cNcu-
Nvey To The Crown the exercise ct tins perogativc can
NOT be dccgated il would De 1n addiction which the
;itinatcy public powers could not tolerate
The Spanish doyernmtu viii therefore. resist amy iud
cation whatever which may c made in this direction
and beforehand takes the opportunity To declare that
the Captain General OF Cuba will continue 10 exercise the
powers which belong TO him present, and that they
will receive no extensipn because the laws do allow
IT, the public powers would not authorize TO- and IL would
not be consistent with the dignity of the Grown.
And no it is consequently, that with respect
the three points which have occupied the public ateu-
ton, and which necessarily have occupied The attention
nf ALL the Spanish Government Is IN tranquil postuu
firm and advantageous And as TO our relations there
has been nothing to disturb them and AS To the alien
alton Of Cuba, 81 is deuson into which none fall
who are acquainted with Spain and have penetrated into
the feelings aud into the character Of country and
a. the powers of the Captain General Of Cuba there is
ing them. The Spanish Government is the only judge
Of the cxprdicncy Of any Of interior adninstra
ton, aud this is Of that character"
II would seem as II this answer ought to be conclusive
in the mind Of the President against the justice pro-
prety Of this denand The same cmbarrussments exist
la intercourse with the colonies and dependencies n
other Governments lis subject with which this Gov
eminent has no right TO Interfere, and has just
Of complaint, long treaty obligations observed
and placed on the footing with the most ii-
vored nations Of the earth.
The President says further that Scuba IN its exist
ing colonial condition. is a constant Of injury and
annoyance the American people. This expression Of
the President is susceptible Of different constructions
and il Is doubtful in what sense he wishes to be UNDER
stood. II IL is injurious aud annoying to maintain q
prosperous and increasing Commerce with that island
and 70 exchange the productions and manufactures IT
country r those OF Cuba then the President right
in saying that is present condition is injurious and an-
moving 10 The American people But hardly think that
the President has expressed the sentiment Of the
H. -