The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-27

REMARKS OF MIR. TooMBs
In he Senate January "a, 1869, he acquisition Of CJq
EXTRACTS.
The senator from New York (Mr sEwARpj has gohc
into history of our pteseht and prospective indebted
ness aud the deficiencies of system shall
not undertake discuss the difference between us upon
either Of those points AS to our system CON
slider il equal to the wants of the country. The question
is not with this republic where we to get money
from but financial system for the last fifteen
twenty years has been effort how not 10 raise it, Even
when you have drawn tariff bills with tbs express view
of putting down SURPRISES, of reducing the revenue of
getting less of it than ordinary system would bring,
you have failed in the effort Most OF the nations of the
world have been driven TO extraordinary Shifts certainly
in war and often in peace to know how 70 raise the
windin what manner TO raise money enough to carry
their governments The man who could invent
tax in England has been awarded great Financial
talent,
But in this country the whole ingenuity and talent of
all sides, especially of gentlemen holding the political
opinions of that senator have been devoted to the prob
lem how not to raise money enough. Such is the wealth
of the country such its vast productions, that the
question is not of raising enough for the economical
wants of the government for the extrayagant
wants Of the government, but the question with that
senator and his friends is how to raise revenue to
benefit particular branches of industry at the expense of
other branches of industry We should have no trouble
at all about raising revenue if that the object
should have difficulty about Knowing what rate of
taxation would produce sufficient amount for lis, OF
would bring in greater aioliit a Ssser amount than
necessary but have complicated it by schemes
to lay taxation in such way to benefit particular i'm
teress that persons to Congress and seek by
legislation to obtain benefits in their private pur
suits. That is the difficulty we have
take it for granted that many of the objects of cxpen
dtue TO which the senator has alluded be dispensed
with He speaks of SIPS 600 900 $50 000, 600 for
Pacific railroad That is fact not yet accomplished and
do not suppose 1t cAer will BE- agee that, in every
argument OF public policy, the GxeisG Is iatGtlal tie
en and ought to be considered by the legislative de-
parment of the government, and especially when
he himself think has satisfied the Senate and the
tythose who not satisfied beforehat it is utter
iy worthless for all pecunary purposes commercial
transactions. That SIPS 900 900, therefore, propose
not tospend ata That very easy way of getting rid of
that 1925, 600, 000 If it wise expenditure if
expenditure which would be advantageous 20 the
nation should not consider even in present cir
cumstances, that it too great but advan
tagc to the public Sonchsrde TO the expenditure, and
commercial advantages of any sort simply propose
to get nd of that sl25 by letting it stay in the
pockets of the people
Then, to the amount the government will give for
Cuba. The senator has ,rrcd it to $3.50 600 900
think that is than ii is worth do not thinS the
government will be likely to pay that sum do not
know what it will pay but looking upon the acquisition
matter of such vast advantage TO the country to
every portion of the Union to every interest in the Uni
ted States, am willing to risk the $40 ooe for the
purpose OF BuSifg II at iaf and legitimate price
and If treaty should to proposing TO pay $780,
600 900 for it, will weigh that amount of money in
balance and the great advantages of the acquisition to
the republic IN the other, and decide accordingly
The senator to object to this acquisition with ref
to its political aspects. do not SEE that they
changed at all by this Admit that there is force
in the idea of the senator from New York that he wants to
know the status of the hundred and fifty thousand
white people, the two hundred and fifty thousand free
groes and the four hundred thousand slaves in Cuba he
will still have that question before him when the treaty
shall be made and come mp here for ratification This bill
docs not propose to affect il Mt ALL 1t will stand then
where would stand you made the treaty without the
bill 1t does not limit ii it docs restrain IT, 1t Is in that
respect different from the effort of the gentleman and his
political friends when they sought to couple the acquisi
ton of territory from Mexico with certain conditions that
did greatly affect the internal harmony of the republic.
This proposition does not do that 1t leaves TINT matter
precisely where it would be left without the bill IL the
treaty fixes it, it leaves it with the treaty If the treaty
leaves it open the bill leaves it to the people Of the Uni
ted States who have been heretofore, and doubt not
will be- able 10 manage these questions they arise
SO far as concerned though representing the weak
portion of the republic content to make this
QUESTION and leave it to the wisdom and patriotism of
countrymen to settle fair and Just principles what
shall be the of the bond and the free in the island
of Cuba ] am not afraid to meet the issue Ireguire
nothing In this BILL require nothing in the treaty,
that point. When acquire the island of Cuba, the
annexation of which l look upon important to the
country, am content thatmy countrymen shall set
tie the of oil the people there according to the
stitution of the United States.
But will remark to the honorable senator that
slider that question already settled have diff
Guilty upon it, consider that it has been settled by the
American people; settlement with which aim con-
tent which do not believe he will be able to shake
which believe will stand mistaken when he and shall
have passed away from the stage that win outlve him
and outlivc the country itself II is that while the ter
ritory stands dependency of this republic it shall bc
open to settlement by all the people OF the republic
North and South East and Wcst-with ample consttu-
tiona protection TO property held in any of the States
and when il takes its position among the free and indie
pendent States of this Union il will then settle for itself
what shall DC the status of all colors and of all
within its borders That is the principle on which
think this question has already been settled by the
dict of the American people, and content to stand
on that principle and hence feel no difficulty about
the acquisition am willing tomorrow to accept Cuba !;
for deem it advantageous TO the republic will accept
Canada readily, if it be fairly and honorably
done. will accept Central America, and such portion
of Mexico as, i'm my judgment, would be advantageous
to the republic and leave external questions
fettered by internal bros leave it TO the wisdom
and patriotism and Justice of the American people
tie their internal difficulties here Hence will
tramme this great constitutional power of the Executive
to deal with foreign nations with internal questions
and viii not manaclc my country will not handcu
the energies of this mighty nation by tying up
cign diplomacy and foreign intercourse and mingling
with IL our own internal jissens.ns. AT least to all
the rest of the world let present ourselves poo
pie and nation and whatever domestic trou-
bes let settle them internally should suppose that
those who have power those who have maorities those
who have mighty numbers would be willing 10 confront
on this principle section of the country which has
nothing but the constitution right and reason to rely
upon.
Then sir let dismiss these questions they have not
arisen they ought not 10 arise. We ought to consider
whether it is TO The advantage of the United States Of