The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-03
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. c. FEBRUARY s. 1859

a name and place in the family of nations.
Then, in our feebleness, in our infancy, in our
poverty, nay, in our very desttution, when we
had neither a name to live, nor an arm to de-
fend ourselves with, she came to our aid. She
lent us money, and men, and ships, and she
rendered us service when it was needed and
from that day to this, Spain has maintained in
unbroken succession, the position and the rela-
ton of an ally and friend; and Mr. Buchanan,
in his letter to Mr.. Saunders, recognised that.
He says we are bound to her by the Z" ties of
ancient friendship nothing new, but by the
ties of ancient friendship when her friendship
was worth something, sand we sincerely de-
sire to render these perpetual"
Well, sir, / know that it may be said to be
sentimental, and possibly beneath the character
of the Senate, to adduce any considerations of
this kind as having anything to do with our
national policy; but, for myself am content
to admit and to avow here, that they are con-
siderations potent and powerful and all-weighty
with me. / hate, l very much hate, to disturb
these ancient relations of amity, friendship,
peace, and good will, that commenced so long
ago, and have been continued and maintained
so long. If the Administration, of which our
present Executive was Secretary of State, were
sincere in the position which they took, that so
long as this island remained in the hands of
Spain we had nothing to wish, and nothing to
hope, and were sincerely DESTROYS that it should
remain so, what has altered the state of things
since? Sir, if there is anything due to the ties
of ancient friendship, l can imagine that Spain
might appeal to us, and tell us, that when we
were weak, and feeble, and defenceless, and
helpless, when we were struggling for our very
existence, she, then in the zenith of her power
and her wealth, reached out her hand to aid and
to save and to protect u.s. Now, sir, it may be that
in the visitations of Providence, as the Senator
from Georgia said, decrepitude aud old age and
decay are coming upon her. Her colonial pos
sessions have departed one by one all her pos
sessions upon this continent have been wrested
from her. and she holds now but one little gem
of what was once her mighty coronet, and she
may appeal to Senators, if there is any senti-
ment in your hearts, and ask you, in the name
of Justice, in the name of gratitude in the name
of all the ties which should bind such an ally
as her to the United States--if when misfortune
has fallen upon her if when feebleness has
come, and her possessions, one by one have
been rent from her F; if when lawless expeditions,
year after year, are fitted out from our shores
to wrest this, her last possession in ths Western
world, from her, is the United States II join this
piratical cry, and go full chase with those who
would rob our own, our ancient, and our veneer
will never do it; and l confess that l sympa.
thize, and sympathize deeply, with the feelings
which have been manifested in the resolutions
which have been read by the Senator from New
York, as those which have been passed in her
legislative assembly. Why, then, the necessity
for such a measure as this, when it is absolutely
clear and demonstrable and demonstrated that
it can have no practical etfect2 1t can only
have tendency to wound, to injure, and to in.
suit the feelings of Spain possibly, nay prob
ably, it may have the further effect of giving
vitality and new life to those piratical expedi-
tons which are fitted out from your shores to
90 and take Cuba.
If the Senate of the United States shall
countenance such proposition as this, say 1t
may have this effect and our good faith may
be distrusted and well distrusted, if we are put
ting out empty proclamations against those
who would fit out expeditions lawlessly from
our shores to take Cuba, while at the same time
we are, by our acts here in the Senate, resolv-
ing that is it desirable to acquire the .island,
and authorizing the President of the United
States to pay the sum of $30,000,000 to con-
summate so desirable an object. Sir, will not
the men who fit out these expeditions say there
is no sincerity in your reproof? ave know
that the United States want Cuba; we know
they vote $50, 10000 900 to the President, to ena-
BILE him to buy it; and we know, if we go, and
are successful in seizing it, that we shall only
have done that which the Government desire
to have done"
Now, sir, l again dissent from that whole
policy which says it is American policy to be
continually annexing foreign nations to us. [
am for improving what we have got l am for
developing our own resources; and / am for
applying the means that we have to the improve
ment of what we have got l should like to
know where the constitutional power comes
from. 1t is said there is no power to build a
railroad to the Pacific ocean, unless it be war
measure. / should have said this if | had got
the floor on the Pacific railroad, but will say
it now; am utterly opposed to that whole doc
trine, that we have no power to make railroad
from here to the Pacific ocean, unless it can be
that it is absolutely necessary and
as one Of the means of carrying
on war. Sir, the Government of the United
States have power to make peace as well as to
make war and if, as the proclamations of war
usually say, the purpose of entering into war
is to procure an honorable peace, the country
ought to have some energy to do something to
foster and nourish and develop its interests in
peace as we'll as in war. But, sir, this modern
doctrine, that you can expend anything and
everything for war measures and nothing for
peace, utterly dissent from. Here you may
spend Sl50,O0O,O0O, if it is necessary, for pur-
poses of war but if you are asked for fifty cents
for any of the great purposes of peace, of COM
meree, of the arts, this gigantic Government is
seized with paralysis, and cannot move finger
for any of the purposes of peace, or any of its
arts, or any of its interests but it is omnipotent
for all the purposes of war.
Mr.. GWIN. AS the gentleman is on the sub
ject of the Pacific railroad, wish he would
give way, and let us take up that bill, and go on
with it. Laughter.] 1t is better subject than
this, great deal. Laughter.
Mr.. HALE. I can only say to my friend
from California, as the Archbishop said to Gil
Bias, wish you all manner of prosperity, and
more taste than to interrupt me again, laugh
ter but will give way.