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


every acquisition Of territory made by the republic,
have had exactly the difficulties of race, of Ian
guage, and Of conditions of people different from
own all of them different possibly from the people Of any
State of the Union but we have moulded them into
American people What has become Of the spanish
In Florida What has become of them in Louisiana
What has become Of them in Texas Where are they
California In both houses find that noble State the
last acquisition 10 our Union represented by American
citizens, and everywhere, throughout the whole Of
acquisitions yea thrice larger than the original
limits Of the republic when the revolution was concu
ded-we find the English language spoken and
general rule they represented by American citizens
even Of our 1T viii be the case again.
We got free negroes, we got slaves got Spaniards
and we got Frenohmen when acquired Louisiana We
shall get Spanards, and Engshmen free negroes slaves
and coolies when acquire Cuba Our institutions
sufficient for all We Americanize them upon the
great principle that will give them bulwark which
has been sufficient for all these difficulties and it win
ever DO sufficient long we are true to ourselves
We have stricken down the bonds OF political slavery
and have given those people institutions we have
given them justice have given them equality and
by that meals we have no strife, trouble We have
not kept one soldier TO maintain dependencies
throughout the whole of acquisitions from 1903 10
this hour. 1t requires twenty thousand TO keep
Cuba from throwing herself into arms IL re-
qures political machinery TO prevent the people of Cen
trail America as all know who have any acquaintance
with the interior of our political system especially
foreign affairs, for the last ten ycnsfron, throwing
themselves under protection and getting the benefit
OF our institutions 1t is simply question for ourselves
we have no trouble with them at all. Our institutions
broad enough, and strong enough and good enough
to hold all ths continent. This acquisition will not re-
qure an increase of military establishment il win
not require an increase of navy far people
are concerned and If re safer TO external rea-
TONS much the better We have soldiers M Flor
ida to keep down the spaniards in Louisiana to
keep down the Frenchmen and Spaniars in Cafor-
mia none in Texas, none in New Mexico TO keep down
the Spaniards We send soldiers to protect those people
la, J.,,A.
to preserve the fidelity or allegiance of single human
being whom we have brought within the great fold of
bur rstublio and shall need one as long as we
pursue the same line of policy
1t is mistake to suppose that by bill like this we
deegating the treaty making power We do such
thing II is the Presidents duty to originate all trca
ties, all contracts, with foreign governments. They
BLOW us only through the Executive. The Executive
Believes and IL may be tre that to have portion of
the price in hand for this valuable acquisition will be adj
outrageous to the happy termination of treaty for this
purpose If this be will consent TO let him have it,
If it fails, am where am. As to the idea which has
been thrown out of its being insult to Spain do
so regard it, do not think very much Of the honor of
who does not exactly know the place where it is
touched As for all this buster Of Spain supposing
self to be nsued it amounts to nothing. If she
to offer to buy from this government Massachusetts or
Georgia 5Hod not consider myself at all insuted if
was not done in an improper manner, By VA Of bully
or bravado. We have already made purchases from
Spain In 1919 purchased Florida from her but we
ILL
suit Perhaps they did make little fuss beforehand
there may have been kicking up then but she
took the money and we bought the territory, and the
thing was closed. Spain sold at one time an empire
larger than the then States of the Union to France,
though they said they were going to stand by every
itch Of sand and every drop of within their terri
tory The uncle of the present Emperor of Franco sold
to the United States an empire worth thousand times
this island do not count the Mexican purchase, be
cause admit that rather forced slea sale
ecution, my friend from Louisiana Mr.. BENJAMNl sug-
gcsts We fixed the damages ourselves and exceed
ingy moderate. have always been ashamed Of the
exhibited that great OCCASION because
think did injustice to us and the people whom
quercd. They had a right to our institutions, and
ought to have given them to them, and they suffer
Ing Mt this dry for otr not having done it
say these purchases have not beet ulfus,ai Young,
thriving, vigorous nations purchasers the weak the
feeble the decTcpid sellers 1t has always been so
II always will be When nations begin to decay,
they sell their territory it taken from them by
conquest sometimes before decay, with prodi-
gal administration, improvident rulers sell their territory
rs Charles III Of England sold Dunkrk Dtcayed nations
always SELL and generally do good thing by it because
what they do not sell is usually taken away from them
for nothing. When they have lived out their day and
encroio about the wisest thing they do is part
with their dominion which they can no longer hold
Events will have their course, and that gravitation of
Cuba towards us of which Mr.. Adams spoke. continues,
like the gravitaon of the EARTH gaining accelerated mo-
tion otcry day IL moves and what glavating fifty
years ago is coming With terrific poser against that
island The same law of grayation operates in politics
as well as in the natural world.
We told suppose, by way of tcrrorthc last point
think the honorable gentleman made that England
aud France had guarantee that the island should not be
taken by force from Spain have the same init
nation aud, il ] relied newspapers might show
that they have said that should not have it with
without the consent Of Spain, That is Of the main
considerations why desire the American Senate and
House of Representatives to-day to declare what their pol
icy is desire that England and France shall know
from these halls that power i'll our right,
and that II we make contract with SPAIN threats OF
from either of them from both of them, will de
ter us for moment. am ready to say to them il
you have any of that work hand, will meet you at
any moment you please will not surrender the indo
pendcnce which have won, and which VIC have held
for seventy years to England and France They recog-
Mise Spain as independent sovereignty We have
ours and they recognise us Then il we make con-
with Spain for the purchase of contiguous territory
useful to u.s. beneficial to us, defy France and England
to interfere. i would glory in that vndicaon of
would rather they would than not
want to know whether we independent not
want TO know whether sovereign not. | want
to know whether usurper Of ten years standing, who
maintains his power with half million troops shall die
tate free America whom she will treat with and whom
she will not desire TO the American who is base
enough to have his conduct his vote the policy Of
his country controlled by any such motive.
am ready to throw back the defiance the At
lantic TO England and TO France and tell them will
purchase where list of free people, and will be ready
to met them whenever they attempt TO defeat TO in
terferc with this great right belonging TO every free and
independent people We able TO maintain our indie.
pendence against England and France thrown in the scale
with Spain at any moment At all events, ready,
even in the first three quarters of century of
ence TO stake that existence rather than be deferred
from pnrsinr n national pocv by the threats of two