Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-07

the letters alluded to. They related chiefly
~ to the determination avowed by MIR. Buoh-
anan, 10 enter on, a certain contingency to'-
eiga territory, wiM an armed force. notwith-
standing his distinct admission Of the want
of constitutional authority--in plain Eng
lish, 70 violate the Constitution and his .ath
(2) to his application 10 Congress for money
10 Negotiate for the purchase Of Cu6d; and
(3) to the bill presented by Senator Slidell, in
conformity with his wishes. ITO facilitate the
acquisition of Cuba" Commenting on
these propositions, endeavored to show
that. 'in the space of few months, under
a Democratic Republican Administration.
schemes were ahoat, changing the essential
features of our Government, By concentrate
ing its chief powers in the hands Of one
man"-giving him power
To make rdr:
To borrow millions at his discretion, and
rithom restriction as TO the rate Of interest ;
and therefore, indirectly.
To tar the people:
Po'oer to appropriate mU'ons--af ms aus
crction--and,
To carry into erecutiOn treaties made by
himself, and nsrer ratified blythe Senate.
In addition to all this. the public money
has been squandered with unexampled e1,
travagance until, in a thine Of profound peace,
with a revenue more than adequate to meet
all expenses under an economical Admins
tratiun, our public debt has suddenly risen
up TO many millions, and. it is to Be feared,
is still on the rise.
As to the idle and insulting proposition To
purchase Cuba, after the recent repeated and
indignant rejection by Spain of every such
overture-this Cuban bride Of thirty millions
by way of earnest towards profer of two
or three hundred millions more-l am, my,
self, much at loss to comprehend its mighty
advantages. Certainly do not see that Nir-
GINA is to be essentially benefited, even were
it gratuitously offered for our acceptance
We can acquire it in no way but at the haz'
ard Of foreign war, costing us, perhaps, some
two or three hundred millions more. and do,
mestic feuds far more to be deprecated than
foreign war or any waste OF public treasure.
The mere interest of the portion which would
in some wav or other be contributed by Nir-
ginia, would probably amount to sum OF
FIVE or six hundred thousand dollars annually
forever. And what would she gain? Moth
ing, 50 far al l can see, but the chance OF
buying sugar few cents cheaper IN the
pound, tn the loss of the Louisiana planter;
bringing Havana cigars and tobacco in COM
petition with one of her own great staples. and
drawing from as our already insufficient ID
boring population.
Witnessing the enormous abuses before
their eyes. we'll might honest Democratic
Senator's. breaking the shackles of party.
concur, rs they are said to have done, i'll ex-
pressing their belief that there is not nnder
tie Heu~nsc Government as corrupt as that
Of the United States.
To what causes are we to ascribe the abu-
ses Of which we complain? Is it not chief
ly the work of the "Demon of PARITY
Party organization? Party drill? DO we,
the peopis, really govern the country, or
have we committed our rights and liber-
ties to the sate-keeping Of partizan edi-
tors, scheming political managers, and
packed caucusses. Under the principles
If principles they may be called-ot
party discipline could General Washing
ton himself were he to re-appear on earth,
be elevated to the dignity Of door-keeper
to the Presidential mansion? 1t is as no
torious as it is monstrous, that among
people, boasting of a free government,
the whole official corps OF the Union,
created by the President, are, with perhaps
few exceptions. bound by self-nterest, if not
by tacit understanding, to support the man
from whom they receive their daily bread.
not merely by their votes and influence, but
there is ground to fear by contributions
from their salaries. Servility-abject ser
vility-is we'll nigh the sole passport to par
ty favor. beg you to reflect for moment
how these deadly weapons Of party may be
turned against our own dearest rights and
interests Parties are rapidly becoming more
and more sectional. Let US suppose, that ut
the next election Black Republicans
Fremont or u Seward-shall DO raised to the
Presidency. How long would it be before
every Office in his gift, North and South,
would be filed with wretches willing to
adopt his sentiments How long before We
should have standing army of venal Abo-
lition propagandists billeted upon US, work
ing day and night to sap our institutions,
and ready at the beck Of the Commander
Chief, To rob US Of our rights and prop
erty?"
IN