Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-04-22
lluIttttaI.
ACQUISITION or CUBA.
SPEECH OF HON. JACOB COLLAMER,
OF VERMONT,

Tho Senate in Committee " the Whole, having re-
sumcd hc consideration Of the bill making appropriation
to facilitate the acquisition Of the Island Of Cuba by ne
collation.
Mr. COLLAMER said;
Mn. PRESIDENT. lt has appeared to INC that this bill
with the necessary consequences which involved In H.
and the policy which IL initiates is the most important
that has been presented 20 the eonsdera
on of Congress since have had any connection with 4
FOO either House. II IS much The mere proposition
90 purchase Cuba that is but single steps but as
have said the policy which t involves The great ultimate
projects necessarily lying behind H. and which follow Us
train when that step is once tkcn make up the mpor
Our policy in relation to Cuba has certainly been very
uniform one far as the public have known it aud The
first thing that strikes the mind In this measure, is that
it is proposed entirely 10 change that policy say our
policy has been clear and distinct and uniform far at
least the public have known IL. feel Mr.. President
that ought 10 verify hisasseron aud therefore desire
refer TO the different expressions Of our Govern
rncnt at different periods when this matter has been the
topic of negotiation. Mt Clay, during the admnistra-
ton Of Mr., Adams, states Il thus.
"Ihc United states are satisfied Win he present con
'dton Of those islands (Cuha and Porto ttco) u the
hands Of Spain and with their ports open 20 ouf com
'no political change Of that condition
Mr. Van Bureu, In writing % Mr.. Van Ness under
General Jacksan's administration, says:
'Your general instructions fl upon the subject of
tho interest which hc United States take in the fate oi
'tho,e ISLANDS, (Cuhl and Porto coJ and particularly Of
the former; they inform you that we are content that
Cuba should remain it is, hut could consent
go IT'S transfer 90 any European Power
Mr.. buchanan. under President Polk says, in his let
ter to Mr Saunders our Minister to Spain
"You might assure hiu ho Spanish Minister Cor For-
eisn Aairs that, whilst the Goycnmonts entirely sat-
isdcd that Cuba shall remain under the dominion Of
Spain we should IN any event resist s acquisition by
any other uatou'
Nh Everett in bis letter ~ December /, 1852, says
"a respectful sympathy with the fortunes of an ancient
ally aud gallant people with whom the United States
have maintained The most friendly relations, would,
'r mo- other reason existed. make II duty 10 leave
her 10 he undisturhed possession of this little remnant
of her mighty transatlantic empire
Here then, we have the expression Of opinion from
the accession Of the younger Adams down 20 The last
President one uniform expression Of opinion. that this
country perfectly content that Cuba should remain in
th possession or Spain, and will not interfere n regard
To h unless 70 is attempted 90 bc transferred TO oth-
or country It appears 90 that there should be shown
90 us some occasion, cause. some intervening
suhcctnattcr which has arisen 20 change national
policy. The President says De has no communio cation
with Spain uu the subjects be BIAS nothing new o las be.
fore u, he has now matter 90 present Of course,
thcn, 90 follow, That what called upon o DO.
is 90 DO Che very thing which we have assured Spain and
the world aud again t NOT olr policy %
terrain.
The proposition flr he acquisition ~ Cuba present.
cd attention in che message ~ fhc President and
io 'hc report Of the Committee ou torNgu hcan2u'
which acaompanies ihs bill We have In this report.
take IT, hc great principle the subs,ratum ou which Ills
Cllmed we should enter upon This policy Now, what 1.
it3 IL all lies Boo very compass and is this.
road ffom page Of Che report
'lhe law OF our national cNi.tenccis growth We can
'not II would, dis0bcy h. While should DO moth
sing stimulate uunaiurally, should be- careful not
't0 impose upon ourselves regimen strict to pre-
is healthy development The tendency Of the ag,
'is the expansion Of the great Powers n the world En-
l.nd France ,l Rus.ia lid deoutr,te tbe Z, q,
81 tbis peryadnr principc Their growth II h iruo
onv operates hv the absorption partial or total u wcak
.cr Powersoerally of inferior races So long as thi.
ssion Of territory Is thc result of eeographical DO
..on a hirhcr civilization and greater ATTITUDE f7l
sr,r-,crf ana is MOI otr.1ci iu a direction 10 n
ar orr s4fstv on irnee r progress We have mother
.tbe rigt nor the jsd.iii,u ~ find f1nit with u let
Fnela,d rr.le her march Of conquest and sucx,tor
.ir Ir, France ,xtrnI nor dominion an tbe sootberr
,hors Of no Mediterranean and advance her irouter
,o thc Rhine or Russia sbiugatc hcr barbarous neigh
'h1rs n Asia. we shall look union their progress II no
with favor al least with Indifference We caira 0u th
.hani.phrre the same p glclc that they exercise on h,
'ottcf-
.rf.. .-,.;,,, . ,,, ,.i.issi,
~ t t
I'm ihis ihey are pui ope}inE me laws oi the~ orsAni
znuon when they cease 20 grow, they Fn soon com
mcnec ihat period i decadeuce winch s ihe iAic OF al
'na.lons as oi lndiNanll man.
lietc is me great pnnclplc cnnncatod in Hefy wei
ch'seh 2fin oi cNpfcN'ohi ahA Niit H lii u s tna
EtAi haN.Ns must lntfeast h iaef torniorai extent
tlat they 90 lhN France, Eue1nt' hus'a do u, and
DO d howf do 10 y conquest, d1 . hy forces and what
rs claimed here N that we must dn u 1r inc same cause
that is, that WHOM we cease 90 increase iu territory wt
sh'l commence our dgeadcncp; eiaf h is Che law NJ nl
t'na eNstencc and thlt we shall 90 IT, oo as ucy d
o., because mot only their acquisition but ihe manner
mAt aaqstuon is here quoted with APPRECIATION and 1
worthy of our Imitation 1r thc report says.
NV claim ou tls hcma auhtrc the same privilege thl
'thcy exercise on me other
ID