The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-22

courtesy 10 the senator om Vermont but at this stage
OF the session he felt bound 10 press the appropriation
bills far he could, and therefore ask "a the yeas and
nays the motion.
The question being taken The motion was not agreed
to-yeas ~, nays 80 las lollowsi
YRAsae.srs BEL ngler roIereI brown, Cameron Chandler
Ter loasloo johnson Mallory, pugh, Rice smns
side ue@psoa q kea,ssky Irameal aa Msas ,l Cline
laau Doagas Dnfkec, zach thzsa Green HALF li.nhn iah
Mason Reid Sebastian seward smith, stuart fooinbs ward and
Wilson-so
NJ TRuMBUII spoke in favor Of the amendment.
Mr. HALE moved TO amend the amendment by adding
after the words United States the following - and
paid ia tho several countries To which the minister con
sui or other officer is accredited.
MIR SIMMONS said he had no objection TO that, and
the amendment 10 the amendment agreed TO
Mr. GREEN remarked that the consequence OF adopt
ing this amendment world BIC that where there Was
losa in exchange the government Ct tue United shes
waald pay the expense but where there was premium,
the minister would put the difference in his Own pocket
The present law right aud the amendment ought 70
be voted down.
The question being taken the amendment was reject
ed-ryeas "a, nays 33~as follows
YgAspessrs Boil Bolerlos Cameron chandler, Clark, Gotta
Iner olendon, DAVIS, Dixon oote Durkee fsenden Foot
r,t,uatsu Wade and Wilson-ei
nays ,'-ars Allen Baes Isyard Benjamin BeIer chssnnt
cay enasnaa poaglas Fsh, FzIare Green ewm, Hale,
hammond ilussen Hunter serson es lane Mnor Mason
q gsn,aess, rembs, and WARDS
Nj sI2pELL Thought Tho amendment adopted the
other day on The motion OF the senator from Ohio Mr.
Puonl would prevent the usual expenditure out OF the
contingent fund for foreign intercourse That provso
was AS ioiiowaf
eIo otcr ambassador extraordinary min,
pi0uposeniiiry minister resident commissioner charge
diplomatic agent shall be entitled 10 any compensation
during ths sal fiscal year"
Mr. s moved TO add to the proyiso the following:
And provided that nothing in this act shall be con
straed To interfere with Che disbursement of the appro
q intercourse
at the disposition OF the Prcsden which was agreed
10.
6Ir PIGH submitted another amendment, which he
said would about $3l 900 per annui but II was
rejected yeas 20, nays 20
The bill was then read third time and passed yeas
49, nays 23as follows
YEAsMessrs Alien, Bates Bayarl, Bell BENJAMIN, lase
Fesseneu Fich Foot Green Gwa Hammond Hunter ye5s9n
iuec shden, Smith, stuart Thompson Of kentucky aud
TAys@u,ssrs lroaeriek Cameron Clark clay, Davis Dixon
Dooite paskce, Fitzpatrick Foster, Hale amin lara johnson
Tennessee, King iugh Rii simmons focm07 rnm5al Wade
ACQUISITION or
lhs Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill
making appropriations facilitate the acquisition of the
island of Cuba by. negotiation
Mr. MASON submitted amendment, which at the prop
Ell time he should substitute for tho bill, which
is 10 the effect that Congress fully approves the policy in
the message OF the President respecting the propriety and
the ultimate necessity Of acquiring the island OF Cuba by
United States that Whilst al
from any commital to future measures which circu-
stance whether affecting the peaceful relations OF the
two counties the safety of the United States may rem
der necessary it is deenel sufficient at present only 10
delae that whenever il shall seem t TO spain to transfer
the island the United States will he prepared receive it on
terms that shall be just and equitable to both countries,
aud for fair equivalent; and that because OF the posi-
ton Of Cuba in the Gnli OF MeHiep, and more es
pecay because of its proximity to the coast Of the uni
ted States this government never remain neutral
under any European other policy which slonld sepa-
rate Cnba from the dominion Of Spain IN favor OF any Tor
cgn power
Mr. CoLIAAIEE remarked that this much the
most important measure which had been presented
to the consideration OF Congress since he had had any
connection With IL, as member o. either house ms
was not SO much on OF the proposition to
purchase Cuba for that but single step; but IL was
the policy which ii involved the great utmaB projects
which necessarily lie behind it and necessarily follow IN
it's train when thai step is taken Our policy in relation
TO had certainly bean very uniform one, SO far as
the public have known it and this first thing that struck
him was that this bill proposes entire change OF tins
policy This government had frequently expressed us
Willingness allow Gu!a to remain in the possession OF
Spain but 1t could not connt To its passing into The
hands of any other power What new development had
there been which should lead the President to abandon
This settled poicy2 Nothing had been advanced except
the idea that we must grow and extend territory as
England France, and other great nations do, which ex-
tend their say by conquest The report OF the commit
tee asks TO naugulae this course Of national policy
aud to acquire Cuba the itiatory step III that poey
But Mr. g. denied that it the naonal law OF pro-
gress and Improvement of a nation that Il must
extend its territory. We should strive to render
country fertile and productive rather than steal from
our neiglbors. There wide Distinction between
this country and the tespoc governments OF Europe as
to policy They conquer distant provinces and hold
them as colonies but want no colonies The Dred
Scott decision had established the fact that all new terri
tory which acquire must be admitted to equal par
tcpation in the affairs Of government IL was true
that there passion for acquisition which bad seized
the minds of but this passion, he thought, was
capable of being restrained within reasonable limits,
When Louisiana acquired il open to settlement,
and it's lands wonld replace the purchase money ten
times over Florida acquired with the same view,
but il had not up to the expectations that were
entertained III was, however, immediately adjoining
our territory, and country which could build up and
defend and SO ii with Texas. But the propo-
siton to get island, separated from us,
into which we cannot march an arnya country
where the land Is already occupied by private proprie-
tors, and where have no means of iombursng the
treasury.
Mr. G. proceeded to allude to the argument that the
posseson Of Cuba was necessary for defence But
who would want to possess Cuba in time Of war A
naval power could take it and hold it and in case OF a
war with Eagand which would be better for us to have
guha aud lose H. on have it all IL would be a
dangerous possession in war and that we do not
need ia peace Did any suppose that the people OF
the North would consent to be taxed to bring into this
couatry the four hundred thousand slaves who now IN
Cuba, That would be reopening the slave trade, in
deed lot only that but there We're two hundred thou
sand free m cks to be imported into this country In one
day and five hundred thousand other foreigners who
knew nothing OF Dr laws or our institutions, and yet
were to he natufaigt at moments notice Even II