Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-26

Mr.. Phelps objected saying that in the present
condition of affairs the navy ought not to Be cur
tailed. There may be use for it in the Gulf
The debate continued at length. Mr. Sherman's
amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Colfax, Of Ind, offered resolution that the
expenses of the suits against Com Psulding grow
ing out of his seizure Of Walker and his followers
/ shall be paid out Of the amount appropriated for
contingent expenses Of the navy.
The Chairmans decision ruling it out of order was
sustained by 10 majority.
! Several other amendments were discussed for
three hours. when the time for voting came the
House found itself without a quorum, whereupon
the roll was called to note the absentees
At six O'Clock an Intellectual attempt was made to
adjourn. The House was then called TO secure
quorum.
After debate the House refused to adjourn. and
the Sergeant alarms was directed to bring in alb
sentees who were occasionally produced, and re-
qured to give satisfactory excuses or pay the fees
Several Intellectual motions were made to adjourn
SENATE.
The Cuba bill was taken up
MI Wilson offered an amendment as substitute
Mr.. Mallory proceeded with his remarks, com
menced some days since.
He cited the policy of Jefferson who said, 'if we
were Justified in going to war for Territory il
would be for Cuba" He reviewed the commercial
advantages to be derived from the acquisition and
contended that if Cuba were annexed the slave
trade would be completely DESTROYED. That trade
was fostered by the Captain General as Mr. Mallo-
~ showed by a minute and interesting statement
how it was carried on by the purchase of the slave
ship to the landing of the slaves under permit at
ounces per head. The Creole population are he
said, opposed to the trade
Mr.. N. guarded himself from connecting the dis
tracing subject of slavery from the acquisition of
Cuba.
Mr.. Dixon of Conn, spoke for two hours. replv-
ing to the points of Mr.. Benjamin's recent speech
Mr.. Benjamin had urged, he said, unless we acquire
Cuba, Spain will emancipate the negroes Mr. D.
reasoned that if negro freedom in Cuba would be
injurious to the United Slates in Jamaica it would
be equally so. 1t is not used as an argument to
buy Jamaica from Great Britain Mr. BENJAMIN
had reasoned that compulsory labor was necessary
to develop tropical productions, but Mr. Dixon
thought the sugar for the world could be grown by
rec labor, and if it could not, sugar was not q
futcient equivalent for the perpetuation of slave.
ry. In the course Of his remarks Mr. Dixon had |
occasion to say slavery degrades the free laborer
Mr.. Reid eontroverted this opinion, and said the
doctrine was new in the South. He maintained |
that the white man was not degraded by labor al |
though he worked at the bench, or in field side |
by side with slave.
Mr.. Dixon refused to adm the correctness of /
this assertion as an exposition of the general Sou
thern feeling
Mr.. Bell traced the rise and progress of the fill
buster spirit TO its continuation in the Ostend mar
ifesto, and became reflected in this Cuban bill
both were in form offensive to Spain No nation /
would be apt to receive kindly an offer made to /
purchase its Territory, when accompanied by a /
studied reminder Of its fallen fortunes. His Bells)
opinion was that the Ostend manifesto and the /
present proposal, were framed under the perfect /
knowledge that Cuba could not be acquired, and /
that they were addressed to what is supposed TO be
the dominant traits in our national character
The Committees report is skillfuy drawn up it |
promises to extend the trade and commerce of the |
north, the peculiar industry of the SOUTH and the
Agriculture OF the west 1t is framed to babituate
the country to the cry Of war. but we are making
no preparation for war, on the contrary we are
trying to get along without revenue. For him
selfhe would favor our acquiring control of the
Island, either as prOtectOrate or independent
power; but he likewise held that the time has not
yet come when its possession is necessary 10 our
development or security. We are not now in a
position to accept Cuba if Spain should offer it as
gift. We cennot accept it until we have built up
4 navy OF sufficient strength to maintain it. The
1rst blow that would be struck in war with ma
val power would be to wrest it from Us and hold
Is harbors as means of annoyance against u.s.
The Committees promise that the acquisition of
he island will give US the monopoly of sugar is
equally tallacious. The increasing production of
hat article would soon create its production
throughout the whole Temperate Zone. Neither
s it true that when nation ceases growth the de-
cadence commences. History does not teach this
iocrlne OF expansion, nor IS there any paraleiism
between the growth of nation and an individual
nan. Are our internal affairs so perfectly organ
zed as to leave no range to our ambition Has
wen the question of currency been placed on
satisfactory basis Is our great internal domain
ednced to such narrow limits as to afford no scope
o our energy? Our Territory IS now greater
han the whole area of the Roman Empire all this
We are bound to protect and defend, and to defend
he accessible portions of our extended frontier,
would require 10000 men, with at least $50 war
teamers. The chairman Of the naval Committee
ays our whole guns are HOO.
The French Navy alone has Is 600 cannons afoat
nd 500 ships, of which half are war Steamers
We are not now prepared for such war, and yet
be President announced on a recent occasion that
ur policy hencelorth is expansion.