Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-18
The Cuban Bill.

| Dill making appropriations To facilitate the
acquisition of the Island of Cuba by negotla-
| ton.
Mr.. Thompson of Kentucky, addressed
the Senate in opposition to the bill lie OBJ
jected to its very title. 1t lntlmated that the
President wanted facility" which facility
was to consist of money. How was it to be
applied? The whole scheme was lll-timed
and uncalled for. Cuba was not well calcu-
lated for cotton lands, but it would drain the
adjacent States of the South of the best por-
ton oftheir citizens. New Orleans was now
Il great eMfrepot. place for transhpment
and the tendency of annexation would be to
build up Havana ut the expense Of New Or
leans, which would shrivel in proportion.-
The President knew very well that Spain
was not willing to trade for Cuba, and what
sort of Christian humanity was it Tor the
President, having found the sore spot of Span
ish pride, to take an ignitcd firebrand and
keep constantly '.jabbing' it. Poor Spain
had no peace of her life: if she had perhaps
she could be induced to trade. What was
the use of buying Cuba when they would
not own either the soil or the negroes! They
would get only the sovereignty, which meant
the expense of keeping off pirates, and pet
ting generally this youngest child OF the FAM
lily.
He regarded the proposition to annex
Canada as monstrous. When the time came
that he had to be overborne here by gentle
men from Cuba, from Nova Scotia, and from
Davis Straits, he hoped the Union would
break III two Just as the Atlantic cable did,
simply because it was too long Cuba had
got to be Amercanizcd, rs the Louisiana
| purchase, was by the influx OF young and en-
terprizing American citizens. The Cubans
might know very well from the example of
Louisiana that very soon after annexation
they would be rooted out--oaten up rs the
! blue rats are by the Norway rats. Cuba was
now said to be painting for liberty; If annex
ed, the Cubans would be painting for life.
He opposed the Pacific railroad PROJECT,
which he considered, in cOnneXion with this
Cuban scheme. only part of the brag game
for the Presidency in 1860. 1t had been
proposed that the Americans should see
the Administrations one Pacific railroad
land 90 two better" The true policy of this
country was to build up and consolidate our
own internal interests--take of what we have
got rather than seek to get more. lie was
opposed to fostering and promoting the fill
buster spirit Of the country, and had Il very
poor opinion indeed of these strutting, penni-
less adventures known as tillibusters. lie
did not believe that either France or Eng
| land wanted or would seek to obtain posses
sion of Cuba. The ambition of the French
Emperor was turned in altogether different
directions. If England wanted Cuba in his
opinion she would take it in spite of US es-
pecially if she were backed by France
When We came to fighting England, it would
| be no little Indian skirmish or Mexican run
ming fight. But the ambition of England
and the prosperity Of that Empire depended
upon events ON the other side of the world
If Cuba was given to us to-day the vast fleet
of England might take it away from us, or
starre us out. 1t would prove point of
weakness rather than of strength. Hedenied
that it was in any sense the key of the Gulf
of Mexico. No Notifications could be built
which would block up thepassage in the Gulf
on either side, nor strong enough to defend
the island against British feet. To say
nothing about color, he thought he had been
to more respectable weddings than it would
be when Uncle Sam takes Cuba for better or
| for worse We should find a heavy job on
| our hands.
This bill was calculated to createa rupture
| between us and England and France. This
Government should take warning by the res
pectable old Virginia gentleman who was
"broke" by paying taxes on too much land.
| We had better pay the debts we have already.
We were saved in California by the God-send
of the gold discoveries but in buying Cuba
there would be no chance for any thing Of that
kind. There was no God-semd left there
| lie regarded the Ostend manifesto as n delu
sion intended only to keep the Gulf States in
good humor. Cuba had not gravitated ali
inch this way since that manifesto, and never
| would If the Cuhans understood how the
| Americans would treat them. The result of
annexation would be that the Cubans would
| sell out to our Southern planters and leave
the island.
He reviewed the provisions of the bill,
pointing out its Objectionable features. ltpro-
posed to send this thirty millions to the safe
keeping of our Minister in Spain, keeping it
in the Treasury rs the Constitution provided.
No matter how fair and accurate the Pres-
dents accounts might be, there would be
gossip and scandal about them. Setting the
| fllibusters upon Cuba would be like train
ing monkeys to pick cotton, which was said
to work first rate except that it took two
overseers to watch each monkey. 1t looked
to him as though the Cuban scheme was put
forth in order to win the South to the Presi-
dent while he was to secure Pennsylvania by
means of the iron interest. 1t was his de-
cided opinion that Buchanan was good for
ten years more as the Democratic candidate.
The President would hang on to power with
a sturdy Scotch grip until it should be wres-
, ted from him. As to the coming fight. he
expected to have no hand III it. He did not
know exactly where he should stand. lie
could not be Locofoco any way; he under
stood that the discipline of that party was
extremely rigid; perhaps if he could get
private conversation with the Senator from
Illinois he might learn something on that
point. He utterly condemned this rampant
spirit and cry for war. If we get into war
with France and England, growing out of
this thing, we shall regret it to the Inst day
of our lives. Old John Bull was terrible
bruiser as they would soon learn. The fight
would be made up very unequally. 1t was
a safe thing in any ignorant crowd to curse
England, but it did not seem to him to DC the
best policy for statesmen and Legislators
His policy was to cultivate the arts of peace,
and let the gristle of this country grow into
bone. He hoped some safe man would be
made the next President His colleague
Mr. Crittenden) would suit him as well rs
l.