The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-05-12
JOB PRlN TING.
S PIE ECH
HON. ZACHARIAH CHANDELIER,
OF MICHIGAN,


OF MICHIGAN,
In the Senate of the U. S, Feb. IL, 1859.
The Senate having resumed the consid-
Grafton of the bill making appropriation
to facilitate the acquisition of Cuba by
Mr.. CHANDLER said:
Mr.. President: This is a most extra
ordinary proposition to be presented to
the Congress Of the United States, at this
time. With Treasury bankrupt, and
the Government borrowing money to pay
its daily expenses, aud no efficient RENE
dy proposed for that state Of things; with
your great national works 10 the North
west going to decay, aud no money to re.
pair them; without harbors Of refuge for
your commerce, and no money to erect
them; with national debt of $40 900 900
which is increasing in a time of profound
pe,ce at the rate Of s3o,OOO,0O0 per an
oum, the Senate Of the United States is
startled by proposition to borrow $780,
600 900. And for what, sir To pay
just claims against this Government,
which have been long deferred No, sir;
you have no money for any such purpose
as that Is it to repair your national
works on the northwestern lakes, to re-
pair your harbors, to rebuild your light
housesl No, sir; you have no money for
that. Is it to build railroad to the Pa
ci6c, connecting the eastern and western
slopes OF this continent by bands of iron,
and opening the vast interior of the con-
tiueut to settlement No, sir; you say
that is unconstitutional What, then, do
YOU propose to do with this $50, ,000, ,000l
Is it to purchase the Island Of Cuba ?
No, sir; for you are already advised in
advance that Spain will not sell the island.
More, .ir; you are advised in advance
that she will take q proposition for its
purchase as a national insult, to be rejec-
ted with scorn and contempt. The ac-
ton of her Cortes and OF her Government,
on the reception of the Presidents mes
sage, proves this beyond all controversy.
What. then, ask again, do you pro-
pose to do with this $50, 100000! ask
any friend of the measure what he propo-
ses to do with the money! The question
is absurd. There is no man. or child
who does not know for what purpose this
S3u, goo, 600 is intended. 1t j. great cor
ruption fund for bribery, and for bribery
only. 1t is proposition worthy of it,
author; it is proposition worthy of the
writer of the Ostend manifesto; propo-
sitiou worthy of tue brigand; worthy of
James Buchanan; but it is unworthy Of
the President Of the United States; it is
proposition disgracefui to be made to the
Congress of the United States.
Again | ask, what do you propose to
do with the money! Is it intended that
this grand corruption fund shall be used
in the purchase of foreign ministers and
ministers of State and high Spanish off,
cialsl Is this what the friends of the
measure would have US believe it to be !
. Such, possibly. small portion will be
found to be inhnitesimally small. There
are other, and, iD the estimation of some,
more important, objects to be attained by
the use Of this money.
The Democratic party is damaged,
badly damaged at the North. Its prin-
eipies are gone, and even its occupation
of public plumber is gone, for there is
nothing left to steal, your Treasury is
bankrupt, and there is no hope of replen-
ishing i, before the presidential contest
of 1860. 10 this emergency something
must be done for the democratic party,
and here is the proposition to do it. A
new iss1e is to be raised TO call off the
attention of the country from pat extrav-
ag,nt expenditures and present bankrupt
cy. Cuba is to be the cry in the next
presidential election, and S30.0O0,oU0 Is
TO be the inducement to cry loud and long.
This is a mere clap.trsp proposition to 60
into the canvass of 1860; and the friends
of this measure have no more idea of pur-
chasing Cuba under it than have of buy
ing it on my private account. They are
to 20 before the country upon this cry OF
Cuba, and upon it they hope to Goat into
power sgain in 1860. Vain, fallacious
hope. Forty Cubas and $500, 600, 900 as
bribery and corruption fund, would not
save the Democratic party from that an
Dihiistion which the Almighty has do.
creed.
But, sir, let us examine this PROPOSE
ton in its practical effects upon our con
stituency. propose to take practical
view oft. | propose, before we 60 into 9
speculation of this kind, to ascertain
whether it will pay. The computation
which I an about to present, was made
before Oregon was admitted, which has
one member of the House of Representa-.
tives, aud this fact would vary my fig
Hres a few dollars: but a few dollars only
of this S3o,o00,OO bribery fund, each
congressional district will pay $l27, LIS