The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-03

said, are opposed to the 'rade. Mr.. Mallory
guarded himself from connecting the distract
ing subject Of slavery with the acquisition
Cuba.
Mr.. Dixon spoke for two hosrs, replying
to the points ofMr. Bepjsmin's recent speech.
Mr.. Benjamin had urged, he said, unless We
acquire Cuba, Spain viii emancipste the
negroes. Mr.. Dixon reasoned that il negro
freedom in Cuba would be injurious to the
United States, in Jamaica it would be equal.
ly so. II ia not used a. an argument to buy
Jamaica from Great Britain. Mr.. Beuja-
min had reasoned that compulsory labor was
necessary to develope tropical productions,
but Mr.. Dixon thought the sugar for the
world could be grown by free labor, and il
it could not, sugar was not o sufficient equi.
valent for the perpetuation Of slavery. In
the course Of his remarks Mr. Dixon said
that slavery degraded free labor.
Mr.. Read cOntroverted this opinion, and
said the doctrine was new in the South. He
maintained that the white man was not de.
graded by labor, although he worked at the
bench or in a field side by side with slave.
Mr.. Dixon refused to admit the correct
ness Of this assertion as an exposition Of the
general southern feeling.
Mr.. Bell traced the rise and progress Of
the filibuster spirit TO the elimination on the
Ostend manifesto, and became reflected in
this Cuba bill. Both were in form Often
sve to Spain. No nation would be apt to
receive kindly an offer to purchase its terri
tory, when accompanied by a studied re-
minder OF its fallen fortunes. His (Bells)
opinion was that the Ostend manifesto and
the present proposal we're framed under per-
feet knowledge that Cuba could not be &C.
quired, and that they were addressed to what
is supposed to be the dominant traits in our
national character. The committees report
is skillfully drawn up. II promises to ex.
tend the trade and commerce of the North,
the peculiar industry Of the South, and the
agriculture of the West. 1t is framed to
habituste the country to the cry of war, but
we are making no preparations for war; on
the contrary we are trying to get along
without revenue. For himself be 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 ne.
cessary either to our development or secu.
rity. We are not now in position to &C.
cept Cuba, il Spain should offer it as a
gift. We cannot accept it until we have
built up navy Of sufficient strength to
maintain il. The first blow that would be
struck in war with naval power would
be to wrest it from US and hold its harbors
as means Of annoyance against US. The
committees promise that the acquisition Of
the island will give US the monopoly of gu.
gar is equally fallacious, The increasing
production OF that article would soon create
its production throughout the whole TEN.
perate zone Neither is it true, as the com.
mittee say, that when q nation ceases
growth its decadence commences. History
does not teach this doctrine of expansion,
nor is there any parsllelism betwe. n the
growth of nation and an Individual man.
Are our internal affairs so perfectly organ.
izei as to leave no range to our ambition
Has even the question of currency been
placed on satisfactory basis, Is our
great internal domain reduced to such mar.
row limits as to AFFORD no scope to our en-
rgy! Our territory is no greater than
the whole area Of the Roman Empire. All
this We are bound to protect and defend,
and to defend the accessible portions of our
extended frontier would require 10000
men, with at least $50 war steamers. The
chairman Of the Naval Committee says the
whole number Of our guns is but LOO,
The French navy alone has $4,000 cannon
ahoat, and 500 ships, of which half are war
steamers. We are not now prepared for
such war, and yet the President announced
on recent occasion that our policy hence.
forth is expansion.
HoUsR-Mr Hughes asked leave to in
PRODUCED resolution repeating the tariff Of
1857. and reviving that OF 1916.
Objections from both sides AMID great
confusion.
Mr. Hughes moved q suspension Of the
rules.
Mr. Morrill, gave notice that should this
prevail he would offer his bill as a substi.
tute.
Mr. Jones supposed fthe rules we're sus.
pended the bill must receive its first cOnsid
GRAFTON in Committee Of the Whole, where
every cer could offer amendments.
Mr. Hughes said, suspend the rules frs,
and debate afterwards.
Mr., Nallandighsm gave notice Of sub
stitute to suspend the tariff Of lsi7. aud re
vive that of 1870 for two year from the
( first Of May.
/ The motion Of Hughes to suspend tn,
rules was negstived-s5 against 95
Mr.. Phelps approved the motion TO re
consider the vote by which the Post Otfct
/ bill was defeated. II this Il not done q
new bill would have TO be introduced.
/ Mr.. Blair moved TO lay the motion to re
consider on the table
/ Mr.. Coliax ofsred an amendment. that
the expenses Of the suits agains, Com
Panding growing out OF the seizure o.
/ Walker and his followers, shall he paid out
of the amount appropriated for contingent
expenses Of the navy.
The Chairman's decision ruling il ont al