Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-06-22
The Cuba Question.

The Cuba Question.
The objections 10 Mr. Sidcll's Bill, in th,
United States, providing for the acquisition
Of Cuba, aud to the Presidents views upor
the subject, were based upon the supposed
uuwilliugnesI Of Spain to sell Cuba, and the
danger which was contended would accrue
from placing at the Presidents disposal &C
largo an amount Of money as was necessary
for the purchase. II was never seriously
argued, nor did the opposition venture to
declare that the possession of the island was
not desirable to this country, nor that ii
could not be Of more value to us than 10 apy
other nation. II Ia very clear that one Of
three things must happen, that Cuba will be
taken possession Of by some European pow,
or, that she will erect an independent gov.
eminent, or will fall into the hands of the
United States. The latter event is the only
one that would insure our security. She is
the very key to the Gulf of Mexico, and in
case Of war the power holding possession of
her would have the unlimited control of the
whole Gulf All the commerce Of our SOUTH
ern and south. western States could be cut
entirely of and one Of the richest portions
Of our country blOekaded All the cotton,
sugar, and other products of the lever re-
gions Of the Mississippi, would find no OUT
let, and commerce, which amounts to hun
dreds Of millions yearly, would be in com>
plete state of stagnation. The President,
when he accepted the nomination for the of,
fice which he now fills, endorsed platform
which declared that it would be expected
that the next Administration would use ey.
cry effort to insure our ascendancy in the
Gulf Of Mexico, and protect the commerce
Of the Mississippi Valley Accordingly du-
ring his Administration he recommended to
Congress that it should provide for the
Peaceable purchase of the island by placing
in his hands sufficient amount of money
which was to be surrounded by all the
safe guards which protect any other fund. -
1t was to be deposited in the Treasury and
% be drawn out on the warrant Of the Pres.
ldent 1t was theirs to be placed in pre-
cisely the same position as MANY other
funds. The only difference, if any, would
be that other moneys may be drawn out on
the warrant Of one of his executive officers,
while this could be drawn on the warrant
of the President alone. But who can for a
moment suppose that holding the position
he does, of Chief Magistrate of the nation.
and bound by his Constitutional oath, he
would misapply dollar of the fund, even if
it were placed in his own pocket ? The idea
is absurd, and the pretension is mere ruse
whereby the opposition hope to deprive
Democratic Administration of what would
be the greatest achievement which the Uni-
ted States could now perform. 1t is Just as
reasonable to suppose that oil the money
that goes into the Treasury is subject to
corruption and abuse, as that the Cuba
fund Uould be, had Senator Slidelrs bill
passed The thing is not without precedent
We have to go back but short time, to dis
cover that Congress appropriated and placed
in the hands Of James X. Polk, when Presi.
dent, the sum of about three millions of dol
lars, to enable him to bring the war with
Mexico to close, and distinctly declared
that it should be used if the treaty duty rat
flied by the agents of the two governments,
called for the expenditure of the amount or
any part thereof
Again, when Jefferson was President, Con.
gress appropriated two millions for the pur-
chase of Louisiana from France, and placed
it at his disposal, to defray any extraordi>
nary expense, which might be incurred in
the intercourse between the United States
and foreign nations and at an other time
two millions more were granted for the pur.
chase Of Florida, and was faithfully applied
20 thatobject This is exactly what Con,
sress is asked to do now to secure the aooui,
sition of Cuba, with the exception that while
those appropriations were made in general
terms, this is to be for a clearly specified OBJ.
ject, and is to be so sec ured as to effectually
protect it from danger of missppropriation.
The declaration, that Spain will not sell Gu
ba is -2ere conjecture. Who can assert
such to be the fact, before the experiment
has been tried Let Congress grant thirty
millions, the requisite amount to seal the
contract and the purchase can doubtless be
made. The Spanish Government is aware
that they cannot hold Cuba much longer in
their possession and would be glad to dis.
pose OF her for a consideration. At all events
ies as not suppose that the bargain cannot
e oonoludsd, until the attempt has been
made, aud all fair and honorable methods of
negotiation have iailed.