, 1859-01-26
PRESS AND TRIBUNE.
noRNIHe, JAKuARY 2e. 1853


"A &c" 0A&TVAAANA9 @N1~e
Tnen the Presidents annual message vas
delivered, ne suggested that his proposition
to Congress to place the modest preliminary
sum Of thirty millions Of dollars at his dis
posel, to a.range place to pnt two or three
hundred millions more, was request for
funds to enable him to corrupt Spanish Min>
listers ind Cuban Captain Generals This
seens now to be generally admitted, with the
funny amendment that few thousands or
millions may be wanted 1or contingencies in
the next Presidential campaign. Slids- IFS
bill therefore should be entitled "ar Act to
"enable the President to buy dunkeys in the
"Court Of Madrid, and to provide for poli.i.
"cal e1igencics in 1902 It is impossible to
conceive how this money is to be used On any
other hypothesis. It is not pretended that
Spain will sell Cuba for $50 0,000,o or even
sell it at all In fact this sum is not presum-
ed to be more than ten per cent OF the grand
total which will compensate the Hidalgoes
for their last and richest province in the New
World, even If they could be once brought to
thenegotiating point The difficulty to be over
come is found in inducing Spain to listen to
propositions Of my sort-which impediment
it is thought thirty millions Of hard cash
would 60 lar towards clearing away.
While the Cuba question is up, though ws
have not the .emotest suspicion that this
Government is likely to acquire the island,
by fair meanR or foul, during the Presidency
OF James Buchanan, wa hare pair Of sug-
gestlons which are pertinent to the case, and
which may interest some Of the parties to the
annexation.
I. The first is that the Constitution Of the
United States recognizes no established reli.
glon, and tolerates none in any individual
State. Therefore, when Cuba ranges herself
under the stars md stripes, Catholicism
must come down to the level Of Presbyterian
ism so far as exclusive privileges are concern
ed It must be unlawful for priest OF Pope
to kianap babies who have been feIoniously
baptized BY servant girls. It must bc as
much in order for Methodist elders to declaim
against the Immaculate Conception in Haya-
ua rs in Chicago. Unitarian and Jesuit must
succumb to the same code and take the same
chances in tie propagation Of faith. In short,
the religious institutions of New York and
Massachusetts must have room for exercise on
every foot Of ground between Baracoa and
Cape St. Antonio-a clear field and no favor
We cannot amend the Constitution to suit
the case Of few thousand believers in the
efficacy of latin prayers.
II. The other sug gestion which We deem
applicable to the matter in hand is this
Whether Cuba he acquired by tile employ
ment Of money or guns, the free States of the
gnion will be compelled to pay two-tlirds Of
the cost. Therefore they will he entitled to
the privilege Of designating what institutions
shall prevail in two-thirds OF the ACQUIRED
territory. Mr.. Webster held that the copsti>
tutional provision giving the original slave
states representation in Congress and The
electoral college, on the basis Of both white
and negro population, could not properly mp.
ply 10 new slaye-holding communities. In
his view this inequality was sufficient cause
ior refusing the admission Of my more slave
Slates. II Iced not lie disguised that The
chief object had in view in anue1inc Cuba is
to create slave driving Senators and Rcpre-
sentaGycs in Congress, and 10 increase the
facilities for mnkins doughfacc Presidents. |
Why else should Mr.. Slidcll be SO Jealous 10 |
bring State into the Union which would /
inevitably crush out the sugar growers Of his
own State! Cuba contains something over
q million Of inhabitants-quitc enough to |
make four Senators and dozen Reprcscnta.
tives. Now, let us observe the maxim Of
!" honor among thieves" II the North is to
oe 'ugged into bargain where it must take
two-thirds Of the cnpital stock, or quarrel
where II must stand two.thirds Of the blows,
let it Ike well remembered and firmly nornina-
ted in the bond for division.