The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-30
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST CUBA.
VIEWS OF A MINORITY In THE HOUSE.

Ritchie, Royce and Burlingame's Opinions
on the Slidell BDl-They Would Stop the
American Slave Trade and Concede the
Right OF Search-A Plea for Spain and Her
Colonial Oficcrs-The Amistad Claim De-
MED, and Cuba Refused, II to be Acquired,
&C., &c.
In the House Of Representatives, the Oath nst Mr.
Richie, from the Committee Foreign Affairs submitted
the following report of a minority of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs the proposed bill authorizing the Pres
dent to purchase Cuba:-
The President of the United States, in his annual mes
sage of the 9th of December 1858, recommends the &C
He says
The publicity which given to our former negoa
be required render Se
g gbo sore 10 es h should
cessary, it may become Indispensable success that
the Spanish Immediately after signing Of the
treaty without awaiting the ratification by the Senate
In conformity with this recommendation, the major
ty of the Committee Of Foreign Affairs have agreed
to report bill placing the sum of thirty mil
lions Of dollars the disposal Of the President for the
purpose stated by him, the treaty shall be ra
ned by SPAIN and without waiting for the ratification by
the Senate Of the United States.
There three alleged by the President Of the
United States why should " acquire Cuba.n
The first is that we may put stop to the slave trade
and thus give hopes for the Of benghed Africa
second reason derived from the imperative and over
ruling law Of sefpreservation. His message on this
part OF the subject is as follows -
The Cuba in It's existing colonial condition
constant source @ Of injury and annoyance 70 the American
P se ns p0t oas a ns cSed Sn5 as world rs the he
treaty with Great Britain to maintain naval force on
treasure solely for he purpose os savers bound
Great Britain could have arisen Il Cuba nsd
afforded market slaves AS long this shall
for ne be
Cuba will be waged the petty and barbarous
this trade In such condition Of affairs 1t is impossible that
the light Of civilization and religion ever penetrate these
II has been made known TO the world by my predecessors
h. The United states have several occasions endeayored
to acquire Cuba from Spain BY honorable negotiation this
would instantly disappear ar. We would % not ' we could @
SSss IN % Ssis Which % We Is Ssss Ss
since the origin Of the has been by fair purchase
voluntary p a"% ndspenSeot sa's Texas ss IN
endas %e . her sveS sesss with sr This
sG TnSer %
law Of self preservation
THE AMERICAN TRADE SHOULD NE STOPPED FIRST
We believe we are quite as much opposed to the slave
should be civilized is the President and yet We do nc
think ourselves called upon, under existing circumstances
either for the one or the other purpose to acqure Cuba
from Spain either by purchase or by conquest In fact
since the message of the President Congress
circumstances have occurred which show that the African
slave trade is carried on tolerated. another sspot
In the civilized world besides Cuba II IL fact that slaves
from Africa have lately been landed and disposed Of the
attcmpt COnccalment,
and that hitherto tho attempts that have been made
bring the importers and the purchasers of the said African
slaves TO Justice have been wholly unavaing II s proper
therefore, that shoud In any case suppress tho slave
trade between Africa and tho United States Of America
before we interfere with the trade Cuba That trade is
contrary to law In Cuba well In the United States,
and thus In theory well In practice the to
DO at present. 80 far this subject Ia concerned
somewhat similar footing with the other
The RIGHT OF sEARCT Conceded
The President himself remarks that the late serious
dhculties between the United States and Great Britain
tba
MS own showing, hcn the possession Of Cuba by the
United states not necessary for that purpose and h
hoped that such difficulties will not again, that IL
they should again occur they will again be brought
TO like happy termination. The undersigned Of