The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-03
rCantir,led from first paae.l

authorize the President 10 move the army into
Mexico, which can cost nothing less than
$l00,000,000 more and at the same time, in
pursuance of Recommendations of the same
weight and authority, we are asked 10 authorize
him to employ the army and the navy against
just so many Spanish American States on this
continent as he shall choose, which can require
nothing less than $1,000 900 more; so, with
out any financial system at all, we are to have
great debt created by this Congress of the
United States, on the recommendation and ap
pfeation Of the President to strengthen the arm
of the Executive, while weakening the power
AID the constitutional force of the Senate
and the House of Representatives debt of
S500,OO0,0OO.
The honorable Senator from Rhode Island
Mr.. SIMMONS the other day spoke in glowing
terms, and yet most justly, of the credit of the
[ nited States, and showed that with the small
debt that We now have, a nominal debt, we can
90 into the market, and with FIVE per cent
stock borrow money at premium, or perhaps
borrow money on four per cent stock, any
where in the markets of the world. That is be-
cause we are noyices, inexperienced, untried,
and unknown in the money market, except for
paying such small debts as we have made But
sir when We shall have shown that we can in
crease our debt in forty days. for that is the
period which remains Of this session. from
Il
press the opinion that the rate of interest will
be found 10 rise in proportion to the liberality
with which We propose to borrow. In that case,
you viii find your revenue derived from all
sources scarcely more than enough to pay the
interest of the debt which you shall thus have
created, leaving no funds whatever for carrying
on the ordinary operations Of the Government
This however, 1t might be said, is q fanci-
full picture, because the bill appropriates only
$4,000, 900, and not the whole $3.50, 600, 600,
which ! have supposed. Nevertheless, sir, it
apIrJpriates the whole amount which the Pres
ideut shall write IN the treaty. We give him
blank draft Gu the Treasury, and authorize him
TO iiil up the amount for himself / have sup
posed be will hli il up with S250,000, 900. But
am told that we can retreat from this contract
With Spain if We find it too expensive, and
abandon the measure without paying the add
tionai sum Skich he President may write in the
treaty. Slowly Snd carefully, Mr.. President,
let Us consider. Certainly, cannot retreat
from 1t without lorfciting the $4,000, 900 which
will have been paid. That condition will operate
a constraint upon Congress TO appropriate
all the remaining millions which the President
may stipulate, and it will equally operate as a
constralnt upon the Senate TO ratify the treaty,
whatever sum may be stipulated by its pro-
visions.
Again, sir, no one can suppose that the Pres
ident would pay the $50 100000 in advance to
Spain, witho out securing possession of the Island
of Cuba. When he has once obtained the island
Of Cuba, and paid S30,000,000 as an advance
upon the consideration money of the purchase,
the treaty will be q contract executed, and
Spain and the whole world would laugh with
derision at the pretence that we could resoind
the contract and repudiate the remaining debt
on the ground that we had then looked into our
Constitution, and had found that we had violated
1t in passing the law by which we had authorized
she President TO make the inprovident bargain
Sir, this Is a plan of fnansia management TO
which / am a stranger. 1t is the province Of
the Congress Of the United States to take care
Of the public Treasury, and to see that every
dollar that is received remains there until by
appropriation bills limited ID single objects, and
each bill enduring for only tFo years, the money
is expended by agents, under their own direc-
hon and authority, for obje9s appointed, fixed,
and certain. The effect of this measure is to
surrender the control over large portion of
the National treasure sud rekources-practica-
", over all that is valuable ID the Treasury-to
the President of the United States, without
retaining any effective security for his wise and
faithful administration Of it.
have said that the bill has also political
aspect. 1t proposes to bring into the United
States foreign country, seven hundred miles
long, and seventy miles wife, containing one
million FIVE hundred thousand human beings,
sublects-of government occupying practically
every foot upon It's sde-walAs in its cities, and
every acre Of mountain aud plain and valley in
the rural districts Of that island population
different entirely from the citizens Of the Uni
ted States; different in language, different in
race, different in habits different in manners,
different IN customs, aud radically different
IN religion a population that WILL practically
forever hold The power to exclude all Amer-
can immigration, at least 10 exclude it az
effectually as the old States Of Europe exclude
our migration there, and as effectually as our
old-established States practically exclude immi-
grafton from outside of their borders. This
population, then, is 70 be the ruling population
of that island. What rights will citizens of the
United States enjoy there? The one million
Eve hundred thousand souls are divided one
half whites, TWO hundred and fifty thousand free
blacks. aud four hundred thousand slaves. What
institutions OF justice, of freedom, of religion,
and public worship, viii obtain or remain there?
/ need 10 know. Ii | were willing to leave
these great questions to the President Of the
United States / have 10 right TO do so. / have
q voice, one vi sxty-iour voices to determine
whether such country shall be brought into
the United States, and Oh what terms and con-
diuons. Joined with my colleague, We have
one Of thiJJ-twO voices on these mighty, ques-
lions The power 10 speak involves a con-
stitutional responsibility 70 express the voice of
the State Ct New York upon such measure,
aud on al It's important details, before i. shall
be adopted.
lave already shown that the consent Of the
Senate TO the passage Of this bill will operate as
a consiFain; upon the Senate to ratify whatever
treaty The President shall make hereafter If
this be true, land 10 one, / think, can contro-
CERT it, then ! an asked to resign a constitu-
fioEal senatorial power TO the President of the
United States. and 10 shift from nv own shout.
ders 10 his constitutional responsibility.
To do this, Is derogation of the iudepend-
ence OF The constitutional power of the Senate
OF the United States, and practical subversion
of tie constitutional check which requires that
every treaty shall receive the votes of two-thirds
of this Doav, or be absolutely void. Il practi-
cally delegates to bare majority of the Senate,
and 10 a majority Of the House OF Representa-
tives, tie tTeaty-nanng power Of this great
empire.
Sir, # there ever was an occasion on which !
should adhere tenaciouSy to this right and in
sist upon retaining this power, it would be in
such case as this. 1 want TO see the treaty
which shall bring the Island of Cuba into tue
United States. / want to know the status
which that country is TO occupy Is it to be ter
ritUry OF subjects, OF political slaves province
governed by armies and navies, as Spain now
governs il? ! may ask the President of the
United States, when he has executed the treaty.
Is II 10 be a State? may ask the President of
the United States, when he has executed the
treaty. Who are 10 be the electors of the State
What Is to be the status OF the white pepula-
ton? Are they TO enjoy universal suffrage