Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-29
CUBAN ANNEXATfON

From various causes into which it is not now
necessary to examine the acquisition of terrific
ny, either by purchase or conquest, has general
ly been popular with majority of the people
of this country. 1t is not even pretended that
the constitution of the United States confers
upon any or all of the departments of our gov
eminent the power under which annexation can
be legtimately made yet, it is worthy of note
that the additions to our original territorial
area which have been successfully made, have
been chiefly effected by that party which claims
to be opposed to a Capitalization of federal pow
er and in favor of a rigid construction of the
constitution But annexation has been popular
and no doubt will continue to be, at least with
the class known as "Young America" That
ambitious set Of our people look upon expan-
sion very much as their fathers do upon legit-
innate increase of their farms-an evidence Of
their prosperity They seem to be governed
by the same sort of principle that controlled
the parent when he told his son John to "get
money, honestly if you can, but be sure and get
it."
The acquisition of Cuba seems now to be the
pet measure of the administration. Ever since
the appearance OF the Ostend manifesto, when
Buchanan was minister to England, it has been
known that if elected President he would make
this scheme the ultimatum of his administra-
ton. His subsequent declarations have but
confirmed these expectations. a senator, high
in the confidence of the executive has taken the
initiatory by the introduction of bill placing
thirty millions of dollars in the hands of the
President with which to commence negotiations
That bill has been favorably reported by the
Senate committee on foreign affairs and receiv-
ed its first consideration on Monday.
From recent discussion upon that portion
OF the Presidents message relating to Cuba and
its purchase, in the Spanish Cortcs, it is evident
that SPAN will listen to no propositions looking
toward the sale of that island by Spain. A res
olution to that effect was unanimously passed.
1t cannot be that the administration in view of
this contingency entertain any hopes that
peaceable annexation can be effected, for the
present at least. Under these circumstances il
looks as if our government were either bound
to effect by force what they cannot peacefully
accomplish, or that the administration, finding
Its domestic policy miserable failure was bound
to draw attention to this matter of annexation
and make it the democratic shibboleth for the
next campaign. The latter alternative looks
much the most reasonable, although we have no
sort of doubt the administration would not hes
itate to involve us in war with Spain if il
could thereby maintain the democracy in DOW
er.
As popular sovereignty is q spawned hack
the battle-cry in the next canvass, and what can
be more feasible than that of the acquisition of
CubaP Texas elected Polk and why should
not Cuba make the nominee of the Charleston
convention equally successful? Wemay there
fore accept it as a fixed fact that upon this ques-
ton of annexation the next presidential cam
pagn is to be lost or won. 1t is well to start
inseasonf orif thenext House of Representatives
is in the hands of the opposition, as present APP
pearances indicate, the opportunity for serious
ly agitating the matter will be over This view
of the case may explain the earnestness with
which the leading friends urge the appropria-
ton Of the thirty millions.