Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-03-18
MIR. Bells Great Speech on the
Cuba Question. ...,

| CuDd tIu6SCIOQ. t-a.a.a
The following just compliment to Mr..
Bell We find in letter from "Indepen.
dent" the we'll informed correspondent Of
the United States Gazette 1fra
Mr.. Bell closed the debate on Cuba, IN
perhaps the most powerful, eloquent and
convincing exposition Of the whole ques-
ton, yet heard in Congress. Like all his
great efforts, the subject was treated with
the reach and comprehension of a states.
man who surveyed the whole ground, from
no small elevation, where but single or
sectional prospect could be gained, but
from the broad and high promontory,
where its gains and losses, its probable
consequences, and its connection with tho
present and future could be calmly con.
templated with reference to their bearing
upon the destiny and progress and pros.
perty of the Union. Connecting this pros
position with the one to confer extraordi4
nary power upon the President, with the
control of the army and navy, he consid-
cred it as one of the most monstrous and
dangerous innovations upon ouf free insti-
tutio"s, ever attempted or endorsed. No
doubt could be entertained but these party
issues were intended to succeed others.
which had heretofore distracted the peace
Of the country, and to renew that fierce
agitation which had divided the north and
south, merely to promote political success.
He deprecated any such experiments, as
reasonable to the Constitution and Union.
According to his view our true policy
was to cultivate amicable relations with
Spain, and if tie time should come when
she might be willing to part with Cuba, we
would then be in a condition to acquire il,
without involving any of the serious inter.
national complications that seemed newt
able from a harsh and compulsory demand
now, which puts acquisition beyend all pos
sibility, without war, to which England
and France must necessarily become par
ties and in that contingency being proba-
bic, tho country could form some idea of
how this Administration would act from
the retreat which its head ordered on Orr
egon, when the British dock yards gave
signs of resistance to the claims of 81 40.
that he had declared before the world to
be clearly and unquestionably" the A.
merican title.
Mr.. Bell traced the beginning of what
he called the fllibustering era to the war
in Mexico, and showed how it had extend
ed through each democratic Adminstra-
ton since then, until Mr.. Buchanan had
avowed territorial expansion to be law OF
our existence. He illustrated by the down.
fall Of other republics, what must be the
effects of such policy here, contending
that, with an immense area, doubling the
Roman Empire in her proudest period and
two-thirds greater than all Europe, our
first care should be to develope and i'm.
prove what We have, and then pursue the
path of progress wisely and surely. This
passion or acquisition would yet bring to
us only fruits like that OF the Dead Sea.
In this view it was little less than pub
lie calamity, that, Immediately after q
sweeping financial revulsion, with its effects
yet prostratiug all the great interests of
domestic industry and commerce, with the
revenues hardly half of the expenditures;
with the treasury nearly bankrupt, and
with labor crying out for bread and pro-
lection, perncious measure like this
. should be thrust upon Congress without
pretext even to justify it.
This speech made a decided impression
upon all sides, as rejecting the convictions
, Of sagaeious and patriotic statesman
whose counsel and wisdom claimed consid4
Grafton just as his high public and eminent
private character has always invoked the
respect of the country, without respect to
party. Its instruction should be treasured
up as the parting advice of one Of the last
of that noble race Of men who is soon TO
leave eplace he now SO much honors, to
be called again it is hoped, at no distant
day, into the service Of country to which
he has devoted SO many years of disinter-
:. ested patriotism, unsullied integrity and
, upright zeal.