Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-02-24
Congressional.
Tuesday.

TUE OuDt question:.
Mr.. Crttenden commenced by admitting the
Importance and Instability of Cuba, the resi-
dence and resting place Of Columbus. He also
admitted the Presidents constitutional right to
negotiate for it without legislation nay, more
If the President succeeds in acquiring it by
honorable MEANS there are few who would not
hail the acquisition. But he (Crittenden) did
not regard success as certain. On the contrary,
no time can be more inopportune.
W hen the message Was promulgated, what
echo was returned from all Spain, indeed, from
all Europe, and even from the down .trodden
province of Cuba Spanish pride was touched.
The Cubans refused to be bought and sold. We
slve the authority OF the Spanish Government
that, not only is Spain not conciliated by our
manner Of approaching her, but considers it as
an insult Would the President have written
that message, had he known it would be 50 con-
sidered?
Mr.. Marcy to Mr.. Soule, in 1858, says it was
not expedient then to offer to purchase the is
land and how much stronger were the crcum-
stances now? If the President, in the face of
the Spanish declaration, makes the offer now,
how can he avoid the imputation Of premedita-
ted insult? God speed him, however, in his
negotiation, and save us from those probable
complications and wars, of which this same Gu
ba may be the cause Diplomacy, instead of
now pressing the obnoxious offer, should rather
leave it open and seek to renew it in some one
of the thousand events that occur in the fate of
nations. Suppose Spain were to sell-suppose
England and France, who propose q tripartte
treaty, were to permit her to sell the island she
holds as trustee - where are we to get the
money? We have been obliged to 60 in debt
for our household expenses. We have raised
one loan for market money, and another is
wanted. Tho Treasurer emits funeral sound
when we knock fer money, for mono is there.
He did not mean to say the country cannot
produce any amount of men and money, but it
is more convenient to do so at one time than
another. Is.it convenient now to have fastened
on us and our children ten million per annum
interest on q two hundred million loan for the
purchase of Cuba? Mr.. Crittenden here made
depression to speak of Central America and
other weak States once it was the policy, he
said, of the American government to maintain
friendly feeling with all the nations of the
Continent. lie remembered when the American
name was loved, when it was dear to the strug-
Cling Republics, the declarations of en-
couragement that had been spoken by the voice
of Henry Clay were read at the head of their
armies. How have we lost all this? Read the
message, and there you will see that we are at
variance with Mexico, Costa Rica,' and Gaute-
mala, and that we are buried in difficulties
from the Feejee Islands to the Spanish throne
Do all these spccks of war augur well the reve
nue.?
Yet bill is now pending to place the militia
ny and naval forces in the hands of the Presi
dent, and above the action of Congress. Hal
any one the constitutional power to make wa
except Congress? No. But you can hold {
threat over these small States, make them trem
BILE, and settle any claim whenever it shall APP
pear good to the President to do it. Mr.. Crit
tenden did not think it worthy the magnani
nous character of our country to hunt out tn
weak and let the strong 60 free.
If the bill should pass, can we expect to b
at peace, when we have, even now, to renew
our geographical knowledge to know where tn
places are with which we have the difficulties
He referred, in illustration, to the Paragua ex
petition, the greatest Armadasthat ever left on
shores, saying it was to fight Lopez, a Paragua
chief, who, in power and ability was not equa
to John Ross, the Cherokee chief. He then re
ferrcd to the proposed seizure of the somewha
populous State of Sonora and chihuahua, t
defend the frontier of the wilderness poeticall
called Arizona.
The bill was msot unwisc 1t was to enabl
the President to make little wars with little pee
pie. He then reviewed the Ostend manifesto
and its implied hint that if Spain will not sell
we will take. The President supports his de
mand for thirty millions of dollars BY the OK
ample of Jefferson, but the cases are not paral
lei. Before the treaty is assented to by Congress
and even if Congress never consent, the Pres
dent can draw the money, and take its sal
keeping into his own hands.
The President himself may be above suspicion
but the Constitution does not entrust him wit
one dollar The hands of the Executive shout
be pure and unsoiled by money. He should b
unsupported, and not even exposed to the un
escapable suspicion of money-dealing. Furthe
it is unconstitutional because it augments tn
Presidents power, and destroys the balance be
tween the States.
Mr. Slidel and Mr. Davis here interposed
saying that this money is no more under tn
control Of the President than is an ordinary az
preparation for foreign intercourse
Mr.. Crittenden resumed If we had Cuba
and had paid two hundred millions for 1T, h
would say to her, We have rescued you froi
European tyranny, and have saved you from BIZ
ing bulwark against us in the hands of an
European power-establish free and indepenc
ent government of your own protecting it wi
be better for you, and we believe for us. II
did not want to see our Anglo-Saxon race ming
ling with people who do not understand or AZ
preciate our institutions, and he did not thin
our country's greatness was to be increased b
adding acre to acre. but by filling it with art
and industry. He believed that this Who'll
scheme of policy would burst like a bubble.
The bill is a mere piece of fanfaronade; it
part of the fireworks now got ablaze to give
different complexion and hue to the rather darl
ened features of the administration party
Adjourned
HoUsE.-Mr. Grover, member from Oregon
was qualified.
The House went into Committee on the Ind
an Appropriation bill
Mr.. Stanton of Ohio spoke in favor of r
trenchment. The appropriation bills, he sail
ore returned from the Senate uniformly loadt
with additional millions, and the House is con
PEELED to aequiesce, or leave the Administrative
without the means of carrying on the govern
inent. He alluded to corruptions in the Nav
Yard and elsewhere, and charged that the i
creased expenditures might be traced to the
corruptions. The expenditures increased as Il
exigencies of the Democratic party increase
and he despaired of seeing any eifactu
retrenehment 80 long as these expenditui
are made the spols of yictors, as he referred
the conflicting views of the President and 81
rotary of the Treasury relative to the prop
mode of adjusting the revenue. lie alluded
the fraud arising from false invoices and fal
valuations in the customs, and said that und
an honest system forty per cent, more won
have been received into the treasury. lie co
tended there should be a radical change frc
all valorem to specific duties, and discriminate
in favor of domestic manufactures. Adj.
Wednesday, Feb. L..
SENArE--The Cuba bill came up IN the 5,
cial order, and Mr.. Thompson of Ky, adore
ed the Senate and an audience of over two tho
Il IL