Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-03-12

Of the discipline is. If can get a private
conversation with my friend from Illinois (Mr.
Douglas, before leave here, should ike to
know il he has not learned something on that
subject. [Laughter.l wish, just privately
and confidentially, to know from him if the
discipline is not excessively tight. If was
to 60 in, do not know upon what sort of pro-
baton or trial should be put suppose it
would be long enough to make them certain
that they had got all the old, genuine, gentle
manly, Wing principles and feelings out of me,
and that really had the true religion, and was
converted. Then they might put nae in the
kitchen of the household of the Locofocos
until they believed 1 was really Christian,
and showed it evidently. do not know how
| should be treated. think l shall look
little further before 60 in. .... ..r..,.r
[ say platforms are fixed up in that way for
the Presidency. Now, do not know what
may be the result of the next Presidential el-
ection. expect to take no part in it. l have
been favored much by my own State of Ken
lucky, cherished beyond my merit, upheld al
ways, until recently, when my successor was
elected. love her, even as q strong hearted
man loves his own mother. Whatever may
De her waywardness in politics, or my own
fortunes, | can only say that hope that all
day long the dews Of Heaven may fall lightly
upon her fields and upon her forests. and the
sunshine set brightly upon them.
Mr.. President, my strength is failing me,
but I must say something more. l utterly
condemn this rampant spirit and cry for war.
It is wrong cry; it is wrong teaching for
the country; and predict that, if we get into
a calamitous war with France and with Eng
land on this account, we shall repent it to the
last day of our lives. Do not pass this unne-
cessary bill, and insult neighbor by this
proposition, which is every way unadvised
and uncalled for. When you get into a war.
you will find that fighting John Bull is not
talking. When England sent men here in the
last war, and burned this Capitol. It was a
mere by-play for her. She was upholding all
continental Europe then, against the colossal
power Of Napoleon; and yet she came here
just as by-p play, and troubled us as she did.
Our people think we whipped England, and
you hear them say throughout the country
that we whipped w ellington's invincibles and
they believe that we absolutely whipped the
veterans who fought the battle Of Waterloo,
although that battle was not fought until the
18th of June after the 9th Of January, when
our battle of New Orleans was fought They
are stuffed in that way, and infamed with
war spirit.
Now, sir, you are here after Cuba. 1t seems
to be favorite project of Mr.. Buchanan. I
have not the time or ability to say all that
want to say, or to say it in such q style as
should like to be in trim to say it. think Mr..
Buchanan is hardly consistent upon this SUBJ
ject. When he was Secretary of State he
| wrote about it to Mr. Romulous NJ, Saunders.
onr Minister at Madrid a--rough, coarse, North
Carolina mana gentleman, though but I
reckon, from his manner, and his walk, and
his look, Qor he was ugly although he was
clever) the last man in the world to send up-
on such an errand. So keen and eager was
Mr.. Buchanan then to get Cuba, that he wrote
letter to Mr.. Saunders on the subject. I
will not put it in my speech, but will ask
somebody to comment on it who can explain
it. He told him to approach the Spanish Gov
eminent, not in the ordinary diplomatic way,
by notes, but to talk to the Spanish Minister
in sort of quasi unofficial conversation, in q
friendly chat. DO not send notes, because
they may bind the next Government against
us, but make the suggestion !" and he told him
how, in the most delicate and the most insinu-
atlng and plausible way, to approach the
Queens Government. One hundred million
dollars was the limit; and if the proposition
was not listened to, was not entertained at all,
Mr.. Saunders was to say, "Really, intend
ed nothing at all purposed no insult to
your Majesty" Here he comes again with
this proposition, now by sort of forced sale,
warming off all other bidders, and he wants
$3O, 100000 to start on. He viii never get
$50, OOO, 600 by my vote to hang as miHstCne
around my successors neck and if q treaty
were made IN that way, would vote to reject
it anyhow, even at the risk of losing the $780,
0OO, 600, just to vindicate the independence Of
the Senate.
Mr.. President, believe have spoken near
to the extent fmy strength and power to-
day. (The honorable gentleman, from physi-
cal debility, had been compelled to be seated
while he spoke.) I viii not ask for continu-
ance to any other day, because | know that
the time of the Senate is precious, I can onlv
say, in relation to this whole project that Il
will reagitate the country with the Slavery
question that it is, think, contrary 70 the
spirit of our institutions to put money in the
Presidents pocket, suppose to be sent to
Madrid, for Mr.. Preston to use in an emergen-
cy. l think it would be improper, unjust and
ungenerous to our successors, who are to rati-
~ the treaty, to take this advantage of them.
l think it is unfair way of negotiation. think
it would i3jure Louisiana above all the States
in the Union. l think that at this time we
ought to compact and bind together and build
up and strengthen what we have. We are
young Let the gristle grow into the bone:
let US get our muscles developed. Let us
feel strong before we enter into such a con-
test; let US cultivate the arts of peace, for
Peace hath its victories, no less renowned
than war"
That would be my policy, and hone it will
be the policy enforced upon the President by
Congress. I am going to look for some SEN
sible man for the next Presidency-a sound
man, 1 would rather he had no platform: I
do not want to run him in blind. I confess to
you that, in my opinion my colleague GMr.
Crittenden] would, Of all men on the face of
the earth, suit me the best. If YOU will give
him the chance, will risk him upon any Der
sonal confidence, without laying down creed
OF faith for him to 60 by; do not want to
stand man upon platform, or run him in
blind. =
Besides, these platforms are all nonsense.
Let me say to my friend, the Senator from
New York, he should ever be President 7
want him to recollect that this platform bus.
ness is all humbug; and when he gets in DOW
cr, to kick down the ladder by which he got
there. The two or three last platform Presi-
dents we have had, when they got in the car
Of State and safely seated, all around, every
where, you could see, do not stand on the
platform when the cars are in notion
Laughter. ] That is the way they manage it.
There is always some emergency, or something
% justify departure from it.
Well, sir, hope I shall be forgiven. I
,ave been to four or five conventions myself
IN accornt of Mr.. Clay, chiefly, and once, 1
believe, on account Of my colleague, to keep
Tim out of scrape Of some sort, and know
cool deal about them. In the time was in
politics, and we were dominant, 1 always