Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-15

I
completing, the annexation of great empires
in Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and
the whole world is agitated with projects of
conquest and annexation, what nation ex-
cept one governed by set of old fools,
would bind itself against acquisitionsof of ter
ritory, by complicated restrictions which
can never be complied with until the time
for action is passed? Such an act would be-,
! not the madness that is the forerunner OF
I destruction, but the folly which shows that
there is nothing to destroy. Yet, this is Sc
riously talked of as one of the provisions of
the Border Conference for restoring the
Union. Nor is there any other provision agi-
tated in that Conference that does not show
the same driveling idiocy.
Six years ago line dividing the territory
of the United States between freedom and
slavery was declared unconstitutional, de-
structive of the equality of the States, an ex-
clusion of the South from the territory ac-.
quired by the common blood and treasure,
and an odious disability upon their institu-
tions; and that this dividing line must be
abolished to make the Union such an one as
| they could endure. 1t was abolished and
now a set Of old political midwives ar$try-
ing to bring forth dividing line to bring the
| South back into the Union. Up to the
| Presidential election, this line of 36o 80, was
alleged as one of the wrongs which the South
had suffered in this Union.
The line which, in 1854, was repealed, be-
cause ii would split the Union, is now to be
re.enacttd, with new provisions, to make
the distinction BROADER to reconstruct the
Union. And not only :that, but it is now pro-
posed to establish constitutional distinctions
between free and slave States, by giving the
slave States control of the officers in the
slave Territories, and the free States the
control of officers in the free Territories, 50
that we shall have double-headed and
fo1k-tailed Confederacy. The invidious dis
tinction which had to be repealed in the
new Territory, because it violated the fun
damental principle of our Government, and
endangered the Union must now be made
broader in the Territory, and extended to
the States, and to all departments of the
General Government, in order to recon-
And this cropping in Egyptian darkness, this
dollhouse play of children, this driveling
of second childhood, we call our triumph
ant experiment of self government.
AT the beginning of the present homage,
which by melancholy jest is called an Ad-
ministration, the President announced that
the acquisition of Cuba would satisfy his life
and then like good old Simeon, he would
gladly depart in peace. The Democratic
Senator from Pennsylvania, who acted as his
organfn the Senate, proposed $4Oo. OOO 900 as
the price that we would be willing to pay. A
little while before. the same President under
the manipulation of Southern politicians,
signed a manifesto declaring to the world
our right to seize Cuba, whenever we saw fit
to do it, as a provision for our national
safety.
In less than four years we have the doc
trine established by the practice of the same
President, and under the lead of the same
Ostend politicians, that if we had purchased
and annexed Cuba, and paid our $4OO, ,0OO,-
900 for it, we should only have conferred on
; it sovereign independence, and the right to
declare the compact with US at an end. Now
the same Southern politicians who then de.
claIed the right of this nation to seize any
contiguous or neighboring territory, which
it might regard as necessary to its national
! safety, and which might be in danger o.
falling into the hands of the great European
Powers have established the doctrine that
! ba bas IN
isting national boundaries; and they are ne
gotiating for the intervention of the very
European Powers in this nation, for their
assistance, whose anticipated intervention
in the affairs of Cuba, the Ostend Manifesto
declared would justify this Government in
seizing Oaba by force.
But month or two ago the Monroe doc.
trine, that no European Power should be al
lowed to make further acquisitions on this
Continent was supposed to be in full virtue.
Now, part of the States of this Republic
are negotiating for French Intervention in
this Government, and it affects to be power
less to stopit. Furthermore, it has justified
and warranted it by its own abdicaton OF
its legitimate powers.
Another. trap, which is proposed as part
of the remedy for the present difficulties, is
contained in the Crittenden plan, and which
shows how well meaning men, who take
counsel of fear instead of principle, are will
ing to lay up future agitation and danger as
the price Of temporary quiet. This has been
the policy of old men, from Hezekiah to this
time. This is the provision that the estab.
lishment of slavery in all territory South OF
the line, shall include all future acquisitions.
Northern men, still weaker, and demented
by the idea that there is no question but
slavery, regard this as of but little conse-
quence, because the restriction upon aequi-
sitions of territory would prevent the opera
tion of the establishment of slavery to ac-
quired territory.
Have we SO sson forgotten the way that
our Mexican acquisitions were made; how
we invaded nation with which we were at
peace and then upon their resistance de-
elared that War existed by the act of Mex
leo :" and then pronounced every man a
traitor to his country who did NOT subscribe
to the lie, and vote supplies for the war qOr
the defense of the nationP The question Of
, acquisition came long after the acquisition
, was made. Then it was treason TO the
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