The New York herald., 1869-12-17
cuba Roterc Copxres.-The Extraordinary

Cuba Before Copsress-The Extraordinary
Position of the Administration.
The first significant sounds of the popular
voice through Congress on the subject Of Cuba
were heard in the Senate on Wednesday. On
that occasion Mr.. Carpenter, the able Senator
from Wisconsin, called up his resolution. OF
which notice had been given the day before,
declaring ''that, in the opinion of the Senate,
the thirty gunboats contracted for in the
United States by or in behalf of the govern
ment Of Spain, to be employed against the
revolted district of Cuba, shoud rot be allowed
to depart from the United States during the
continuance Of that rebellion" Ii spite of the
opposition OF Mr.. Sumner the Senate agreed to
take up the resolution, and thus the discussion
on the Cuban question was commenced. This
was the mode adopted to bring the whole sub
iect before the Senate and to prevent it being
buried or squelched In Mr. Sumner 5 Committee
on Foreign Affairs, though the mover OF the
resolution had no expectation, probably, of
any Congressional action in time to prevent
the departure Of the first division of the Spanish
gunb0at5 from New ofk.
The administration had forestallel, so far,
the action Of Congress. 1t seemed to be i'm
patient to aid the Spaniard5 and to make war
upon the poor Cubans, and, therefore, would
not wait few days only to hear what Con
grcss would saw Pretending to defer The
whole question of Cuba to the representatives
Of the people, the administration suddenly re-
leased the gunboats before Congress had time
10 act and in this manner attempted to influ-
ence Congress- The government has really
become an ally Of Spain against the Cubans,
! and has made war npon that brave people just
as much as if il had sent United States troops
or ships-or-war to crush the patriots. The
shallow pretence of neutrality or enforcing the
laws will deceive no one for we all know that
the administration, which detained the gun
boats up to few days ago, could have held
them, if il wished, for week or two longer,
till Congress could act in the matter.
The American people will be astounded as
this assumption and treachery of the adminis-
tration when they have time to reflect upon
the matter. But when we speak OF the
administration in connection with this subject
we are disposed to except the President,
though he is the head Of the government and
in a measure responsible for the conduct of
the Secretary Of State and other members of
the Cabinet. General Grant, we have no
doubt is the friend of Cuba He has ex-
pressed that on several occasions, and
throughout his whole public career he has
shown the most ardent patriotism, love of
liberty, progressive American ideas, broad
national views, and the warmest sympathy
| for the oppressed. We saw this in The case
Of Mexico, when he was ready to march an
army TO drive ont the European intruders, to
liberate the Mcxicans from foreign imperial
power, and 10 yindieatc The Monroe doctrine
Of America for the Americans. Nor do we
believe his heart or character has changed.
Bat General Gram does not comprehend fully
foreign questions, and, trained in the school of
military discipline, he is disposed TO leave the
business OF the various departments Of gov
erament to those who have charge of these
departments and who are supposed to under
stand what is best to be done. Hence, in the
case of Cuba, he has relied upon the repre-
sentations of the Secretary Of State.
The Secretary, who is weak, tmd and
incapable man for great affairs beyond the
more routine OF bis Office has been Influenced,
probably, by Spanish agents, and among
these by bis own son-ia-law, who, IL is
reported, receives q fee, or bribe, or what
ever It may be called, of forty thousand dol
lars year from Spain. He has been innu-
enccd, too, no doubt, by Senator Sumner,
the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs in the Senate, who is the enemy of
Cuba. because. forsooth. he imagines that any