Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-04-29

Early III the session, Mr.. Speaker, the
member from Massachusetts, Mr. Banks
introduced, for reference To the committee
on Foreign Affairs, the following:
joint resolution 10 authorize the recognition OF
the Independence If Cuba
"B. II yts0lred bg ne S,Hate aad HJUss II R,j-
i,ssHtatirss of ne J0it,d .St4t.S az .lH,,Jicl IL
Compress 0SseDiJisd That tie people 81 The United
states sympathile with the patriotic people OF
Span IN their eli rts 20 establish the liberties OF
the Spanish nation.
SIC. ,. 1Bd6 he Hfaytisr res0irsd. That recog-
niz'ng the principle of tie absolute sovereignty
of the people, upDu which they believe all JUST
governments 10 be founded, the people Of the
United states sympathizs with the people OF Cuba
III their efforts to secure their Incc pend. nee an,
will welcOTn" to the family OF independent nations
I a republican government that guarantees the ib-
erfy of all persons.
SIC. 3. Ind Be n ytafn,er rsSolr,1. That the
Pres dent i hereby authorized To recognize the
independence of uba wheney or in hi~ opinion a
republican form Of government shall have teen
in fact established -
1t became very soon quite clear to those
favoring an expression of sympathy with
the Cuban revolution, that such express
sion had better not, for the sake of con-
sstency, be coupled with declaration of
kind regard for the liberal movement in
Spain, inasmuch as the rebellion in Cuba
was an attempt to overthrow, in that
island, the authority of the new Spanish
provisional government, which had re
Gently, and with expressions of cordial
regard, been recognized by Us. The Lib
eralists in Spain would not thank us for
sending them friendly greetings on their
success, If we at the same time expressed,
however guardedly, a wish that they
might be robbed of the fairest Jewel in
their possession. Such "A kiss would be
blistering rather than congratulatory
The expression of sympathy with 1.-THE
patriotic people of Spain, in their efforts
to establish the liberties of the Spanish
nation" was accordingly dropped from
the resolution.
A fear, l presume, of the action of the
Senate upon a joint resolution of this
character, led to a further modification OF
the measure, and it comes before us to-
day as House resolution, in this form
Reso,yed By The House of Regresentdtiyes That
the people OF the United States sympathize with
the people of Cuba in their patriotic efforts 10
cure their independence and establish a repubi-
can form OF government, guaranteeing the per-
sonal liberty and the equal political rights of all
the people; and the House of Representatives
Will give its constitutional support 10 the Pres-
dent of the United States whenever. in his opin-
fact established, and he may deem it expedIent
to recognize the independence and sovereignty OF
such republican government.
As a member of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, l was unable to agree
with the majority in reporting this reso-
luton; and will briefly give my reasons
for that disagreement, and for my vote
against this quasi recognition of an, as
yet, unsuccessful rebellion.
This resolution, or the proposed action
of this House, in my Judgment, has no
warrant in the law or comfy of nations,
is unprecedented in the action of our gov
eminent, is opposed to every construction
which we have ever put upon our duties
as neutral power, is unnecessary, can
answer no good purpose whatever, and, 90
far a. it Las any force as q legislativeex-
preston, can only serve to complicate our
relations with Spain, put Ms in false at
tituds in our complaints against England !