Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-04-28

not in favor ol putting Secretary Fish under the
necessity of following Mr. Seward example hl
informing the Spanish Minister that what thi.
House Of Representatives may do or vote in re
spcct to Cuba is of no sort OF consequence MOI
DO ! think it adds much TO the dignity or position
or strength of this House us part of the govern
ment, to pass aWsolutOn which is 20 be explain
ed away hy the executive department, very mucl
as it would explain the resolutions which might
be adopted by Cuban iuuta, or by mass meet
ing If we have not the constitutional right q
declare what governments shall and what shall
not he recognized, what rehellions shall and wha
shall not be encouraged, we shall not only main
tain our own sel-rcspect, but add 10 the respect
in which our actions and votes are held by the
people and by the other branches of the govern
ment, by " mastery inactivity on this and
similar subjects and five have the constitution
al right to have any declaration we make in re-
gard to Cuba respected by anybody that deCaru
ton should not be made until it is warranted b.,
the law of nations and the practice Of this gov
eminent.
In the case Of Cuba that time has not yet ar
rived. 1t is not improper for me to state thai
the Committee ON Foreign Relations had belOr,
them no official information whatever respecting
the actual condition Of the Instruction. We
had the newspaper reports, as members OF this
House have had them from day 10 day, but they
establish nothing except that there is am nsurrec
ton in some parts of the island. One of the last
laisputchcs which, have seen from Havana gives nc
news, because all the reports from the interior
were 50 contradictory and unreliable as to b,
worthy Of no crelonce The insurrccton ha,
been in existence for five months only, and has
made yet but very little progress in getting con
troll of the important parts of the island. IL ha,
yet possession OF no sen port, and has not put IT,
self in such position as 20 be accorded even bel
ligerent rights. An English gentleman. in a re
cent letter from the " seat oil war; saws he ha,
been travelling from place to place in search OF tn,
instruction, but had been unable 10 find it Il
was always in advance or in rear Of him, or some
where else than where he was. 1t has as yet no
so far 80 consolidated itself, 10 use the word en-
plOyed by Mr.. Clay, as to have form Of govern
ment, but is understood 10 be under the direction
of juntas; and branch iuntas, notice, are being
established in this country. Whatever there j.
Of this Instruction, whatever hope the people o
the Island or the friends Of liberty anywhere ma,
have that out Of this rebellion will come the rip,
fruit OF free government it is yet in the word,
of Mr.. Clay, an immature revolution which
has no claims whatever for recognition by oui
government or by us In point Of time, then, a,
well as in point of fact the action asked for is pre-
mature, and being premature is, for that yer,
reason, in violation of the duty we owe to
friendly state-a duty which does not permit u
to depart from the strictest neutrality and which
demands that we take no action which shall give
moral aid to the insurrectiOnlsts in Cuba.
! should not Object, MIR. Speaker, If there wer,
any need OF our taking action, in urging the re-
cognition OF established governments upon an Ex-
ecutye who had shown by years of inacton n
hesitation IN recognizing such governments. Thi,
was the occasion of the passage Of Mr. Clay's res
olution respecting the provinces OF South Ameri-
ca in 1921 That Tesoluton-and this is modelled
after Twas not offered in Congress until long
after the revolutions in the Spanish provinces had
become a success and it was intended, without
doubt, as the mildest possible way of saying 70
President Monroe that he had been quite too Slow
IN ms recognition OF those States \ committee
waited upon the President with IT., thus showing
the object OF the House IN passing 1t and the re-
iusll OF the House 10 amend the resolution by the
addition OF clause approving the President 5
course, sufficiently indicates the cause Of the ac-
ton. Indeed, the debate upon that resolution
SHOWS that It's purpose was TO urge the President
to take action which the House believed right
and ought to have been taken years before, Have
we any such cause for putting spurs to a dilatOry
EIecutNeE
II, then, there Is no warrant IN the law Of ma
IONS, or III the practice OF this government, for
the passage OF this resolution, why should vote
aorh!
Is inc occasion fortunate one TO lnaugurate a
new pohcy OF foreign lnteryentiOn2 Are we quite
reauy 70 mke not only step IN advance OF our
own former practice, but a long step in advance
Vi .he practlce OF all other Powers, IN giving aid
anu comfort 70 instructions against established
governments Are the Alabama claims against
England resting ON such sure basis of interna-
liohai law that we can wisely send an official vote
VI inyilpa.Ly 70 an instruction which yet has
hslther srength nor organized lormf II the pco-
PIE OIL Jamaica were in revolt would we send the
SINE WorI OF cheer to them Shall we act the
part oil n bully and shake our fists in the face of
2paih, When we would not do the same thing 10
france OF England
10 not oppose TINS resolution, Mr.. Speaker,
because as an individual have no sympathy with
Peope struggling Tor their liberty against des-
Pouc power may not be so sanguine as some
ol my colleagues that out OF this instruction will
Sone stable iree, Republican government.
sum- OF the rOse-cOlored visions OF free govern
,l'on' IN spanish America have hardly been real
heu, IL tue people OF Cuba desire to live under
form OF government of their own choice | hone
they may establish such government Ger
' ANY n9uil ana should hope this govern
liient would put no obstacle in their way. When
q revolution throws of despotic authority and
pilngs IN ana eNaDhSheS government OF the peo-
Ple, would have all haste consistent with well
eslaDlished principles OF international law made
~ us recognition But as government, or as
nialvn Oh 'he government, we cannot take sides
70 uly Way with an instruction which has not
,i1 SuSces without putting ourselves in an
a''ituue vi hosuhty 10 the government against
Mnlcn tne lhsurreclon has been set on foot, Yet
TINS resolution, II 1t means anything, gives and
sas Intended TO give moral support, aid, and COM
ipI 70 the Insurgents IN Cuba. 1t is an official
ueel1i"tloh Oh one branch OF the government, pur
Posey 80 Phras9d as not to require the assent Of
S osneI pIneh o. ihe government to give II life,
oPo tnS Oupas WIN succeed IN their re-
peilion agaiilst SPAN 10 arrays this House of
1 ON the side OF the insurgents, and
y no. iess nostlle m het, although it may be in
n,uius, 70 w provisional government OF Spain
. t'an II 14ull &c u II proposed armed interen
uUn. ~ = 3ot addressed to spain, but to the in
oIEcss 10 indco o tho rs ogeIt Is not by friendly