The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-01-10
NUMBER As

J very small as compared with the popu,
lation of Others; but when it comes to
admitting new States into the Union,
then / do say it is of most evil example
to give to forty or iftys thousand people
in one portion of the Union that coeqnal
right which is possessed by four million
people in New York; and therefore, il
there were no other reason than this,
am not prepared now, and would not be
1prepared in the case Fhave supposed, to
admit Dominica as State.
4 But, sir, passing from that, I am op-
1posed to it for another reason. TiIis
scheme contemplates the acquisition first
fof Dominica; secondly, it contelnplates
the acquisition of the remainder of the
lisland, the Republic of Hayti, by force
Eor by intrigue 1t contemplates that,
per fas autnyas Hayti too is to be an
nexed. That is the meaning OF If E6f
body can believe that if the United
States get Dominica they will stop there.
Nobody entertains any such opinion.
1.-THE whole, If not 'shoundless conti-
nent,' boundless island is to be ours it
we ever set a foot on ownership upon
one single inch of it.
The next objection / have to the
scheme is that the inevitable result Of it
must be an increase Of the army and
the navy. In my Judgment they are
both too great already. In my iude-
ment republican country needs nc such
great standing army, and the experience
of the last war proves that we need nD
great navy in time Of peace. But an.
mex Dominica, and forthwith you will
be compelled TO increase your army and
to increase your navy, and thereby III.
crease the expenses of the Government.
Again, sir, am opposed to the
scheme because it is another one Of the
mighty strides that have been takef, to-
ward centralizins all power in the Gen
eral Government, oserthrowing every
thing like the reserved rights OF the
States and the people. Once begin the
policy of having a set Of outlying
States, or having set of States peopled
with natives of different race from
ours, speaking different language from
ours, with different customs from ours,
different civilization from ours, and
the rule of the bayonet viii become al
most necessity and every instance If
bayonet rule that takes place in the
country is precedent set mp in favor
of despotism. Every instance of bay
onet rule, of bayonet interference with
elections, of bayonet interference with
the reserved rights Of the people, of bay
onets used to overthrow or control
State governmets or the people of State6
every such instance that goes unrebu.
ked is fortress built by despotisni III
the very heart of the country to destroy
the liberties of the people sllf
Sir, you will extend this and magnify
it thousandfold If you once begin on
this great scheme of outlying States
do not say that there might not be ter.
ritory beyond the limits of the Republ
lie that we ought to acquire; / could
name territory that think the interest
of the country would require uss to an
mex if it could be done with the free
voluntary, cheerful consent Of this peor
pie; but this is not such a scheme as
that. This is the inauguration Of
scheme by which we are to have . great
colonial system like Great Britain, BY
which we are to conquer territory as
England has conquered Hindostan. IT
is d scheme by which the aggregation OF
territory is to be marked, every mile. by
footsteps in blood and by human tyfan-
ny. That is what this scheme contem
plates. 1t comes before US, like the first
seduction, with all the beauties that can
be thrown around it by the grace Of
rhetoric or the bca tiles than can be shown
to the eye or excited in the Image
nation. But thatis the way the tempter