Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-24
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March q
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March n.
SENATE.
A bill was reported from the judicia.
ry committee and passed, amending the
law in regard to the punishment of In
dams for the crime of rape (the penalty
now being death), so as to leave it dis
cretionary with the court.
Mr.. Hoar offered resolution which
was agreed to, requesting the President
to transmit to the Senate copies OF all
dispatches, notes and kilograms in the
Department of State for November,
1875, until the pacification of Cuba in
1878, which relate to mediation or in
tervention by the United States in the
affairs of that Granddaughter with all
correspondence with foreign govern
ments relating to the same topic.
The joint resolution introduced yes
terday by Mr.. Mills, looking to the
seizure of the Island of Cuba by the
United States in case the Spanish gov
ernment shall refuse to grant self-gov-
eminent to the Cubans, was taken up,
and Mr.. Mills addressed the Senate in
advocacy of it. He would have voted
he said, for all the resolutions offered
on the subject of Cuba; because they
were steps-although short steps-in
the line of march which it was the duty
of the people of the United States to
take. The island of Cuba did not, Mr..
Mills declared, stand in the same rela-
ton to the people of the United States
as Hunary, Poland, Ireland or Ar
menia did. If it did, then the states
manship of the United States had
been at fault for a hundred
years. The fathers had, for a
century, asserted and maintained that
the people of the United States had
rights in Cuba-had rights in every foot
of soil in the western hemisphere, rights
which they were ready not only to as
sert, but to maintain by the whole
powerofthe army and navy OF the rebup
lie. The United States had never assert
ed that it had any rights in Ireland, Hun
gary, Poland or elsewhere in Europe;
butt had asserted its rights in every
solitary acre of land on the western
hemisphere. 1t had there the highest
right-the right of self-preservation.
The Monroe doctrine, ne declared, was
as old as humanity, and God Almighty
was its author. For when he made
man he placed in him the right to pre-
serve his life and liberty. Mr.. Mills re-
viewed, on this point, the declarations
Of President Jefferson in relation to the
Louisiana purchase; when the American
minister to France Was instructed 10
notify Napoleon that if he would not
sell that territory to the United States,
the United States would ally itself to
Great Britain and sweep the French
fleets off the ocean, in order to main
tain the right of the United States to
the mouth of the Mississippi river, not
withstanding that France had perfect
title to it. Mr.. Mills said the people OF
the United States owes to the oppressed
and down-trodden people of Cuba to
sly to Spain our conscience is involved
i, this matter. Cuba has right to
appeal to US, and we intend that you
shall give her free government. 1t was
The duty of the United States, Mr..
Mills declared, either to protect the
people of Cuba, or to say to France,
England and other European powers
"lf you want the island, take it."
HOUSE.
The first business ofthe House to-day
was the question of the passage of the
bill discussed yesterday to reduce the
number of crimes for which the death
penalty may be inflicted. 1t was pass
ed, yeas ITO, nays 60.
The message of the Senate announc
ing the rejection by that body of the
conference report upon the Cuban reso.
lutions and asking for further confer.
ence, was called up by Mr.. Hit, and
the request agreed to.
The naval affairs committee reported
the naval appropriation bill for the
years 1S96.'97.
Speaker Reed announced the appoint
ment of Messrs. Hit, Adams and Nc.
Oresry as managers on the part of the
House of the conference on the Cuban
resolutions.
The bill to increase the penalty for
transporting and selling by liquor
dealers of liquors under false and spuri-
Gus brands, was taken up, and was ad-
vocated by Mr.. Cummings as a meas.
ure calculated to protect human life.
He narrated bit of his experience last
summer, when for sick friend he had
purchased, under orders of the physi.
clan, bottle of stuff as famous brand
of brandy. 1t turned out to be de
coction of wood alcohol, whisky and
strychnine. "If the revenue is defraud.
ed" said Mr.. Cummings, shat is bad
thing; but if, in order to put money in
the pockets of whisky dealers, human
life is to be endangered or sacrificed, it
10 {, ,unrno fhinn y