VOL. 5.-N0. 25.
BY S. B. BOW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, FEBKUAEY 16, 1859.
LOVE.
FROM Tire CERMAN OF KORSER.
Through gloom and night the hand of love
Can lead to realms of life and rest;
Love can loose and lore can bind,
Love will seek and love will find
Its way to every human heart.
Hate and fury strive in vain
To crmh or chill his magic power;
At his touch, the wintry plain
Lono and dreary blooms again.
Kadiant as a summer's bower.
Ever beautiful and bright,
Sti'l on earth he di-igns to roam ;
But in yonder realms of light,
Vhcre happy spirits wing their flight,
I hia birth-place and his home.
THE -MYSTERIOUS GAMBLE It.
BT AN OLD STAGER.
I have made several passages np the Missis
sippi anil Ohio rivers, and never without see
ing on board the steamers more or less pro
fessional gamblers. It is a thriving business
on the boats, where time lungs heavily on the
bands of the passengers, and the blacklegs
carry of! large sums of money. They nsnally
remain on board bftt a day or two long enough
to have their true character exposed.
These gentry had become such an intolera
ble nuisance that the captains of the boats did
not knowingly permit one to come on board,
and not tin frequently a brace of blacklegs
were landed in the woods, when their profes
sion was discovered.
During one of my trips, the boat put in at
Ins mouth of Arkansas river, and as usual I
took it stroll on shore. I heard the bell for
the departure of the steamer, and hastened
luck to the landing. As I was on my way, I
was overtaken by a gentleman with a broad
brimmed bat, green goggles and a white neck
cloth, tugging along a large valise.
"I am rather late, am I not 7" said he, as be
joined me.
"True enough, sir," I replied, respectfully,
tor the gentleman, I supposed from his ap
pearance, was a clergyman.
"My valise is rather heavy, and I am afraid
I e1i:11 lose the boat," said he,
Let me help you carry it, sir."
lie accepted my civil offer, and I took bold
! the valise, which was certainly loaded very
lieavy for that of an itinerant parson. In a
lew minutes v.e reached the steamer, and I
;as ;:! ou board; but my new acquaintance
i r. i r.cco!!ip!islied but half the distance, when
the p'..mk cajitcdjmd he was thrown into the
viver. Fortunately for him I was prompt in
my t-iToi ts to rescue him, and he was inimedi
r.tLiy drawn on board, with no other detriment
iImh a thorough bucking.
My friend, whom, as I never learned his
n.ir.il-, I hall have to call the Rev. Mr. G.og
jrlcs, retired to a vacant state room. It was
now nearly d.irk, and I did not see him again
i!u,t highl.
As usual, In the evening, there was a table
in the cabin, devoted to cards; in a word,
there was gambling without stint. No one
objected to the practice, so long as it was not
done by professional blacklegs. I never play
ed, but I often stood by the table to observe
the progress of the game, and study the looks
of the players, as they were agitated by the
fickle changes of a moment.
While I was thus watching them, I observed
on the opposite side of the table, a well dress
ed gentleman, who was regarding with cagur
interest the plays of the gamblers. lie mani
fested a desire to engage in the place of one
who had been "cleaned."
It was soon apparent tliat the new comer
was a skillful player, and time after time be
swept the boad of all that had been staked.
It was not lobg before his companions had e
notigh of it, and withdrew, lie had won a
large sum of money, and was evidently satis
fied with bis evening's work.
lie smoked on the boiler deck until all the
passengers had retired, and then left. Much
curiosity had been manifested to know who
n;id what he was. Nubody had seen him be
fore, and nobody remembered when he came
onboard; ami what seemed roost singular of
all, he was not seen the next day, though the
boat was not stopped during ths night.
The next day was Sunday, and at breakfast
time my clerical friend made his appearance.
"My good friend," said he to me, "I have
to thank you for the good service yon did me
last eveiiing. I am poor; I have none of this
world's goods. I trust tl at all my treasures
are laid tip in heaven. But the Lord will re
ward you if I cannot."
"Don't mention it, wy dear sir. . I am hap
py to have been the means of saving you-"
We conversed a while upon the matter, and
my friend then spoke of having religious ser
vice on board, it agreeable to the passengers.
4)t course it was agreeable and the parson
prayed and exhorted with a zeal that would
Jiare done honor to the most celebrated of
the revivalists.
The impression produced by the service, I
o:u sorry to say, was not permanent, lor when
-evening came," the gaming table was spread
out as usual, and games commenced. The
mysterious gambler appeared again, much to
the surprise of all, for it was believed that he
had been landed, or been lost overboard. lie
plaved, and swept the board as before. Some
of the weaker-ones began to think he was the
devil in disguise, aud the belief was almost
(Confirmed when the test day nothing could
:a found of him.
The passengers made him the subject of
th- ir conversation, and quite an excitement
was kindled. The captain swore if he appcar--::
arain. he would throw him into the river.
A tborctiffh search was made for him, but all
.ti vita. My clerical friend was especially in
lizrsaut, and believed it would be a good plan
t l :tng everv gambler. As soon as the true
churacocr was discovered, J agreed with him
entirely.
One young man from Cincinnati was par
ticularly digressed at the sudden disappear
ance of"t!:e blcckleg for he had, under the
influence of an overdose of brandy, staked
r.v.d lost a half eagle, which his mother had
pivfcii him jiist before her death. It was not
ine loss ol the reoney that had distressed him,
lor no na.i plenty or that, bnt it was tne as
sociations connected with the coin itself.
There v as a history belonging to it, he said,
and be would give the gambler donblo the
value of it, if he would return it, with a little
riiiir attached to it.
That evening, to the disappointment of all
on board, who were prepared to deal with him
in a c-.irnrr.ary tuanner, the blackleg did not
appejr. Mun or devil, he had the means of
knowing of the indignation bis actsTiad caus
ed. There was a strange mystery about hint .
Every part of the steamer was again searched
in vain for him. And it seemed certain that
he could not have gone ashore.
The next day I was talking with the Rev.
Mr. Goggles, not about the gambler, but on
general topics. Of course bis life as an iti
nerant, was full of interest to me. fie told
me how cheaply he lived and travelled from
place to place, that he was often hungry, and
never bad over ten dollars at once.
"1 have only five now," he said; and to
verify his statement, he took from his pocket
a half eagle.
I glanced at it. There was a bole in it with a
ring attached ! It was certainly the property
of the youug man from Cincinnati.
"What is the ring for ?" I asked.
'This piece was given me by a woman in
Arkansas who was converted under my preach
ing." The liar: I had already made up my mind
that he was the mysterious gambler. Before
dinner time I had an opportunity to whisper
to the captain, and while we were at dinner,
his state room was searched. A large sum of
money was found there, and many of the
gambler's tools, as well as the dress the "un
known" had worn
"Parson, can you swim ?" asked the cap
tain, as the Reverend Mr. Goggles came up
on the boiler deck.
"A little," he replied with n. demure smile.
" You will have a chance to try ; I am go
ing to throw you overboard."
The captain took him by the collar, and ex
plained the matter to the astonished passen
gers, who were quite teady to assist in empty
ing his pockets and then throwing him over
board. The money taken from him was paid
over to his victims.
The last we saw of him, he was swimming
vigorously towards the shore, cursing the
captain with quite as much zeal as he bad
used in praying and exhorting.
The young man from Cincinnati got bis
cherished coin, and I trust, learned a useful
lesson.
Col. Smith in tub Jones Family. " Well,
alter dark 1 put -tip with a first rate, good na
tured fellow that I met at the billiard table.
I went in and was introduced to his wife, a
fine, fat woman, looking as though she lived
on laffin', her face was so full of fun. After a
while, after we'd talked about my girl, and a
bout the garden, and about the weather, in
come three or four children, laffin' and skip
ping as merry as crickets. There was no can
dle lit, but I could sec that they were fine
looking fellows, and I started for my saddle
bags, in which I had put a lot of sugar candy
as I went along.
"Come here," said I, "you little rogue ;
come here and tell me what your name is."
The oldest came to me and says : "My name
is Peter Jones."
"And what's your name, sir V
"Bob Jones." ,
The next said bis name was Bill Jones, and
the fourth said his name was Tommy Jones.
I gave 'em sugar candy, aud old Mrs. Jones
was so tickled that she laughed all the time.
Mr. Jones looked on, but didn't say nr.ch.
"Why," says I, ".Mrs. Jones, 1 would not
take a good deal for them four boys, if I had
'em, they are so beautiful and sprightly."
"No," says she, laflin', "1 set a good deal
on 'em, but we spoil 'em too much."
"No, no," says I, "they're well behaved
children, and by gracious," says I, pretending
to be startled by a striking resemblance be
tween the boys and father, and I looked at
Mr. Jones, "I never did see anything equal to
it," says I, "your own eyes, mouth, forehead,
and perfect pictur' of hair, sir," tapping the
eldest on the pate.
I thought that Mrs. Jones would hare died
laffln' at that; tier arms fell down by her side,
and she shook the whole hotise.
"Do you think so, Mr. Smith ?" said she,
looking towards Mr. Jones, and I tho't she'd
go off in a fit.
"Yes," says I, "I do really."
"Haw, fcaw, haw," says Mr. Jones, kind o'
laffin', "yoti are too hard on me, now, with
your jokes."
"I ain't a jokin' at all," says I ; "they are
handsome children, and do look wonderfully
like von."
Just then a gal brought a light in, and I'll
be darned if the little brats didn't turn out to
be niggers, every one of 'em, and their heads
curlv all over. Mr. and Mrs. Jones never had
any children, and they petted them niggers as
playthings. I never felt so streaked as 1 did
when I found out how things stood.
Destitution is Canada, The Kincardine
Commonwealth states that appalling distress
prevails in some sections of Bruce county,
Hundreds of families are on the verge of star
vation. Many of their best and thriftiest far
mers are destitute of the wherewithal to carry
them through till another harvest, the crops
of the past year having almost proved an en
tire failure. We could enumerate instances
where, even alreadv. families are subsisting on
a few boiled turnips, others on bread and wa
ter alone; and the supply so small, that it can
not keep seul and body together for many
weeks lonzer. Some have consumed every
thing in the shape of vegetation, and as their
. . . i i . , . t v. : I.
last resort, nave siaugiuerea uieiruscu, uiuu
forms their whole sustenance.
The total number of Spiritualists in the li
nked States is given as 1 ,284,000, and the
number in the whole world is estimated at
1,910,000. Maine is credited with 40,000 ; N.
Hampshire, 20.000; Vermont, 25,000 ; Massa
chusetts, 100,000; Rhode Island, 6000; Con-nccticut,-20,000
; and X. York, 350,000. The
Register gives the names of 849 public speak
ers and 238 professional mediums. The lite
rature of the profession comprises 500 books
and pamphlets, six weeklies, three semi-weeklies,
and four monthlies.
Going ox a Spree. The Western papers say
that the Legislature of Indiana in a body have
invited the Legislature of Ohio to visit them
at Indianapolis during the present session, and
it is understood the invitation will be accept
ed and the compliment returned. The price
of whiskev is said to be rising in anticipation
of the big'drunks which will follow.
An Irish servant was sent to match a china
plate returned with one of an entirely differ
ent pattern. After scolding for some time,
the mistress said : "Stupid ! do you not see
that the two are entirely different ?" "No,
ranm," replied the servant, only one of them
is different."
THE PURCHASE OF CUBA.
SPEECH OF MR. SEWARD, IN THE SENATE OP THE
f KITED STATES, ON MONDAT JAN. 24, 1859.
Mr. President, the bills which engage the
attention of Congress generally originate eith
er in the Senate or in the House of Represen
tatives. But this measure is ushered into our
presence bv a Message from the Executive
palace. Jt is, therefore, in its origin an Ex
ecutive measure. Its nature corresponds to
its parentage. It proposes to relax constitu
tional and legislative restraints upon the Ex
ecutive power, and to transfer control over the
Treasury, together with the power of negoti
ation in foreign affairs, fromCongress and from
the Senate to the President of the United
States. It is not an isolated Executive mea
sure of this kind, but it is one of a scries of
such measures which the President of the U
nited States has introduced at the present ses
sion in the same way. One of this series pro
poses that Congress shall authorize the Presi
dent to move the Army and the Navy of the
Lmted States into adjacent States of the Ke-
public of Mexico and establish a Protectorate
there. Another asks our consent to invest the
President of the United States with power to
make war in his own discretion and at his own
pleasure against all, or nearly all, the Spanish-
American States on this continent.
Tho bill has a financial aspect. It has also
a broad political character. In regard to the
financial aspect, I call the attention or tne
Senate to the fact that the bill proposes to ap
propriate now, at this lime, out of the Treasu
ry of the United Statcs,$30,000,000 to be plac
ed under the control of the President of the
United States, to be paidwy him to Spain,
whenever she shall have consented to accept
any treaty which he may make with her for the
cession of Cuba to the United Mates, without
waiting for a ratification of that treaty by the
Senate of the United States. This appropria
tion of $30,000,000 necessarily Involves now
a pledge, a guaranty, virtually a grant, or ap
propriation of so many more millions of dol
lars as the President of the United States,
without any recourse to the Senate or to Con
gress, and coVisulting only his own mere am
bition, caprice or pleasure, shall agree to give
for that island ; and this last amount is alto
gether unlimited.
The bill contains nohmitation.and the Pres
ident recommends no limitation. It is a bill
then for just so many millions as the President
shall choose to write in the treaty. What will
be the number of those millions 1 The report
of the majority of the committee says that it
will probably be $12-5,000,000. This calcula
tion is based upon the fact that Spain refused
S 100,000,000 ten years ago, and that Cuba has
increased in value $2o,000,000, according to
the estimate of a majority of the committee.
This estimate is inconclusive, and, therefore,
unsatisfactory. The amount which Spam will
ask, if we suppose her to accede to this trea-
ty.wili be all that she can get, and the amount
which the President will give, if it be his pur
pose to acqre tne Island ol Cuba ai ail e
vents and under all hazards will be the least
that Spain will consent to take. It may then
just ns well and as accurately be estimated
that the sum to be written in the treaty win be
$200,000,000, or $250,000,000, or$500,000,00O,
as that it shall bo only $125,000,000.
I will assume that it authorizes the l'resi-
der.t to contract a debt to Spain, without a-
jrain consulting Conirress or the Senate of the
United States, for the sum of $250,000,000.
This proposition comes at a time when our
revenues are reduced to $50,000,000, and there
is a confessed deficiency for the year of $30,-
000,000. It is immaterial whether we borrow
this $30,000,000 to pay Spain, as the bill pro
poses, or whether to pay it out of the receipts
of the revenue flowing into the Treasury, and
borrow money to supply the place of what wo
thus abstract. It proposes nothing less than
to authorize the President of the United
States to create at once and absolutely a debt
of $30,000,000, and indirectly a further debt
of $220,000,900, in addition to a deficit.which
is virtually n existing debt against the Trea
sury, of $30,000,001) ; making $60,000,000 of
new debt certain, and $220,1X10,000 contingent.
This added to an already funded debt of $60,
000,000, will raise the national debt lo $280,
000,000. This is to be done under extraordi
nary circumstances. We have at this moment
no financial system no system of revenue.
We have, indeed, a tariff law which brought
lasa year into the Treasury over $40,000,000,
and this year is expected to bring in $50,000,- I
COO; but a revenue law which leaves an annu
al deficit cannot be said to constitute a fiscal
system. Congress, after being in session now
near two months, has utterly failed to devise
any kind of revenue system whatever. Nor
has the Executive Administration submitted
to Congress any system for this emergency.
This statement is strictly true, if you consider
that the President recommends one system in
his annual Message, and that the Secretary of
the Treasury, his owrr responsible Minister of
Finance, submits to us another and. widely
different one.
This great increase of the public debt, we
are asked to make at the very hour when, in
compliance with the Executive recommenda
tion, we are proposing to authorize him to
build the Pacific Railroad, at a cost of not
less than $125,000,000 more ; and simultane
ously with this, on the same Message, we were
also asked to authorize the President to move
the Army into Mexico which can cost nothing
less than $100,000,000 more, and at the same
time, in pursuance of recommendations of
the same weight and authority, we are asked
to.authorize him to employ the Army and the
Navy against just so many Spanish-American
States on this continent as he shall chose,
which can require nothing less than $100,000,
000 more ; so, without any financial system at
all we are to have a great debt created by
this Congress of the United States, on the re
commendation and application of the Presi
dent, to strengthen the arm of the Executive,
while weakenine the oower and tho constitu
tional force of the Senate, and the House of
Representatives, a debt of $500,OOO,OW.
The honorable Senator from Rhode Island
Air. Simmftnsl the other dav spoke in glow
ing terms, and yet most justly, of the credit of
the United States, and snowea inai, mi iuo
small debt that we now have, a nominal debt,
we can go into the maiket, and with a five per
cent, stock borrow money at a premium, or,
perhaps, borrow money on a four per cent,
stock anywhere in the markets of the world.
That is because we are novices, inexperienc
ed, untried, and unknown in the money mar
ket, except for naylng such small debts as we
have made. But, Sir, when wo shall have
-hown that wc can increase our debt ia forty
days, for that is the period which remains f
this session, from $60,000,000 to 500,000,000,
I beg leave to express the opinion that the
rate of interest will be found to rise In pro
portion to the liberality with which we pro
pose to borrow. - In that case you will find
your revenue derived from all sources scarce
ly more than enough to pay the interest of the
debt which you shall thus have created, leav
ing no funds whatever for carrying on the or
dinary operations of the Government.
This, however, it might be said, is a fanci
ful picture, because the bill appropriates only
$30,000,000, and not the whole $250,000,000,
which I have supposed. Nevertheless, Sir, it
appropriates the whole amount which the
President shall write in the treaty. We give
him a blank draft on the Treasury, and au
thorize him to fill up the amount for himself.
I have supposed be will fill up with $250,000,
000. But I am told that we can retreat from
this contract with Spain if we find it too ex
pensive, and abandon tho measure without
paying the additional sum which the Presi
dent may writo in the treaty. Slowly and
carefully, Mr. President, let us consider.
Certainly we cannot retreat from it without
forfeiting the $30,000,000 which will have
been paid. That condition will operate as a
constraint upon Congress to appropriate, all
the remaining millions which the President
may stipulate, and it will equally operate as a
constraint upon the Senate to ratify the treaty,
whatever sum may be stipulated by its pro
visions. Again, sir, no one can suppose that the
President would pay the $30,000,000, m ad
vance to Spain, without securing possession of
the Island of Cuba. When he has once obtain
ed the Island of Cuba, and paid $30,000,000 as
an advance upon the consideration money of
the purchase, the treaty will be a contract ex
ecuted, and Spain and the whole world would
laugh with derision at the pretense that wo
could rescind the contract and repudiate the
remaining debt on the ground that we had
then looked into our Constitution and found
that we bad violated it in passing the law by
which we had authorized thePresidcnt to make
the improvident bargain.
Sir, this is a plan of financial management
to which I am a-stranger. It is the province
of the Congress of the United States to take
care of the public Treasury, and to see that
every dollar that is received remains there un
til, by appropriation bills limited to single ob
jects, and each bill enduring for only two
years, the money is expended by agents, un
der their own direction and authority, for ob
jects appointed, fixed and certain. The eflect
of this measure is to surrender the control
over a large portion of the national treasure
and resources, practically over all that is val
uable in the Treasury, to the President of the
United States, without retaining any effective
security for his wise and faithful administra
tion of it.
I have said that the bill has also a political
aspect. It proposes to bring into the United
States a foreign country, 700 miles long, and
70 miles wide; containing 1,560,000, human
beings, subjects of government, occupying
practically every foot upon its sidewalks in
its cities and every acre of mountain and
plain and valley in the rural districts of that
island; a population different entirely from
the citizens of the United Sates different in
language, different in race, different in habits,
diflerent in manners, different in customs, and
radically different in religion ; a population
that will, practically, forever hold the power
to exclude all American immigration, at least,
to exclude it as effectually as the old States of
Europe exclude our migration there, and as
effectually as our old establis bed States prac
tically exclude immigration from outside
of their borders. This population, then is to
be the ruling population of that island. - What
rights will citizens of the United States enjoy
there? The 1,500,000 souls are divided.
One-half whites, 250.0(H) free blacks, and 400,
000 slaves. What institutions of justice, or
freedom, of religion and public worship will
obtain or remain there 1 I need not know.
If I were willing to leave these great questions
to the President of the United States, I have
no right to do so.
I have already shown that the. consent of the
Senate to the passage of this bill will operate
as a constraint upon the Senate to ratify what
ever treatv the President shall make hereafter.
If this be trne (and no one, I think, can con
trovert it,) then I am asked to resign a consti
tutional, Senatorial power to the President of
tho LT. States, and to shift from my own shoul
ders to his a constitutional responsibility.
To do this is a derogation of the indepen
dence of the constitutional power of the Sen
ate of the United States, and a practical sub
version of the constitutional check, which re
quires that every treaty shall receive the votes
of two-thirds of the body, or be absolutely
void. It practically delegates to a bare ma
jority of the Senate, and to a majority of the
House of Representatives, the treaty making
power of this great empire.
Sir, if there ever was an occasion on which
I should adhere tenaciously to this right, and
insist upon retaining this power, it would be
in such a case as this. I want to sec the trea
ty which shall bring the Island of Cuba into
the United States. . I want to know the status
which that country is to occupy. Is it to be
a Territory of subjects, of political slaves ? a
province, and governed by armies and navies,
as Spain now governs it J I may ask the Pres
ident of the United States when he has exe
cuted the treaty, is it to be a State f Who are
to be the electors of the State ? What is to
be the status of the white population I Are
thev to enjoy universal suffrage T What is to
be the stains of the free negro population f
What is to be the status of the slave popula
tion ? We who have disputed so earnestly,
often so vehemently, year after year, year in
and year out. over the question whether the
institution of Slavery shall be introduced into
the Territory of Kansas, are expected by the
President, in bjs simplicity, to allow him to
determine for the .North and for the Ssouth,
for the Free States and for the Slave States,
at his own absolutes pleasure, the terms and
conditions upon which Cuba shall be annexed
to the United Slates, and incorporated into
the Union. I say nothing of the present in
cumbent of the Executive office. I say that
men never chose, nor did God ever send on
earth, a magistrate to whom I would confide
this great question, having a constitutional
right to decide it myself.
I need not say, Sir, that all our treaties of
annexation contain stipulations guarantying
ricrht!-to th countries annexed, to be incor-
norated into the Union, and determining the
future political rights, power and authority of
the inhabitants of those countries. This bill,
then, is in derogation of the power of the
Senate to determine by treaty for itself what
the safety, honor, and welfare of the country
demand in regard to the political organiza
tion and government of the Island ol" Cuba,
If it shall be required.
Sir, I have always received as a political
maxim the declarations made by our prede
cessors in regard to the acqnisition of Cuba.
Every rock and every grain of sand in that is
land were drifted and washed out from Amer
ican soil by tho floods of the Mississippi, and
the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. The is
land has seemed to me, just as our predeces
sors have said, to gravitate back again to the
parent continent from which it sprung. 1
have supposed that political necessities would
determine that ultimate conclusion; and I
know that to political necessities all actions of
governments must bend and all sentiments of
nations must accommodato themselves. I
have nevertheless, been taught with the same
maxim, this other rule, that tho acquisition of
Cuba was a question of time, of necessity, and
of opportunity. It was just as clear sixty years
ago,when we acquired Louisiana, as it is now,
that Cuba, in the language of John Quincy
Adams, gravitates to the United States, as the
apple yet hanging on its native trunk gravi
tates to the earth which sustains it. Yet it
certainly is true that Cuba was not then ac
quired, nor attempted by extraordinary means
to be acquired ; and the reason -was that, the
time, necessity, and opportunity, had not then
presented themselves. In fact, the time is de
termined by the coincidence of necessity and
opportunity ; and that coincidence is the re
sult of a decline of European power on this
continent, and of a developeracnt of the growth
of American power on the same continent.
Onr fourfathcrs said, all our predecessors have
said that when the juncture shall arise that
there should !e just and necessary decline of
the political Eurofean power on the continent,
and just that dcvelopement ol American pow
er here, which makes Spain unable to keep,
and ourselves able freely to obtain the island,
then it would be hopeless and idle to refuse to
receive Cuba, even if it were undesirable.
They have said more, and I subscribe to it,
that we may safely hold our souls in patience
so long as Spain can keep it, ami no other and
stronger European Power can, or dare, take it
from her. What I have to say now is, that the
time and opportunity do not now serve, in my
judgment, any more than they have served for
the last sixty years. We may be nearer, as,
indeed, I doubt not we are, to the acquisition
of Cuba ; but we have not arrived at that point
at which the acqnisition must necessarily bo
made, or can be made, consistently with the
conditions of peace, prudence, justice, and
the national honor.
Ten years ago the President of the United
States declared that Cuba was to be acquired
only by treaty, by purchase, and not by war.
The present President of the United States
rc-affirras that proposition now; so that the
only question to be considered is, whether it
can be purchased note. Well, ten years ago,
the President of the United States offered
$100,000,000 for it, and tho answer to the pro
position was conceived in terras so decided,
so unequivocal, so utterly forbidding all hope,
that it was never afterward reAwed ; and si
lence has been observed about it ever since, in
order to preserve the good understanding and
the good nature of the parties. The Message
of the President sent here on Friday last,
shows us that, down to this hour, the proposi
tion has not been mentioned in Spain for a pe
riod of ten years. The same Message assures
ns even that it will not now be mentioned to
Spain, unless some peculiar and extraordinary
measures are adopted tc require him to bring
it again to her attention.
Spain holds the Island now more tenacious
ly with a stronger and safer grasp than that
with which she has held it any time within
the last fifty years. It is now a period of re
pose in Europe, and in the Western World.
Spain having gone through the crisis of sur
rendering up her territorial empire in us lar
gest proportions, has entered upon a new ca
reer of material progress and improvement.
Heragricultnro, her manufactures, her Army
and her Navy, are m a flourishing, proscrous
and improving condition. IIeretofore,pain
has held tho Island of Cuba in the midst of
conflicts between the two great Powers of
Western Europe, England and France, liablo
to lose It to one or the other belligerents at
any moment. To-day, England and jnance
are not only allies, but they are unuea m me
policy of maintaining Spain in tho enjoyment
of the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico, the
last remnants of her once world-wide empire.
Spain exhibits, more decidedly than ever with
in the last twenty years, the habits of acquies
cence and loyalty by her people in her existing
institutions. She seems to nave passea tne
period when the country was rent, convulsed,
and distracted by the contests ot democratic
and monarchial factions. At present she is
apparently in a condition of profound repose
and contentment. If there was any doubt a
bout this subject, all doubt is now removed
by the answer which we have already received
from the authorities of Spain, to this very
proposition of tho President of tho U. States
in the very form in which it is proposed that
we shall adopt it. Our mail ct this morning
brings ns the answer of the Spanish Govern
ment and Legislature to our advances, even
before we have taken the first step.
Now, Sir, after having shown that there is
not the least earthly prospect of acquiring the
Island of Cuba by, or in consequence of, the
passage of this bill, what follows ? It follows
that the question, whether Cuba is desirable,
and ought to be attained, is not at all in de
bate. It is an idle, a visionary and mischiev
ous abstraction. There is no such question
here ; but the question which is presented is,
whether tho Congress of the United States is
to oner an indignity to Spain, i na is
Sir, I will not stop to inquire as an abstract
question about the wisdom of a great nation
offering insults and indignities to other na
tions. I will not stop now to inquire about
the virtue, the morality, and the honor, to
say nothing of the dignity of such a course.
But I will say this, that it is not wise to offer
an indignity to a foreign power it you are to
gain nothing by it. So much may at least bo
conceded to me. And now, what is to bo ob
tained by insulting Spain! Nothing; but
only this : we must expect that she will be
provoked to war to resent tho indignity ; and
when the war has come to resent the indigni
ty, then the prize of Cuba may be attained aa
indemnity for the expense of the war. Sir,
if we desire to acquire Cuba by negotiation,
kt us sezotiate. The President disclaims
and disdains to seek it by war directly. Arc
we to understand bira and a majority of the
Committee here, that they ask ns to bring
Spain indirectly into a war in order that we
may conquer Cuba. That would be to im
pute to the President and the Committee bad
faith, which I must utterly disclaim.
These considerations satisfy my mind that
it is not expected, that it is not intended,
that Cuba shall be acquired in consequence of
this proceeding ; but that it is snpposed that
some other advantage, some domestic and
local benefit, will be secured to the President
ol the United States, by provoking a debate
on this subject in Congress. Sir, I do not so
much undervalue the intelligence, of the A
merican people as to apprehend any such re
sult. The proposition seems to bo an empty
one, an idle one, a ludicrous one r and if it
were not for violating the respect dne to the
President of the United States and the ma
jority of the Committee who sanction it, I
should say a ridiculous One.-
1VISDOM IN LOVE-MAKING.
I know that men naturally shrink from tho
attempt to obtain - companions who are their
superiors; but they will find that really intel
ligent women, who possess the most desirable
qualities, are uniformly modest, and bold their
charms in modest estimation. What such wo
men most admire in men is gallantry ; not tho
gallantry of courts and fops, but daring, cour
age, devotion, decision, and refined civility.
A Man's bearing tins tea superior women
where his boots and brains win one. If a man
stand before a woman with respect for himself
and fearlessness of her, his suit is half won.
The rest may safely be left to the parties most
Interested. Therefore, never be afraid of a
womaa. Women arc the most harmless and
agreeable creatures in the world, to a man who
shows that he has got a roan's soul in him. If
you have not got the spirit in you to come op
to a test like this, you have not got that in you
which most pleases a bigh-souled woman, and
you will be obliged to content yourself with
the simple girl who, in a quiet way, is endeav
oring to attract and fasten you. But don't be
in a hurry about the matter. Don't get into a
feverish longing for marriage. It isn't credit
able to you. Especially don't imagine that
any disappointment in love which takes place
before you aro twenty-one years old, will be
of any material damage to you. The truth is,
that before a man is twenty-five years old he
docs not Know what he wants himself. So
don't be in a hurry. The more of a man yon
become, and the more manliness you become
capable of exhibiting in your association with
women, the better wife you will be able to ob
tain; and one year's possession of the heart
and hand of a really noble specimen of her
sex, is worth nine hundred and ninety-nine
years' possession of a sweet creature with on
ly two ideas in her head, and nothing new to
say about either of them. Set don't be in a
hurry, I say again. You dont waiit aalfe
now, and you have not the slightest idea of the
kind of wife you will want by-and-by. Go in
to femahi society, if you can find that which
will improve you, but not otherwise. You
can spend your time better. Seek the society
of good men. That is olten more accessible
to you than the other, and it is through that
mostly that you will find your way to good fe
male society. Pcmberton.
To Delay Blossoms. Any fruit trees may
bo made to bloom sufficiently late in the sea
son to prevent the fruit from being injured by
the frost, and consequently present a fine,
heavy crop, by the following judicious treat
ment : In the middle of winter, when the
ground is most severely frozen, put a large pile
of wheat straw or oak leaves around tho roots,
letting it extend for some distance in every
direction, so as to cover the extended roots
that approach the surface of the earth. Cover
this pile with planks or boards", so1 (hat no rain -can
fall upon the pile. Let this cover remain
until all danger from frost lias passed. Then
remove tho cover and straw and look for a
splendid crop to follow soon. The rationale ot
this is : the frozen earth will not thaw until
late in the spring, if the pile remain ; and
while the earth is frozen the trees cannot
bloom ; but when the danger is past, remove
tho covcriug, and the tree will bloom speedi
ly. Try it, farmer friends. A'ew Yvrkcr.
Ax Ussattbal Goveenob. The Governor
of Michigan has vetoed tho bill granting six
hundred and forty acres of qwamp land to Mrs.
Rodgers, who, besides having nine small chil
dren and one at the breast, gave being, awhile
since, to four children at a birth. As there
was no prospect that anything would be drain
ed by such feats except "maternal founts" and
the State land office a remarkable number of
women with quadruplets having already applied
for swamp lands the Governor did not think
this premium should be offered.
Daniel Websteb. Key. Mr. Dwight, offi
ciating clergyman at the North Congregation
al Church, in tho course of fcia sermon on
Sunday evening last, related" the following
striking anecdote of the "man of giant mind."
Upon entering church one Sabbath morning,
a friend remarked sneeringly t "Mr. Web
ster, you worship where the doctrine of "Ono
in three and three in One' fs upheld." "My
friend," replied Mr. Webster, "neither you
nor I understand the arithmetic of heactn !"
Nantucket Inquirer. - - '
Hartford Politics. A dispatch says : "Fif
teen hundred Democrats assembled at Hart
ford, on Monday night, and repudiated the en
tire proceedings ol tho meeting f Thursday
night, turned Julius L. Strong, who denounc
ed the Administration at tliat meeting, out of
the State delegation, and appointed W. W.
Eaton in his place. Resolutions were adopt
ed endorsing the Administration."
On the 28th ult.r Thomas Hall, of Lynn, N.
H., who is seventy-nine years ot age. walked
from his residence to a wood lot one mile.
chopped three cords of wood, sled length, and
then walked home, and all between the hours
of Si and 3. This would be a large day's work
for a young man : for an old man on the verge
of four score years, it is truly remsrkaUe. .
There is not much in a name. - We see in.
one paper, for instance, that Atdrew Jack ion
has been arrested at Lowell, Has., and that
for an aseanlt and battery npon Tomas Jeffer
son, a policeman of the city. ;
The Washington Union remarks with great
profundity i "No measure of legislation what
ever can be carried in Congress without a ma
jority of rotes." There's wid.ona. for you !
I