Oxford Democrat

Buchanan's Fillibustering Administration.

Only a few days since, the National Treasury was so dry that Capt. Meigs could not pay his day laborers at work on the capitol extension. As is well known, this Buchanan dynasty came into being with $25,000,000 surplus in the sub-treasuries. This sum was soon squandered away, and in addition to the regular revenue accruing from imports and the sale of the public lands, thirty five millions have been borrowed, and this is all gone, and the national expenses under "democratic" rule accruing upon us at the rate of four dollars for every one received from all sources. With absolute beggary staring them in the face, we find Mr. Buchanan and his party tools getting up schemes for the special benefit of the slave power, by which millions upon millions are to be squandered. With not a dollar in the locker even to pay a poor day laborer, who has expended his sweat and strength upon Uncle Sam's public works, the President recommends the purchase of Cuba. The slave oligarchy catch at the bait. A caucus of genuine democratic Senators, made up of slave-holders and northern doughfaces, assemble to discuss the grave question. In order to give the thing some character, great secrecy is pretended. But after all, the discussion leaks out, (just to order,) and the speeches are trumpeted up and sent all over the country. From the doings of this democratic caucus we learn the views of distinguished Senators. Senator Slidell, as is well known, has introduced a bill into the Senate where it is now pending, which places in the hands of the President thirty millions of dollars, with which to filibuster for Cuba under the pretence of buying it. Of course he supported his own bantling. Other Senators give their views upon the question. Senator Iverson of Georgia went in for laying low until some excuse could be got up as a pretence to justify the act, and then grab Cuba, seize it, pirate like, and then treat for it at the cannon's mouth. Senator Douglas, after all the abuse and opposition he has received from the Administration, expressed a willingness to support Slidell's bill and thereby place thirty millions in the hands of a man who has denounced over and over again a corrupt, dishonest politician. Senator Brodhead very justly remarked, when speaking of this caucus, that it "resembled a meeting of burglars." The tone of this caucus was simply this, in addressing itself to Spain: "If you will sell Cuba for what we are disposed to pay, we will purchase her; if you will not we will steal her." This was the sum and substance of all their speeches and the final conclusion of the grave dignitaries there assembled. There was not a Senator in that meeting who will acknowledge himself such a fool that he does not know that Spain will spurn any offer to buy Cuba, made in such an insulting manner. This being true, the question arises what kind of policy is at work that dictates these disgraceful measures? There may be two answers to the question. First, there is so much odium now resting upon the Administration, that its leaders desire to get up some new issue to divert public attention from the gross rascality practised in other matters. How far they will succeed in this, remains to be seen. Another solution is found in the fact, that Buchanan and his followers want more corruption money to buy up doughfaces in and out of Congress. Thirty millions are wanted to bribe members of Congress, to carry on electioneering campaigns in the States, to subsidize the press, and in other ways debauch the very vitals of the government. Again, it is wanted to strengthen the great central despotism vested in the President - to place the entire reins of the nation in the hands of a single man, and he a tyrant. This is but the development of the genius of modern democracy. This is popular sovereignty directly reversed - this is trotting out the "stamp speech" in the Nebraska bills with the animal head down and heels up. The most ridiculous part of this whole farce is to see Mr. Buchanan with Slidell, Douglas & Co. at his heels, with not a dollar in the coffers of the treasury, swaggering round and talking about taking thirty millions to buy Cuban niggers for the special benefit of the democracy. But even this does not satisfy the greediness of these fillibustering politicians. They want Sonora and two or three other Mexican provinces, for which they are willing to pay ten or fifteen millions more. But the question comes up, where is the money coming from? The answer from these profligate functionaries will be, borrow, borrow, borrow, just as long as they can make fools of enough members of Congress to give them the authority. What do we want of Cuba? Can any sensible man answer this question affirmatively and not make an ass of himself? We have an abundance of territory now. The people of Cuba are as ignorant of our laws, customs and institutions, as are the savage tribes of the Rocky Mountains. We mean the masses, and not the few who may have gone there from the States for trade and speculation. Should that Island be annexed, it would take a standing army to govern them. It would cost more than it would come to. Look at Texas. What good has ever resulted to our government from its annexation? The United States Treasury, (as the archives of the government will show,) has been robbed of money enough to buy every foot of territory in that State. And only a few days ago one of its representatives in Congress publicly threatened that they would go out of the Union unless they could get more money. As to Cuba, there is but one answer. The slave-holders want it to strengthen the "peculiar institution," to enable them to keep the power in the national government. The arguments put forth by the Eastern Argus and other crackers for the Buchanan dynasty, in favor of the purchase of Cuba, are all gas and humbug. By putting forth to the people their miserable twaddle upon this subject, they hope to deceive some, and answer the demands of their masters at Washington.