The important words “any colony, district, or people” were introduced to cover the precise case of the revolted Spanish colonies and their precise condition at that moment, there being no question of belligerence. Now the practical question is, whether these words, introduced originally for a specific purpose, having an historic character beyond question, can be extended so as to be applied to insurgents who have not yet achieved a corporate existence,--who have no provinces, no cities, no towns, no ports, no prize courts. Such is the fact. I cannot supply the fact, if it does not exist; nor can the Senator, with his eloquence and with his ardor enlisted in this cause. We must seek the truth. The truth is found in the actual facts. Now do those facts justify the concession which the Senator requires? The Cuban insurgents, whatever the inspiration of their action, have not reached the condition of belligerents. Such, I repeat, is the fact, and we cannot alter the fact. Here we must rely upon the evidence, which, according to all the information within my reach, is adverse. They do not come within any of the prerequisites. They have no provinces, no towns, no ports, no prize courts. Without these I am at a loss to see how they can be treated as belligerents by foreign powers. Before this great concession there must be assurance of their capacity to administer justice. Above all, there must be a Prize Court. But nobody pretends that there is any such thing. MR. CARPENTER. Will the Senator now allow me to ask him one question? MR. SUMNER. Certainly. MR. CARPENTER. My question is, if it be not the most favorable opportunity to obtain the facts to libel those boats and get proof on the question? MR. SUMNER. The Senator will pardon me, if I say I do not think it is. I think that the better way of ascertaining the facts is to send to our authorized agents in Cuba,--we have consuls at every considerable place,--and direct them to report on the facts. I understand such reports have been received by the Department of State. They will be communicated to the Senate. They are expected day by day, and they are explicit, unless I have been misinformed, on this single point,--that, whatever may be the inspiration of that insurrection, it has not yet reached that condition of maturity, that corporate character, which in point of fact makes it belligerent in character. MR. HOWARD. I do not wish to interrupt the Senator, but I should like to ask a question at this point. MR. SUMNER. Certainly.