Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/245

 FRANKLIN PIERCE 191 public lands to the state for relief of indigent insane. In February, 1855, he vetoed a bill for payment of the French spoliation claims, and in the following month another increasing the appro priation for the Edward K. Collins line of Atlantic steamers. The policy of Pierce s administration upon the question of slavery evoked an extraordinary amount of popular excitement, and led to tremen dous and lasting results. That policy was based on the theory that the institution of slavery was im bedded in and guaranteed by the constitution of the United States, and that therefore it was the duty of the National government to protect it. The two chief measures in support of such a policy, which originated with and were supported by Pierce s administration, were the conference of American diplomatists that promulgated the &quot;Ost- end manifesto,&quot; and opening of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to slavery. Filibustering expeditions from the United States to Cuba under Lopez, in 1850 and 1851, aroused anxiety in Eu rope as to the attitude of our government toward such enterprises. In 1852 Great Britain and France proposed to the United States a tripartite treaty by which the three powers should disclaim all intention of acquiring Cuba, and discountenance such an attempt by any power. On December 1, 1852, Edward Everett, who was then secretary of