Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-18

sis,ance? No Sir. Upon a subject of such vital
importance, the only one in which our presence at
The Congress could be useful, the Executive has
alseady taken step which he can never rerace. De-
ceived by the ar,ful letter of Count Nesselrode;
msled by the unsuspecting confidence of M. Mid
eieton; and surprising that the Emperor Alexander
would undertake in earnest, the desired mediation
that, under his high auspices ;ts would be
inevitable; he has solemnly declared that we ought
not and riN not resist the atiemps of the confeJe
rates upon these Islands. should Spain refuse COM
pTiance. In the letter from MIR. Clay to MIR, Mid
dl eton OF the 10Th of May last, insructins him to
invite the mediation Of Russia, which ,cas read &c
fTe Colombian Minister, and communicated to the
principal Europe Governments, it is declared
and thus the Peninsula instead of deriv ing
the revenue and the aid so necessary to the
revival OF its prosperity from Cuba and Po-
TO Rico, must be further drained TO succour
those Islands; for il cannot be doubted, that
the new States will direct their combined
= and unemployed forces to the reduction of
those valuable islands. They will naturally strike
their enemy wherever they reach him, and
they viii be stimulated the attack by the dou-
bic motive arising from the richness oil the prize,
and from the fact that those islands constitute the
rendezvous OF Spain, where are concentrated,
and from which issue, all the means Of annoying
: them which remain to her Having understood
that an expedition was fitting on. at Carthagena
asains, Cuba or Porto Rico, by Colombia or Mexi-
co, or both, our Secretary OF State, the 2oth Of
Dec last, addressed notes to the Ministers OF
those Governments, in which, after assuring them
that by late advices from 81. Petersburg, he was
enabled 10 say that the appeal TO the Emperor of
Russia had not been without effect, and that there
was reason TO believe that he was then exerng hi
friendly endeavors 10 put an end to the war, he
solicited their Governments. in tho OF the Pre-
sident, 10 forbear to attack those islands until
sufficient time has elapsed ascertain the result of
the pacific efforts the great Powers are now
making on Spain These communications were
transmitted by those Ministers TO their respective
Governments; and finally, in the letter from the
Secretary to Dir. Middleton, OF the 26,h of Dec.
ne thus explicitly communicates the views and
opinions of this Government the subject: We
cannot allow the transfer OF the Islands TO any
European Power. Bat II Spain should refuse 10
concluded peace, and ob>tnately resolve ON con-
tinuing the war, although do no, desire that
either Colombia or Mexico should acquire the
Island OF Cuba, the President cannot see any
'iusfLfabie ground on tchich can foTcibly in
'erfere. Upon the hypothesis OF an unnecessa-
~ protracton OF the war, mputab!e 10 Spain, it il
evident that Cuba will be lie. only point Il appui
in this hemisphere. H0,c can ire interp0se, on
that suppos!tion, against the party CLEARLY
HAvING RIGHT on ms SIDE, TO restrain or
defea. a 'a'ntM operation Of scar? IF the war
against the Islands should be conducted by these
Republics in desolating manner; if, contrary
20 all expectation, they should put arms into the
hands of one OF the Inhabitants to destroy
the lives of another; If, in short, they should
ccCntenaEce and encourage excuses and exam
PIES, tic contagion Of which, from our neishbor-
hood, would be dangerous TO quiet ard safe
~; the Government OF the United States might
feel itself called upon TO in,erposc its power But
i, is not appEehended that any of those contin-
Gences will arise, and consequently, it is most
probable that The United States should the war
continue, will remain hereafter, they have been
heretofore, neutral ob~erveTs OF the progress of
events" Mr.. Middleton was directed 10 com
InIncste the contents of this letter to the Russian
Government, and they were, doubtless, also com
municated 10 the Colombian and Mexican Ministers,
Viih the views which induced the communication
10 them OF HE former letter 10 Mr. Middleton on
The same subject
Now Sir, should the confederate States think the
invasion OF those Islands necessary TO the
fnl prosecution OF the war, Ministers at the
Congress, with these deliberate opinions and I'm
eYIiYocal declarations of ouI Government raise a
voice against the measure? II they did so, would
not the deputies from the other States charge our
Government with insincerity' would not the evil
dence TO support the impu;a!ion be complete? and
is not in their possession Is i, reasonable 10 ex-
pect, that, in war, waged not Only for their Sc
curity, but existence, they could be induced TO be
more attentive 20 our interests than their own p
No, Sir, in my Judgment, the period for efficient
operation on that point, through the dgency of
ministers, has passed away. If The United States
are willing, if it be their interest 10 resist, a, all
hazards, and by whomsoever attempted the inva-
sion of those Islands, the manifestation of that re-
solution, to he efficient, proceed from another
branch OF the Government-thc legislature. They
are, fortunately, unettered by diplomatic entan.le-
mentB. j our deputies there cannot effect this OBJ
iect, what they 10 do? Surely not 10 counenance
measures which may be adopted Ivy the assembled
States against those Islands. This would he not only
20 countcract views, but make ourselves, al,
once, party to the WAR. Suppose, that, doing
neither, they remain passive spectators, and the
invasion is directed by the Congress. Being a war
measure, all proceedings upon it must be secret
Can we hope to allay the awakened iealousies Of
the invasion of her territory? Will we not, 2. all
events, be driven to the necessity OF extensive and
humiliating explanations to the Government i'm
mediately concerned, and to those TO whom we
have made professions on the subject? WHY thus
emhsnass ourselves? Why render our relaionsupen
this subject more complicated than they areo Il il
10 favor Old Spain? Move have uniformly dis
approved and reprobated her conduct We owe
her nothing. Whatever we may say 10 the con-
trary, we know, and, what is more, the world
knows, that il is solely on the ground Of the utter
helplessness Of her condition. that we wish the con-
tlnuance OF her dominion over these Islands To
favor the Southern Republics' They do not admit
that thisi subcc, in which we have any concern.
Il is no. one in which they have asked or expect
us TO take part. They know that we cannot inter-
ferc without yiolatingour neutrality. They do not
want our aid, and would only be embarrassed by
OUT interference. Is it for the benefit of these Is
lands themselves! Eo--we have deliberately aban-
doned them to their fate We have formally ac
guessed in the hopelessness of their condition, and
sdbored 10 make their connection with Spain indis-
soluble. In this particular at least, our interfer-