Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-31

interests ~ other powee, now neutral, nag DC Sc
rtousv affected and they may be called upon to per-
form important duties, which they NAV not be NJ IL
bcrty to neglect 'Fhe issue of such war NAV have
great influence the balance and stability opow-
or in the West Indies. Nations of Europe may feel
themselves required to intcrpose orcibly TO arrest
course Of events, which they cannot be Indifferent
1T they should limit their ntcrpositon merely to the
object of preventing any change i'll the existing state
of things, in respect the islands, the u States far
from being under any pledge, at present to oppose
them. might find themselves, contrary to their inc
nation, reluctantly drawn by current cf events tor
their side In conSiderings such enterprise rs has
been supposed, it it be undertaken there ought to be-
an anxious and deliberate examinations first into the
means of Colombia and Mexico to accomplish the OBJ
Jec and SECONDLY, their power to preserve and defend
the acquisition made. We lEive lot the data neces
sary to form certain Judgment on the first point.
We ought to possess to enable us to form such
Judgment. knowledge, first, of the force military
and naval which the republics eau apply to the opera
tion secondly, that which Spain exert in ress
tance; and thirdly, WHAT portion of the land would
take part ON the one, and the other side
of tue bclligerents. Although we have not
tins information III ample detail; we know that
SPAN is IN actual possession, with very con-
siderable military force, THAT this force recently
much strengthened, occupies the Moro Castle deem
cd ulnrst imprcgnabe, and other strong holds in the
island; that driven she has been, from the CONT
nent OF America all her means and all her efforts will
now be concentrated on this most valuable of her re-
mining American possessions; that to this end she
will apply her attention, which has been hitherto too
much distracted by the multitude Of her beocrent
eSertons in North and South America, exclusively
to this most Important point that to its sccCour she
VIII gather up from her vast wreck, the residue Of
hcr once powerful army in Europe and America; and
that there is TO believe that il she should not
be openly assisted by any of the European Powers,
she MAY receive from them covert but irresponsible
aid
With all these resources and favourable circum-
stances combined, it must be admitted that the
Szf'CN, ,l- %.
without extensive and powerful means boil, naval
and military But, secondly, do either Colombia or
Mexico possess such means, We doubt it. They
nave both to create marine. \ single ship Of the
line, two trgatcs, and three four Jcsses of small
cr grade, badly m'nned, compose the whole naval
force OF the United Mexican States. That of Co.
lun,bia Is not much greater better manned. But
10 means OF transporting and defending, durin its
voyage, the military force necessary to achieve the
Conquest, are absolutely Indispensable. Nay, more;
1t would be IN the last degree rash and irnprudcnt
to throw an army into Cuba unless the two republics
possessed and could retain naval superiority at
contingencies which ought always to be ANTICIPATED
IN the vclssitudes war; And; in the iniri place.
It is well kncii tlIat the inhabitants of Cuba. far
trdm being United in favour Of invasion, entertain
great apprehensicns to their future safety in
such an event, aud that they especially dread an
Infusion from Colombia. on account of the character
OF portion of the troops of tlat republic
But II all difficulties we're surmounted, anu the con-
quest Oh the Island was once effected we should not
be without continual fears of the instability of its fiji
ture conditions: The slime want of naval nn,ver
which would be felt in reducing, would be suisse
guen;'y experienced in defending and PRESERVING t.
Neither Colombia nor Mexico is destined to ne first
rate naval power They both (Mexco still mnre thu
Colombia,) want an extent of sea cost bavs inlnfs
anu harborS the nurseries Of seaIaen; III short all the
essential clements of q powerful marine Enoland
France, the Netherlands, Spain herself, when she
shal as at Sonic very distant dayvhc must rccoL
,,-,fl
COME If not forever naval Powers, outrank either
Mexico or Colombia A with any one Of those
European nations would place Cuba in the hands OF
either of those two Republics, at the most imminent
hazard. It is impossible for the Government of the
United States to close their eyes to the fact that in
the event OF military enterprise being prosecuted
by the Republics against Cuba, the ships tie seamcn
the cannon, and the other naval means necessary 70
cond0ct 1t. wl have been principally obtained in the
nItadStatea. Although far from giving any coun-
tenancc TO the procurement Of those supplies deter
mined 10 nalntan faithful neutrality thcy have di-
rected strict enforcement Of their laws; the fact
nevertheless, Of their being collected within their
rdrts subjects them to un!rendlv and Injurious sus
pcious. And they you'd see, with much renur-
nance, resources drawn from themselves applied to
the accomplishment oan object TO which their policy
and their interests are opposed.
The President hopes that these considerations on
iorccdb by such others as may present themselves to
you they should not be deemed of sufficient WEIGHT
to prevent altogether any invasion of Cuba will at
least, dssuade from any rash premature enerprize
with Inadequate, or doubtful means. And it is rcuui
red by the frank and friendly relations which we most
anXlously desire ever to cherish with the new epub-
lies that you should without reserve explicitly State
that the United States have too much at stake in
the fortunes Cuba, to allow them to sec with in
difference, a war ofiavasion prosecuted in desoa-
ting manner: or TO ployed, in the purposes of
such a war, one race of the inhabitants combating
against another, upon principles and with motives
that rn1st inevitably lead, if not to the determination
of one party the other to the most shocking excess
ss The humanity otthe u. States, in respect to be
weaker and which, IN such terrible struggle. would
probably be the suffering portion, and their duty to
defend themselves against the conagion of such near
and dangerous examples, would constrain them even
at the hazard of losing the friendship greatly as they
value it, OF Mexico and Colombia, to employ all the
means necessary to their securitr.
If yon should be unable to prevail on those Ropub-
lies TO renounce all designs Of the invasion and con-
nlicsL of CnLa and Porin 20 VIM iii d.. q -.