Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-07-29

| was uuOut hu'l Wo1 HOul lHe Dio ~
Vera Cruz, and so as grantees, from
France, OF Louisiana, we claimed to
the Rio del Norte, though the Spanish
settlement of Santa Fe was at the head
of that River. France, from whom
we had received Louisiana, utterly dis
i claimed ever having raised such pre-
tension. Still we made the best Of
the claim that we could, and finally
yielded it for the Florldas, and for
the line OF the 49d degree of latitude,
from the source.of the Arkansas river
to the South Sea. Such was our
claim; and you may judge how much
confidence Mr.. Monroe could have in
its validity. The great object and
desire of the country then was 10 OBJ
tain the Floridas. 1t was General
Jackson's desire; and in that con.
ference.wilh me to which have here
'ofore alluded, and which it is said he
does not recollect, he said to me that
so long as the Florida river were not
in our possession, there could be no
safety for our whole Southern coun.
try.
Bnt, sir, suppose you should annex
Texas to these United States; another
year would moi pass before : ou would
have 10 engage in a war for the con.
quest Of the Island Of Cuba. What is
now the condition Of that islandi Still
under the nominal protection Of Spain.
Consuming her own vitaIs in a civil
war for the succession 10 the crown.
Did you expect, that whatever may
be the issue of that war, she can retain
even the Nominal possession Of Cuba?
After having lost oil her continental
colonies in North and South. America,
Cuba will stand in need Of more eff
cient protection; and above all, the
protection of naval power. Sup.
| pose that navaNpower should be Great
Britain. There is Cuba at your very
door; and if you spread yourself along
| a naked coast, from the Sabine to the
Rio Bravo, what will be your relative
4 position towards Great Britain, with
not only Jamaica, but Cuba, and Porto
Rico in her hands, and abolition for
the motto to her union cross of St.
George and St. Andrew? Mr. Chair
man, do you think l am treading upon
fantastic groundsa Let me tell you
piece OF history not far remote Sir,
many years have not passed away
since an Internal revolution in Spain
subjected that country and her king
for short time TO the momentary
government of the Corles. That rev
oIution was followed by another, by
which, under the auspices of a French
army with the Duke d'AOgouIeme al
their head, Ferdinand the Seventh was
restored 10 despotic throne! Cuba
had followed the fortunes Of the Cortes
when they were crowned with victo.
ry, and when the counter revolution
came, the inhabitants of this island un.
certain what was to be their deslina-
nation, were for some time in great
perplexity what 10 do for themselves.
Two considerable parties arose in the
island, one Of which was for placing
1t under the protection of Great Bri,
tain, and another was for annexing
it TO the confederation Of these United
States. BY oae Of these parties have
reason 10 believe that OvertUres were
made TO the Government of Great
Britain. BY the other I knOw that
overtureS were made to The Govern
ment Of the United States. And |
further know that secret though ire.
sponsIble assurances were cOmmuni.
Gated to the then President of the U.
States, as coming from the French
Government that they we're secretly
Informed that the British Government
had determined 10 take possession Of
Cubs.
Whether similar Overturos were made
to France herself | do not undertake TO
say but that Mr. George Canning, the
British Secretary Of State for Foreign
Affairs, was uader no considerable alarm
lest undor the puPlage of the Duke dan
geuleme, Ferdinand the Seventh might
commit 10 the commander OF French
naval squadron the custody of the Moro
Castle, is circumstance also we'll known
to the. II happened that Just about this
time French squadron OF considerable
force was fitted out and received sailing
orders for the West Indies, without formal
communication of tho fact to the British
Government, and Hs soon as il was made
known to him he gave orders to the Bri.
tIsh Ambassador at Paris to demand, in
moN Refemptory tone, what was the des
tinatIoc Of The squadron, and special and
positive disclaimer that it was intended
to visit the Havana; and this was made
the occasion Of mutual explanations by
which Great Britain, France and tho U
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