Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-03

island from the possession Of old Spain?
Yes, in that early day, when the great val
Hey Of the Mississippi was an uninhabited
wilderenss, and the extent Of that mighty
river, was not even known to the civilized
nations Of Europe; the grasping policy Of
the British statesmen marked that island as
Of vast military importance. t..rg a,sS z
1t is true that because Of impending
troubles at home and the cost Of sustaining
a military armament there, at that early Pc
riod, when all the supplies had to be brat
from Europe, Great Britain by treaty sur
rendered the post back to Spain, yet she
did not do so until that nation in conside-
ration thereof ceded to England the two
Floridas which were then deemed Of ital
importance to the British possessions in
North America. ia satsr
We also infer from the recent conduct
Of Great Britain towards us, and in regard
to various parts Of this cont ent.
| Has she net in direct villaiion Of er
treaty'of joint-occupation seized upon the
greater portion Of the territory Of Oregon?
Has she not without one particle Of right
set up claim to that country, Knowing it
to be ours, and then without regard to the
treaty, and in iolation Of our rights, taken
forcible and exclusive possession Of the
country, filled it with military stations and
armed men, and as final act Of unauthor-
ised encroachment, by an act of parliament
they have extended their laws and the iu-
disdiction Of their courts over our own cit
iyapc ipha hitipr onr o,,r or;l
Have they not through their agents in
the Hudson Bay fur company, seized upon
our peaceable and unoffending citizens, car
rying on fair traffic in our own territory,
and dragged them by force hundreds Of
miles over>mountains Of frost and snow,
and compelled them to appear before q
British tribunal in Canada, for daring to
carry on the trade of merchant without
first obtaining British license.
Did they not interfere with us in our
negotiations for Texas, evidently with the
intention of obtaining the control of that
country for the British crown, have they
not entered into an intrigue (for it deserves
no other nancy to obtain from Mexico
those fertile provinces, the two Calafor-
Mas. In all this do we not see the evident
intention Of forming belt Of British PROV
mces, and a circle Of military pests around
us, making sweep of the continent from
the Gulfof st. Lawrence 10 that Of Mexi-
co. All that would then have been want
ing, to complete this iron band Of British
power, was the island Of Cuba. aj
The recent conduct of Great Britain to-
wards other nations furnishes equal cause
Of alarm in relation to this island as one Of
the strong holds and impregnable outposts
ofthe country. qxsesr.r.s-s.s isasyszgvv-r,
Did she not within few years past, in
violation Of the acknowledged law Of ma
tons, and Of common honesty, make war
upon India, and after burning cities and
numbering people, forced that ancient en-
,pire into an inglorious peace. BY this
war and the treaty of peace, England OBJ
tained possession of one of the strongest
military positions upon the coast Of India.
Since that acquisition, England has erected
there strong military fortifcations, and es-
tablished a naval depot where is now the
head quarters of their powerful East India
squadron. BY this acquisition, and the ar
maments there, this grasping and naughty
power control the entrance to the prnci-
pal harbors upon the coast.
Is it not then fair inference, that what
England has done against other nations,
without right and against law, she may at
tempt against the United States whenever
her interest or love of conquest and do
main may seem to demand it. ta" aH@a
None Of us believe that Great Britain
has any good will towards the U. States.
This nation is her rival in commerce. man
ulactories and almost every branch Of hui
man employment. But what is more than
all that in the eyes Of England; westward
the star Of empire sends its rays, and the
British tyrants see it with dread, and but
a slight pretext is wanting to measure
swords and stay If possible our growing
power. For those reasons we look upon
the acquisition Of Cuba as a necessary act
Of self defence in this government, as much
as it would be to purchase piece of land
upon any portion OF our frontier whereon
to erect a fort. It is but the carrying out
Of that principle that we should prepare
for war in time Of peace. So important is
this island to the United States, and in our
opinion, so absolutely necessary is il 10 our
future safety, that we do not hesitate to re-
commend the adoption by our government
the policy, that the same should not 60 in
to the hands Of any other nation, nor should
imposing military dcfences b: erected there
on by the present owner.
tits proposed 10 purchase this island as
we did Louisiana, except that We dcsirc
to obtain the consent OF the free white III
habitants Of the contract.
4 1t is proposed to admit the country into
this Union under a republican form Of
government as free and independent
state, having all the powers, rights, and
privileges Of other States Of this Union.
It is proposed to guarantee 10 them a
happy form of self government with pow
er to make and administer thcir ewr laws,
and be secure in their in,lividuh ard rer-
sonal rights, and enjoy the free exercise
Of their religious principles.
1t is believed that if this Island was
placed under such form Of gov arnment,
that the revenues would amount to over
six millions of dollars per annuln, over the
sum necessary to support the state govern
ment, and every year after the change,
their inhabitants from the United States