The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-08-24
THE NNEXATION OF CUBA

THE ANNEXATION OF CUBA.
The Boston Atlas oflast Saturday has
long and interesting editorial under the a.
bove head.-The Atlas commences with
the following paragraph
"The fact cannot be disguised, that
there is party in the United States which
looks to the annexation Of the Island of
Cuba to this country, as a thing highly
desirable. The question has yet only been
preached publicly by few presses but
those presses are known to represent the
views of large and influential class of
citizens. That the scheme meets with IA
vor, in certain quarters. cannot be doubt
ed. Indeed, whatever scheme may be pro-
posed, however absurd and unconstitu-
tlonal it may be, if it be a scheme by
which the slave power of the country may
be strengthened, it is sure to find favor g.
friends We therefore consider the mat
ter as settled, that one of the issues likely
To be presented to the people, within few
years, will be the annexation of Cuba To
the United States. And, if we are not
greatly IN error, there are causes at work
in Europe which will precipitate the de-
cision of the question:
We ourselves have had occasion TO
know somewhat of the feeling among men
at the South on the subject For the last
ten wears the idea of eventually securing
to the United States the Island Of Cuba
has been fondly INDUCED, and openly ex-
pressed
But what has recently attracted to this
subject IS the hint most Significantly made,
within n short time. by leading and infiu-
ential British statesmen, in and on of Par
lament. when speaking of the immense
debt which Spain owes to citizens of Eng
land. Lord George Be,nick presented in
the House ofCommons petition from the
British holders of Spanish bonds, in which
the holders asked redress From this pc
tition it appears that Spain is owing Bri;
sh subjects nearly 100000, 900, and that
she has paid for The last seven years but
little more than the interst on Il ,00O, 600
On the presentation of the petition an an
mated debate sprsng up. Lord George
Bentnick sirenuously urged that it was
the duty of Government to see that Brit
ish subjects were not defrauded oftheir
money by foreign Governments, when these
Governments were abundantly able to pay,
if they cared 10 do so. In speaking oil
Spain, Lord George among other things
said That her colonies were rich; thf
produce of Cuba alone vos U0iued at 80,
300, 900, whiLe it 1aS only defended by O.
900 military, the tOhOie nary of Spain be-
ing bit three line of battle ships, fire trig-
ates, and 30 small craft. He had proved
that every country had right to call on
another to pay debts due 10 its subjects
England had never hesitated to acknowl-
edge all claims upon her.
Lord Palmerston, the foreign secretary,
rs the organ Of the British Ministry, en-
dorsed the sentiment of Lord Bentinick,
and seized the opportunity to speak very
bitterly Of the repudiating States ofNorth
America. Spain was amply able to pay,
he said, from her great resources-'vet
from her besotied ignorance and blind
adherence to the old restricted.sy stem OF
commerce, she could do but little
Lord Palmerston said :
Il take ulS opportunity Oh IcInliuiHe uiOst
Governments who may be debtors to British peo-
pie, that the time may come when this House can
no longer sit patiently under wrongs and injustice
inflicted upon the subjects of this country cheers
that the time may come when the British nation
NAV no longer see with the same tranquility
fI5OOOO 600 due to British subjects, the Interests
and principal of which are alike unpaid and
that if more proper efforts adequately TO fulfil
their engagements are not made, the Governments
of this country, whoever may be the men who
compose it. may be compelled by public opinion.
ave, and by the votes of Parliament, to deTiate
from the hitherto established practice, and to in
sst upon the payment of those debts. (cheers.j
Sir that we have the means TO do so, do not for
one moment dispute. 1t is not that we are afraid
of any of these States, of one all ofthem pu'
together that we have alstained form taking the
steps which my noble friend has urged upon US
trust that we shall always have the means ofob-
tanning Justice from any country on the face OF
the Garth, and also Of compelling them to dis
charge their Just Obligations to u.s. and, therefore
let no foreign country, that has done wrong to
British subjects deceive itself by false impressions
that the British nation and the British Parliament
will ever remain acquiescent and passive under
the wrong; or that, whenever they call upon the
British Government to interfere and enforce the
rieh hts of the people of England, the Government
will not have ample means and power TO Obtain
for them a full measure Of justice, ll-oua
Cheers.o