The New York herald., 1849-05-10
English residents here are bitterly opposed to thei
country's West India policy.

II, III,
cdfamo, occasional descriptions of such scenes
made clear and pleasing Impressions upon me, ant
mingled my own reflections with the thoughts tha
sprung from the suggestions of others In so doing
! know not that have conveyed to you any yiyt
image OF Cuba or struck out ideas of its DESTINY
worthy OF sober reflection. But all of us view
objects through our own peculiar nedia-whethe
of preiudices or fancy-and color them with tint
In which they may appear to no other eyes, b,
contrast the soft and luxurious scenes In the tropi
Cal world come associated with the sterner ant
more thrilling which, at other times and in othe
places, LETT their impress on the memory. Nature
or Providence has been equal in its gifts thar
often admits. Whilst the Cuban loves hi
groves OF palm, mangoe, and orange, and woult
not barter them for the less beautiful forests
oak and pine whilst he enjoys the gentle and fra
grant beeeZe which everplays about his picturesque
abode, and shudders at the thought of those rud,
blasts which blow around more northern homes
whilst, too, he blesses his lot that provides for hi
physical wants without severe toll, exemptng hin
from the struggles which colder cimes and less
fertile plains impose, he sighs for that enjoymen
which tree government, harder enterprise
which he looks for the coming redemption
his own favored isle. Nature has done all o
good, for him-.man all of evil. The Incidence
which luxuriant soil, tropical cline, ant
abundant fruits engender, has not produced tina
mental torpdy which stiles thought and pure
aspirations. Cursed by despotic laws, with uncer
tainty hanging over his hopes every hour, his ge
nerous ambition repressed, strangers devouring hi
substance, and gnawlng desire for freedom, ant
objects to make life worth living, for ever working
upon him, he sighs for that spirit OF change which
has breathed so potenty over other lands within
few short years, and crowned the patriots toll will
abundant reward. This longing for American
sympathy and for union with us in a common des
tiny, is visible at every turn-is heard in every
whispered aspiration. 1t IS based, not only on love
OF American institutions, but on hatred Of Spanish
wrongs, and fears of further ills to be suffered
: The fate OF the thousands who have fled hther Al
various times, to escape the murders and rapine
caused by premature and ill.judged philanthropy or
lister islands, haunts the Cuban's imagination, anc
forces HIM to turn for security against similar hor,
rors to that nation alone in whom his hopes seem
now to, be wholly centred. He is sensitive to
every huctuation-to the. whispers of change
which come to him from his unnatural father-land
uncertain when the prevalence of British counsels
or the intrlgues OF corrupt courtiers may make
Cuba second st. Domingo, or jamaica That his
hopes and fears Outstrip his knowledge-that his
longing for annexation precedes accurate study OF
our institutions, and their practical operation-is
from fear and hope will outrun cold calculation and
patient reflection. He knows that the American
Union is stable and happy; he knows that it is free,
and that justice is impartlaly administered there;
he knows that it is potent protect and to punish;
and he seeks its shelter and blessings.
The longing tor annexation is universal on this
island, among the native whites. and many Of
them have strengthened their desire by sober re-
Election on their present position and probable
destiny. They feel an insecurity in existing af.
fairs, which places them at the mercy of any one
of a thousand court fo!lies or accidents. They
know the natural wealth and capabilities of the
island--the advantages of American industry and
enterprise. They have not been wholly inatten-
tive to the rapid progress of our nation in wealth,
Learning and rl lprosPerity-to its triumphs in arts
victories over superior numbers in Mexico
strange to them, because previously our military
prowess was not properly appreciated-and they
all foes. Our ships enter their harbors, and they
have learned our commercial strength and enter
prise. They understand that their nsular position
would, under a, different government, give them
its defence the alliance of strong naval power.
They have observed for years the jealousy of
England, and have become we'll informed of the
fruits of British abolition. They find their trade
onerous RESTRICTIONS merely to enrich prOhigate
Court and family three thousand miles away, or
to secure to corrupt favortes indolent provinces
wealth and pleasure, at the expense of this distan-
island. They see Spain tardy and sluggish, lint
gering behind other nations in the great work Of
Improvement, and cng,,ng with the greater, tena-
SIDES is rapidly advancing. They know, and
what is better, they feel, that the Spanish connec-
tion or supremacy is to them nothing but injury
and feeling thus, they are ready, whenever a
in the necessary struggle for their rights either on
the basis of independence or of annexation
have referred in my previous letters to the Gu:
ban question, as one of vast moment to the United
States, connected as it is with our foreign and do
mestic policy, and destined, If neglected, to play
sad part in coming history. have hinted at the
mode of .unravelling the web in which it is entan-
glcd, and at the advantages-positve and negative
which would flow therefrom. A wise people will
anticipate events so far as may be necessary to
ward of threatened evils secure certain benefits.
ing this island, but think the public mind should
be directed to the subject at once so that when the
favorable moment comes, our government can act
without "let or hindrance" from ourselves. Hence
~ hot I,tyN
known; that our diplomatic correspondence with her
court should be published; that the nature of our
commercial treaties should be understood; also,
% Mhaa IS 1ne ,rue position we nGid WITH regard to this
ought to occupy. In 1923, President Monroe de-
fined our true policy, and his declaration has been
often renewed since. The Gulf has been called
by some of our ablest statesmen mare nostrun,-
our sea and it is essential to the valley of the
Mississippi that its outlet should be in our possess
sion. at least free from hostile control only
is the great West interested in that matter, but all
portions OF the confederacy. In the event of an
nexation, the East and North would probably de-
rive more immediate and greater benefits from the
trade OF Cuba, than either the South or West.
But 1t IS not IN sectional light that such measures
should be viewed, for what is beneficial to part
OF our Union is profitable TO the whole. A new
administration has come into power, and on it is
devolved the consideration of this subject Its se-
lection OF Minister tor the Spanish court should be
made with due regard to the importance of that
post and no incompetent favorie sent there, as if
to snecure. If he shall inform himself properly
OF the good to be done In his mission, he will find
vast interests and profound subjects committed to
his supervisiorand forecast
AS this is the last letter which / shall probably
write on this island, before embarking for home,
feel the more profoundly that as nature has placed
Cuba near us as an appendsge to the continent, so
have time and circumstances bond of
mutual interests and sympathies between the peo-
pie OF each, which should draw them into still closer
union. God grant that such connection may
soon be formed, and peaceably!
TUE CASE THE SPANISH SMACK pForEyA