The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-27

SDanl6l government,
nv despatch contained, IN reference TO the parties
thep urging their claims as bond holders. He ex.
pressed his ackno wledgements for that unm King
of shameless stock jobblng scheme, and con-
suggested and which has since been partially fol-
10 we'd, would place the Spanish government in
position to check any unwarrautabe opportunities
on the subject. likewise had an interview, 30
July 24lh, with the then Prime Minister of Spain,
In reference TO the speech OF Lord PalmerstOn on
the Angle-Spanish debt The cordial relations be-
tween Senior Pacheco and myself, procured for me
IN the matter, and dad all IN my power to eaceur
age amicable feelings IN relation thereto. imme-
dately communicated to Mr.. Buchanan, as we'll
to Mr. Saunders, the results OF the conference,
and, console ntously compelled to differ from Mr..
Saunders opinion, that the " matter was likely to
be pressed on the Spanish government" | ex-
pressed to Mr. Buchanan my conviction that no
danger was to be apprehended from the question.
Events have shown that my Union was correct
But day or two after the TRANSMISSION OF that
despatch, received another letter from Mr.. Saun
ders, IN which he said, (andcr date of Havre, July
18th, 1870
81 have deemed 1t safe to write Mr. B.. particularly
on the subject Of these Spanish bond-holders ad
wise him what is passing In Englsnd aud what my sp
for his View. and that sas Of the osoios tn. %ssn
time you will not fail to keep yourself accurately H.
formed Of what is tranfpiring for though { have NO
fear Of any things being done i'm medstely may wish
to have all the facts for future sotion.n
Mr.. Saunders did not inform me what he had
written to Mr.. Buchanan. But as it appeared to
me 10 be possible that the attention OF that gentle
man would be particularly directed to the subject
of Cuba, l considered that would be advancing
the views OF Mr.. Saunders, by at Oace transmitting
to the department OF State all the Information IN
my hands, which could throw light on the policy
OF Spain towards the United States. This CON-
menced doing, in very confidential dispatches, de-
failing the effect produced on the policy OF SPAN by
Mr.. FOrsyth's instructions, as shown by her con-
ol,.I nj
the British government IN 1913 to procure the re-
call of the then Spanish minister at Washington,
and in consequence OF tine position taken by Mr..
Tyler, on sending the home squadron to the waters
of Havana In that year. These dispatches were
subsequently Withdrawn by me from the archives
of the legation, and suppressed for several reasons
but particularly IN consequence OF the use made by
Mr. Saunders Of Mr.. Buchanan's name In con-
versatlon with the Duke de Gluckberg, tending
(f not desghed) to impair or destroy the close per-
sona relations between that dlpl0matist and myself
This withdrawal was silently acquiesced Ia by tue
department of State, though 1t never called on me
to give Gas had offered In writing and as prepare
tory to my reslgnauon,) my reasons tor this extra
ordinary and unprecedented step.
Towards the end OF August, 1871, and while l
was writing the dispatches just alluded to, ques-
ton arose at M adrd, which occasloned me renewed
embarr assment-ess from its intrinsic difficulty,
than from the measures taken by Mr.. Saunders to
carry out his singular plan OF conducting at Paris
the affairs of the American legation at Madrid,
some GOO miles off. That question was the d.
vorce of the Catholic Queen from her husband,
urged by Sir Henry Butler on the Goyeua ministry
OF itself II would have interested me but lutte;
but information from various sources, and partlcu-
lary the contents OF an intercepted letter OF SIR
Henry Bulwer, convinced me that the Queens d.
but the first step In plan to obtain tor
England extended rights In or over Cuba, IN ex
change for her assent to the union OF Spain aud
Portugal, on the proposed marriage OF Isabella IL.
to the heir apparent TO the Portuguese crown,
Ceuta and a commercial treaty being taken IN ex-
To- 4 NJ Mo- IL
being excluded from the succession to the throne:
| have serious doubts whether this plan received
the sanction of the British government at home.
and believed it would be impossible to obtain tor
1t the support OF the British public. But never
theless conceived 1t my duty to aid In the
defeat of the project OF divorce. The firm
ness of Senior Goyena, then prime minister
OF Spain, defeated the powerful combination
formed togratlfy the supposed wlshes OF the Catho
lie Queen, and was relieved from the necessity
of taking the active and decided, but unofficial
steps which the conferences between the Fren ch
Minister (M de Gluckberg) and myself, 1t had
been agreed upon that | should take, In case the
efforts of Sir Henry Bulwer rendered IT absolutely
necessary to approach influences welding great
power over the mind OF the sovereign herself But
in all the proceedings growing out OF or connected
with that affair, l took care neither to exceed my
powers, nor disregard the stringent and even jea-
lous instructions sent by Saunders. In respect to
one OF those prcceedlDgs-rclatlve to a supposed
reasonable correspondence concerning the
adjustment OF tree negro republic IN Cuba-I am
disposed to be silent, because the Spanish govern
ment has determined Il think, wlsely,) to preserve
the most profound secrecy IN regard TO It.
On the 2Olh OF September, 1917, Mr. Saunders
returned to Maorid, after absence OF nearly
five months |, OF course, reverted to my former
position of Secretary OF the Legation, a slnecure
infinitely more agreeable and advantageous than
the Charge OF Affairs had proven to be. My IN
tentlon, formed long before, as was known to my
friends, without any reference to the proceedings
OF Mr.. saunders, to resign my post, and return to
the United States, was changed tor reasons, most
of which can be of no interest to the public but
one OF them had such direct reference to the at
fairs of Cuba, that II Is well, perhaps, to refer
to 1t.
The instructions given by Mr.. Forsyth In rea-
ton to Cuba-the very existence of which felt
bound to keep concealed, until it was revealed by
Mr.. Cass IN his published speech on the Yucatan
question, and the terms OF which have commu-
nlcated TO no One*-were considered by me, as
soon as examined them, (ln May, 1919 to be
emlnenily unconstitutional; 1t as chiefly for this
reason that l called the attention of the Depart
ment OF State to them, in my first despatch In re-
atlon to the Anglo Spanish debt, though the hum
beness of my position prompted me TO make no
comments on their legality or propriety. In add
ton, telt assured that they had had the most dis
astrous efec cts on our relations with Spain, parti-
cuarly In reference to our present and also our
possible future interests IN Cuba. These views |
did not conceal from Mr.. Saunders, and was
gratlhed TO find, before my departure from Madrid,
that, when suggested to hum from another quarter,
Inc latter oil tne opinions above expressed. was, IN
practice, adopted by him. Bat somewhat to my
surprise, he had, on hts return from France thought
proper to act on these Instructions, although he
had himself refe rred them back TO the Department
OF State for revision, not BECAUSE Gas he wrote to
me on July 24th, 1917 he did not have "fu con-
hdence In'' MIR. Buchanan, but because, Gas he
wrote to that gentleman himself, on July Both,
1S47,) he chad greater confidence IN the present
[ Mr.. Polksl cabinet in regard to this important
subject, and should like much to have The benefit
of his Mr. Buchanan's1 Views so as to avail him.
self Mr. Saundersl OF them, should 1t become
hereafter 10 take action on the matter"
have, on several occasions, taken an oath to
support the constitution of the United States, and
that OF Virginia. the State oil my residence. Tne
democratic patty, of which | am member, has
always commended against the extension OF Execu.
i've power and l, myself, have always particular
j supported that principle Of the party, Expressed
"a one OF the resolutions OF the Baltimore CDnven-
ie3,) which eDJolns on all officers of the govern
M be viewer humble Their sphere, 20 carrY ont