The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-01


nen' 1t has not only been the policy of government
times past but the desire of people the present
moment, to prevent, every hazard any foreign nation
interests Europe and Asia may rule the Old World as
they may fit to do, and government will never in
erlere But then the United States claims the right 10
guard its ewn destnies and while avoiding en-.
tangng alliances with foreign nations, they will never
but in an evil hour fail to exclude foreign powers
from obtaining such positions continent in its
immediate neighborhood as will enable them to cripple
and shape they please future history
That the British government has entertained the desire to
bring Cuba under her dominion is sufficiently proved BY
the debates in the British Parliament on the Spanish
debt Even Mr.. Reynolds, the discarded secretary of
legation does not deny it, On the contrary, he informs
the country that after examining in person, the for
tresses of Cuesta and Gibraltar and after obtaining
other rare and valuable information, he thought
that the rumors OF exchange OF Gibraltar for
Cuba should receive particular attention. But if the
evidence of is worth anything who has OBJ
ruded himself before the public for the purpose of ex
hibiting with what shanelessness he violate what
ever confidence may have been reposed in him as
agent Of his government under the audacous plea that
letters and information received by him in his diplomatic
capacity "not private letters on private affairs"
then the American people have gained valuable nforma
ton from his Spanish ntrigues Speaking of the divorce
of the Queen of SPAIN urged by Sir Henry Buwer on the
Goyena ministry, MIR. Reynolds says:
Ofitsefit would have interested me but little but in
formation from various sources, and particularly
tents of intercepted letter of Sir Henry Bulwe
WINGED that the Queens divorce but the first step
in plan obtain for England extended rights in
Cuba in exchange for her the union of Spain and
Portugal the proposed marriage of Isabella H. to the
heir apparent the Portuguese crown, Ceuta and
mecia treaty being taken in exchange for Gibraltar and
Madame de Monpensier being excluded from the sue
the throne. have serious doubts whether this
plan received the sanction of the British government
home and believed it would be impossible obtain for it
the support of the British public. But nevertheless
ceved my duty aid in the defeat OF the project Of d.
The frness of Senior Cos sna, then prime minister
of Spain, defeated the powerful combination formed
crafty the pposed wishes of Catholic Queen,
relieved from the necessity of taking the active and
decided but unofficial steps which in the conferences be-
the French Minister (M de Cluckburg) and myself,
it had been agreed upon that should take in tho
of Sir Henry Bulwer rendered it absolutely
ry approach influences welding great power the
mind OF the sovereign her self But in all the proceedings
growing out OF connected with that affair, tack
neither to exceed powers, nor disregard the stringent
and jealous instructions by Saunders In respect
of those neutrality-suspicious. t, supposed treason
able pondence concerning the establishment o. free
negro republic in Cuba-I disposed be silent, ba
cause the Spanish government has determined q think
wisely preserve the most profound secrecy in regard
II it.
If the reader can leave of view the ineabe conce
and the ridiculous self lau laon contained in the above
extract, he will see-that is, if Mr. Reynolds is to be
creded-that the English minister at Madrid originated
project whose design :" to obtain for England ex
tended rights in Cuba" True, have the
ISOLATION OF knowing that Mr. Reynolds has serious doubts
whether Sir Henry Bulwer did not mistake the views
of the British government and the temper of the British
people Ye, we fear that the British minister knew
least much that subject Mr. Reynolds did, al
though he nmates, with great satisfaction, that if SeEo
Goyena had not defeated the scheme he could have ap
preached influences welding great power the mind
of the sovereign herself" But there is another point
ia the extract which we have made. to which would
call the attention of the public We deem it important
not because it is statement from Mr. Reynolds, but be-
cause that gentleman desires to conceal it. We refer to
the last sentence. 1t connects with the proceedings
nected with the divorce of the queen of Spain ga sup
posed reasonable correspondence concerning the esab
lishment of free negro republic in Cuba" Such pro
ject if entertained fail to be matter of the last
importance to the people of the United States in every
aspect in which could be viewed We do not know
what Mr. Reynolds audes; and it seems that while he
is willing lay open the world all the proceedings Of
our legation at Madrid, not feeling the least restraint
hasnucn as tney are nor private matters, Yet ne barely
hints at Stree negro republic in Cuba" and then he
disposed to be silent, because the Spanish government
has determined to preserve the profound secresy
1t would have been better for his reputation had he
shown much Difference for his own as he has mani.
tested toward a foreign government
We have said more this subject than it. importance
demands But there is one point in Mr.. Reynodss de.
fence, as his letter may be called which demands aen
ton, inasmuch it furnishes a means OF constituting
many things which would otherwise be nexpca'
BILE. The letter is written professedly to defend the
acts OF ITS author in connexion with the pretended
negotiation for the purchase of Cuba. He denies that
he agent to effect the annexation of Cuba.
This was superluous, as no ever thought he was
He also denies that he had any agency in defeating
the project at Madrid. We grant this also, although
there is nothing in the voluminous letter to prove 1t
This is all that he petends he has TO before the
American public. One would naturally seek for the mo-
tive which prompted the vast bulk of the letter which
does not refer to those matters That motive may be
found in oveweening conceit OF Mr. Reynolds, which
forced him to exhibit himself as a man "of dipo
matte profundity and personal grandeur among the
Dukes de Gtuckberg the Madame de Msntpcnsiers, the
Buwers, and Goyenas," as the Philadelphia American
states. This feeling prompted him to sketch the portrait
OF Mr. Reynolds in Spain' and dvulgc matters which
he bound by every impulse of honor and every pnn'
cipe of duty to conceal But the pcture could MOI, be