American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-18
fCommunicated.1

MEssRs. EDfToRs Permit me to call the at
tention of the Commissioner of the Fifth Ward
and the Board of Health to the green and stag
nant ponds of water at the intersection Of
street north and First street west, caused by
stopping the natural water-courses by the en-
bankments recently thrown across the streets,
without placing trunks at the bottom of the
same to allow the water from the adjacent
springs and from the hills to flow into the Tiber.
presume the Corporation is bound to remove
nuisances Of its own creation. Already several
persons residing near these stagnant ponds
have been made sick by the efhuyia arising
therefrom and ere long expect TO hear Of the
members of the new Trinity church being af-
| fected by the poisonous gases from the low
grounds near the Tiber, floating through the
! east windows Of the church to the lungs of the
occupants of the pews.
Strangers in passing to and from the railroad
station will doubtless be enabled to contrast our
naagnifcent It6er and salubrious lakes with those
of ancient Rome and other capitals D.
The PURCHASE OF CUBA.--A writer in the
New York Herald suggests the propriety of the
United States purchasing the Island of Cuba
from the Spanish government, provided it can
be obtained for reasonable sum-say one hun
dred millions of dollars. The proposition is put
forward on the ground that there is growing
sentiment among the American people in favor
of revolution in Cuba, and of the establish
ment of Cuban independence: and that If the
Cuban discontents receive aid and assistance
from their coadjutors in the United States, it
might involve this country in war with some
of the great powers Of Europe
The Herald thinks neither England nor France
would be willing to fight with US about it, and
remarks: Hs s.a.. ta
tWere the creoles Of Cuba to obtain their in
dependence of Spain, with or without aid and
assistance from the United States, there is good
reason to apprehend that Spain would treat its
annexation to the United States, as the Mexican
government treated the annexation of Texas,
viz as a casus telh, or as a declaration of war;
Such a result would be of vast injury to u.s.
Her military resources could not be employed
| against us; but, by means OF letters Of marque,
she could harass our commerce and lnftlct
more damage than Cuba is worth fifty times
over Her pride would induce her to take this
course, in all probability for weak as she is,
and ranking so low as she does In the scale Of
nations, she does not forget the position she
once held nor would she see the last of her
American colonies form part of this Confedera-
ton by annexation, without resenting it, even
were she sure of suffering INJURY from 30 doing.
Spain has always held reputation for priya-
teering and guerilla warfare, and a better out
let for the employment Of her malcontents
could not be offered, than the franking Of let
ters of marque to harass our commerce. ..
! For these and other reasons, which it is
unnecessary now to mention, we are in favor,
| as we have been for two or three years past, of
our Government offering to purchase Cuba from
Spain. If it can be obtained for reasonable
sum, it would be advisable for us to open nego-
tiations ct once. We proposed this to the Gov
ernment and to Calderon de la Barca, the Span
ish minister az Washington, considerable time
since. AS she and Cuba are now situated, in
nll probability she would give respectful atten,
ton to our overtuI es, and take them into &C.
rious consideration She cannot but be as
sured that her hold ON that island IS very
precarious, and that in the nature IT things'
she cannot continue it much longer The Ia.
pendence of Cuba may be delayed-all present
efforts at revolution may be put down; but the
creole population have determined to be inde-
pendent of Spain, and independent they win be,
sooner or later. 1t is only a question of time,
and if Spain wishes to save her reputation, and
Mt the same time make snug sum of money by
the operation, she will dispose Of that island TO
the United States, for a fair consideration to
be agreed upon by the contracting parties"