The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-06
British and French Intervention I'm Nela-
ton to Cuba.
Correspondence of the ". Y. Courier and Enquirer.


Correspondence of the ". Y. Courier and Enquirer.
WAsHINGToN, Nov 2, 1851.
MY DEAR Sin; have made inquiries at head
quarters about the correctness of certain floating
rumors in relation to the correspondence between
the British and French ministers and the Secretary
of State, upon the Cuban question.
You may take il for true that, in the absence of
Mr.. WEBSTER. il was made known TO Mr.. CRITTEN-
DEN, by reading to him memorandum from the in
strucons of the British and French ministers, that
orders had been given to the British and French
ships of war to prevent the landing of any mill
tary force upon the coasts of Cubaas it is doubt
less true that the armed steamers of the United
States had similar orders-ifsuch military force
proceeding from this country. IL may be conjcc-
tured with sufficient certainty that these orders of
France and England were founded on two ideas;
fret that those powers were bound by treaty stip
ulations to protect Cuba in the hands of Spain;
second, that an armed vessel proceeding to sea,
evidently for warlke purposes, and without com
mission from some regular government, is pirate,
whom it is lawful for anybody to destroy. There
is no for supposing that it was intended to
be intimated the Government of the United States
that merchant ships of this country, with Ameri-
can flags and regular papers, could be searchedby
foreign cruisers, to discover individuals bound to
Cuba with hostile intent. Since Mr. WEBsTER's
correspondence with Lord AsnBURToN on the right
of search, it is not probable that such thing could
be attempted, under any circumstances. You may
remember that in the debate in the Senate of the
United States the Treaty of Washington in
1912, Mr.. BUCHANAN affected to dcride MIR. WEB
sTER's letter on the subject of imprcssment, and
said we should be obliged to fight that question out
with England. That distinguished gentleman was
mistaken. No British minister will now ever dare to
order the impressment of British subjects out of
American ships. That question, undetermined by
the result Of our late war with Great Britain, is
now forever settled. ''Peace has its victories no
lees renowned than war"
You may remember also that in the ensuing ses-
sion of Parliament debate arose concerning the
right of search for other purposes, originating in
objections made in the House of Commons to some
parts of President TyLER's message to Congress.
The subject has passed away, and become in some
measure forgotten. Ifyou will turn, however, to
Mr.. WEBsTER's letter to Mr.. EVERETT that &C
casion, you will see what thoroughwo he makes
with the speeches of Sir RoBBRT PEEL and Mr..
WooD, now Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord
BRoUGHAM declared in the House of Lords the
gument Of those gentlemen had been completely
overthrown. And Lord ABERDEEN, then Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, to whom this letter
communicated by Mr., EVERETT, informed Mr..
EVERETT that he should answer it. But that an
stuer has mol yet been received.
| happened to be in the North where Mr.. WEB
srER was last summer when the news arrived
that England and France intended to order, or
had ordered, American vessels to be searched in
former times; and heard Mr.. WKBsTER, then
confined to his house by his annual attack of
tarrh declare, that the fret instance Of any such pro-
cceding ought TO be- and tcotld be, folIoced By
And ! know, also, that this declaration made
by him in the presence and hearing OF several per-
sons in habits of daily correspondence with their
English friends, and that in less than twelve days
from the time it was made it was heard Of and
known in high quarters in London.
II is unnecessary, Of course, to state that the
from the French and British min
listers properly answered by MIR. Secretary
CRITTENpEN No man in the country is more
sitive questions that concern its honor, would
be more ready to repel any and every attack
upon it.
With great respect, your friend and servant,
CHAS. w. MARCH.
General j. WATSON WEED.