The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-07

1t is gratifying evidence of the state of the
public mind with regard to our national obliga
tons that there is SO little difference of opinion
in relation to the expedition now in progress
against the Island of CUBA.. There is no party
of sympathizers. The obvious duty of the
Government is not embarrassed or complicated
by any factous opposition in our own borders.
Men of all parties consider the enterprise in its
true light Of piratical, buccaneering adven-
ture for mere purposes of plumber. Men of all
parties sustain the PRESIDENT in the doctrines
of his proclamation, and agree as to the
propriety and necessity Of FORMULATING and
abiding by them. True it is that some indi-
viduals of mark and note have been impli-
Gated in the affair, but they are not men
whose antecedents would induce us to expect
in them any very scrupulous observance of the
laws of nations, or any other laws which they
might find it for their interest to violate. Gov
ernor QUITMAN we might well expect to find
in such company, now that there is nothing
for him to do in the way of domestic revolu-
ton; and MIR. O'SULLIvAN's uneasiness at the
decay of abolition prospects in New York nat
other theatre of agitation. But these are indi-
vidual examples only. The mass Of the peo-
pie, North and South, are sound upon the sub
ject; and their whole strength will sustain the
Government in carrying out the policy on
which it has planted itself.
This condition Of affairs cuts off the Cuban
adventures from all hope, because it excludes
them from all sympathy and consideration. If
they should succeed in stealing away from our
own borders, they will be met by force able
to defy and defeat them in the territory they
seek to invade. They will be shot in the field,
or hung without word of objection from any
civilized nation. Having placed themselves
without the pale Of humanity, they will be
treated as the common enemies of mankind.
They are assailing peaceful province, with
the government of which their own government
is on terms of amity They are introducing
fire and the sword among people who are
living, for aught that we know to the contrary,
in the enjoyment of such measure of right and
liberty as answers all their habitudes OF de-
sires. They are mortgaging in a foreign coun-
try plantations and estates which do not belong
10 tne1n, 10 raise the means OF becoming con-
querors and masters of them, to divide among
the marauding vagabonds who flock to their
standard. Under the lead of cowardly and infa-
mousrenegades, they are violating the neutrality
and furnishing the honor of their country, to no
possible end that we can see except that of i'm
mediate destruction, or of ultimately establish
ing in Cuba sort of Algerine dominion that
will be in arms against the world. 1t cannot
be supposed for a moment that the nations of
the earth will look on quietly, and acquiesce in
this piratical spoliaton Of colony like CuBA,
or recognise the flag of any buccaneering depot
which may be established there as the flag Of
legitimate government. If we could for mo-
ment imagine that such an expedition might be
temporarily triumphant, it is obvious that its
final success could be purchased only by the as
sent of all existing governments to policy
which would expose their own possessions at
any time and at all times to the successful in
vasion Of freebooters and ruffians.