The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-09
Mr., Webster to Mr.. Bdrringr.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINGToN, November 20, 1851.
Sin: Your dispatches to No "a, inclusive, have
been received. i am happy to inform you that the
complaints of her Catholic majesty's government,
respecting insults to the Spanish Consul and flag,
by mob at New Orleans, and other acts OF vio-
ence against the property OF her subjects III this
country all occasioncd by tie excitement growing
out of the late invasion of Cuba, and its incidents
and consequences, have been made the subject OF
correspondence between this Department and MIR.
Caderon, her malesty's minister here. copy OF
this correspondence is herewith transmitted TO you,
by which you will perceive that those complaints
have been met by the Government of the United
States in manner salts factory to the representa-
tive of Spain. Her Catholic majesty's government
must be too just to suppose tor moment either
that the Government of the United States has con-
nved at the several invasions of Cuba, by persons
proceeding from ports, or that any thing within
the power of the Government has been omitted for
preventing those invasons, and Tor furnishing those
concerned in them. 1t has now been many months
that these hostile designs against Cuba have occu-
pied the attention of the Government of the United
StaIes from week to week and from day to day. The
most Jealous efforts have been made to bring
dgn punishment all who have been disposed to vio-
late the laws of their own country, by making war
upon Spanish possession Her Catholic ma
jesty's government is quite well aware that the
principal instigator of this criminal invasion OF
Cuba, and leader of the expedition, was one of her
majesty's subjects, W no came to this country and
abused its hospitality by inducing American clu-
=
embark in his cause and follow his standard. There
is good reason to believe that but for his agency,
and that of other Spaniards who had come to the
country no expedition against Cuba would ever
have been set on foot. The policy Of the United
States is the policy of peace, until there shall arise
Just cause OF war. The colonies OF Spain are near
to our own shores. Our commerce with them is
large and important, and the records of the diplo
matte intercourse between the two countries will
manifest to her Catholic majcsty's government how
sincerely and how steadily the United States has
fk..t al II.
might lead to transfer OF these colonies from her
maesty's crown. If there is one among tho exist
ing governments Of the civilized world which for
long course of years has diligently sought 70
maintain amioable relations with Spain, ii Is the
Government Of the United States Not only
does the correspondence between the two Gov
ernments show this, but the same truth is CO.
tablished by the history Of the legislation of the
country and the general course of the Executive
Government In this recent invasion Lopez and
his owsubocts in the United States succeeded
in deluding a few hundred men, by long contin-
ued and systematic Misrepresentation Of the politi
cal condition Of the island and Of the wishes of its
Inhabitants And il 10 not for the purpose Of rcviv.
ing unpleasant recollections that her maiesty's
government is reminded that il is not many years
since the commerce of the United States 80 ifered
severely from armed boats and vessels which found
refuge and shelter in the ports of the Spanish
islands. These violations of the law these authors
Of gross violence towards the citizens OF this Re
public, were finally suppressed, not by any effort
of the Spanish authorities, but by the activity and
vigilance Of our navy. This, however, was not ac,
compished but by the efforts ui several years nor
until many valuable lives, as well as vast amount
Of property, had been lost, Among others, Lieu
tenant Allen, very valuable and distinguished
officer in the naval service Of the United states
was killed in an action With these banditi.
All this Is not said for the purpose Of making or
renewing complaints, either OF The violation Of
treaty obligations or OF unjustitabc remssncss
against the government Of Spain or the authori-
tes Of the islands. hut il may be brought 10 the
notice Of the Spanish government as one Of the
cons 'quenccs which may sometimes flow from the
conduct Of men disposed TO carry on criminal en-