Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-25
SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.
We received by the last European steamer an
interesting letter from an American gentleman in
Madrid, which we place before our readers without
alteration or curtament:
MADRID, SEPTEMBER ls, 1851.
Messrs. GALES & SxAros Believing it must necessarily
be interesting you know something of the state of pub
lie feeling Madrid n view of the in the
Island of Cuba and in the United States especially a, New
Orleans, take the liberty send you enclosed slips from
several Spanish newspapers containing articles portion
of which you repubsh not circumstances may in
dicate a, the time Of their reception.
For right understanding of their import it is proper to
say that El Orden il the half recognised organ Of the pre-
sent Ministry, and speaks the sentiment of the present Co
venment FL Herad is the organ Of that portion of the
Moderado party whose chief and leader is Gen. NAayAEz
Duke Of vaencs, and perhaps the strongest political party
in spain La Epana is the organ Of the adherents of
the CHRrsrrnA who has talent enough to
always exercise lees influence upon affairs, and who
is in only parsonage of the Royal Family resident
Madrid who enjoys any political power consideration, aside
from that which official Positon may concr But in fact
the press Of pare and factions of pses of the capital
well the provinces has been loud and in call
sustain avenge the sghted honor
of the nation at all hazards and to preserve the Island of Cuba
Spain against all attempts change her aA.ace no mat
ter from whence they some call Tor the instant dis
mssal of the American Minister from this Court others de-
mand immediate declaration of And if the Govern
ent yield the impulse of the people, and declare
against the United States Tomorrow it would undoub
edy be sustained by the whole naion without regard party
distinctions differences Still that which has most
cited the Spanish people the insult their national honor
,ha of md
New Orleans and if that should be satisfactorily explained
repaired all unhappy results may be avoided far
they may be consequences of what is known thus far at
Madrid The evening of the reception of the telegraPhlc
of those New Orleans proposition was made
the crowded Cafe Luizo Swss Coffee House, to and
insult the American Minister this Court in like manner
but by the efforts Of sensible people the demon
sation prevented It is rue also that the excitement
is less these three days past, since is said that Lo-
PEI and his band have been destroyed and especially since
the semiofcia in the Government papers
that England and France have openly accorded Spain the
assistance of their naval forces against all nvasons Of her
precious island. The public funds, which had fallen con-
sderably have nearly reganed their former place. and the
impression gaining ground that the whole affair be
ranged without rupture with the United States; but the
of large portion of the press is still very bitter against
the American Government and people
am gentlemen, with great respect your obeden servant,
AN AMERICAN.
P. s. reinforcement of 5000 has been ordered to
Cuba One thousand have probably already embarked
a. Caz with that destination the will be sent forward
fast possible.
Newspaper accounts had already informed us of
the infamed state of the public mind in Spain,
which this letter confirms, and Of which it gives SO
clear view as to render unnecessary the trouble
Of translatng and publishing the extracts from the
Spanish papers which were enclosed. Our own
rrsaaminan. feeling reading these accounts is, we
confess Of regret that the people of Spain should
have such just grounds for irritation against coun
try. 1t was not to be expected that proud anc
sensitive nation would submit patiently to wrongs
(although sperpetrated by mobs and bands of pri-
yate adventurers) which our own Government and
all right-minded men in our country lament; nor
should it surprise that the resentment SO natu-
rally felt should assume the tone of menace.
We sorry to see that the anger of Spain is
treated by some Of our presses with ridcule, and
the threats of her public journals with scorn.
In righteous cause, we trust that we should
regard the menaces of another nation lightly as
any Of our contemporaries; but in all cases of ma
tional complaint, whether it come from weak or a
strong nation, our first care should be to see whether
we have given just cause of offence, not whether
our adversary be weak or powerful. Seldom can
a misunderstanding arise between honest Govern
mens which friendly explanation will not remove
and tits no derogation from the honor or dignity Of
the most powerful nation to yield such explanation
even to the feeblest where there exists any ground
for complaint. In good cause we may defy
the strongest, but justice is due to the weakest
II is unnecessary now to 60 into recital Of
the acts Of which Spain complains /; they are
known to all the world and we will only put
il 10 those who scof at her threats to say what
would have been their language would have
been the burst of feeling throughout our coun-
try-had one Of our Consus in Spain or elsewhere
been driven from his house by mob, his Office
sacked, he compelled to flee for safety, and the
homes and property of our peaceable citizens at the
same time been plundered and destroyed. From
the nature of our institutions, know that it is not
possible for our Government always to prevent the
formation and execution of plots against the terri
tories OF our neighbors, whether for predatory or
any other objects in the case of the Cnhan