The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1852-12-15

tsry of State prevented The commence
menf Of the contemplated negotiation.
Pains have been taken to collect the
information required for the details
ef such an Arrangement The subject
is attended With considerable dif;tul-
~. II il i found practicable to come
to an agreement mutually acceptable TO
the two parties, conventions NAV be
concluded in the course Of the present
winter. The conirnl cf Congress over
all the provisions Of such an arrange
ment. affecting revenue. will Of course
be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed promi-
nenf toric in my last annual message.
They remain in an uneasy condition,
aud a feeling nf alarm and irritation ON
the part of the Cuban authorities ap-
pears to exist This FEELING has inter
iered with the regular commercial in
tercnurse between the United States
and the island, and led to some acts
of which W. have right to complain.
But The Captain General off uba Is clo-
thed ith no power to treat with foreign
governments, nor is be in any degree
under the control II tie Spanish Min
lister at " Washington. Any communi
cation which he may hold with an ageut
Of foreign power is informal and mat
ter Of courtesy. Anxious toputan end
tn the existing inconveniences. which
seemed to rest on a miscon option, |
directed the newly appointed Minister
to Mexico to visit Havana, on his way
to Vera Cruz. He was respectfully re-
ceived by the Captain General. who con-
fcrred with him freely on lhe recent
occurrences; but no permanent arrange
ment was effected.
In the mean time, the refusal Of the
Captain General to allow passengers
and the mail To be landed in certain
cases, for reason which does not fur
nish in the opinion Of this Government
even a good presum ptive ground for
such a prohibition, has been made the
subject of serious femonstance at Ma
drid and | have no reason to doubt
that due respect will be paid by the 60
vernment of Her Catholic Majesty to
the representations which our Minis
ter has been instructed to make ON the
subject.
1t is but justice to the Captain Cen
eral to add, that his conduct toward
the steamers employed to carry the
mails Of the United States to Havana
has, with the exceptions above alluded
to, been marked with kindness and lib.
crafty, and indicates no general pur,
pose of interfering with the commercial
correspondence and intercourse be
tween the island and this country.
Early i'm the present year official
notes were received from the Ministers
of France and England, inviting the
Government of the United States To-
become party with Great Britain and
France to trIpartite Convention, in
virtue Of which the three powers should
severally and collectively disclaim, nov
and for the future, all intention to OBJ
tain possession of the Island of Cuba
and should bind themselves to discoun-
tenance all attempts to that effect on
! the part of any power or individual
whatever. This invitation ha> been re.
spectfully declined, FIR reasons (which
it would occupy too much space in this
communication to state in detail, but
which led me to think that the proposed
measure would be of doubtful constitu
tionality, impolitio, and unayailing.
have, however, in common with severa
of nv predecessors, directed the Min
s. isters of France and England to be as
.. sured that the United States entertain
no designs against Cuba; but that Of
: the contrary, should regard its incor
poration into the Union at the presen
time as fraught with serious peril.
, Were this island comparativly des
. titute of inhabitants, or occupied by
kindred race, | should regard it, if "
5 UNFAIRLY ceded by Spain, as most dc
3 sirable acquisition. But under exist
: ing circumstances, l should look upo
4 its incorporation into our Union as
1 very hazardous measure. 1t woul
E bring into the Coniederacy people I
r a different national stock, speaking
t different language, and not likely
= harmonize with the other members.
d would probably affect in prejudicii
manner the Industrial interests of ii
South; and it might revive those col
!. flicts of opinion between the differer
70 sections of the country which latel
J. shock the Union to its centre, an
Of which have been SO happily comprom
h sed.
m The rejection by the Mexican Co
D. grrss Of the Convention which had bes
ct concluded between that Republic al
is the United States, for the protection
at transit way across the lsthmusof L
to huantepec and Of the interests Of tho
e. citizens of the United States who h;
n become proprietors of the rights whi
il Mexico had conferred on one of h
S. own citizens in regard to that trans
e. has thrown serious obstacle in the W,
b. Of the attainment of very desirah