Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-10-16
The Havana Outrage.
Great Meeting on Lafayette Square,
New Orleans.
From the Picayune.

leading toit was filled with knowing crowd long
before the hour fixed for the meeting, and at 7
o'clock, when the salute was tired, the nelghbor-
hood of the grand stand was packed with 4
heaxing mass of humanity, exceeding anything
ever before witnessed in New Orleans.
As soon as the last gun of the salute was
fred, Col. Monaghan called the meeting to Or
der, Col. William Christy, President of the
Banks Arcade meeting of Thursday night, of
which the present was an adjourned meeting,
az President. Over $50 Vice Presidents were
called, and the following gentlemen appointed
Secretaries B. Bloomfield, D. I. Ricardo, Du-
rant Da Ponte, E. Floyd, C. Callahan, J. r. Coke
and S. j. Davis.
The President then made a brief address to
the meeting, and introduced MIR. N. X. Jennings
who was a passenger on board the Crescent
City on her recent trip from New York to this
port, TIA Havana. MIR. Jennings gave interes-
ting account Of the outrage inflicted on the
steamer by the authorities of Cuba, and spoke
of it in the most indignant terms. He read a
letter from Capt. Porter TO the American Con-
sui in Havana, relative to an attempt made by
the Captain General to force him to receive
Spanish soldiers on board the Georgia, Of which
steamer he was then in command. The read
ing of the letter was interrupted by frequent
applause, and at its close there rose the most en-
thusiastIc cheering.
The President then appointed the following
committee on resolutions:
Messrs. Monaghan, Walker, Hyams, Haynes
and Ricardo.
Judge Larue was then introduced to the meet
ing, and said that had this been a. ordinary po-
litical meeting, he would not have been pres mt
as he considered his participation in such assem-
blies inconsistent with his position; but the cause
of the present assemblage was so purely Anne
rican and national, that he had no hesitation
whatever in addressing them. He said that the
Government of Cuba had so repeatedly insul-
ted us, that no Government could longer refuse
to take notice of them. Spain must do one of
the two things: she must apologize and make
reparation, or she must fight. 1t is said that
we have been endeavoring to rise an issue with
Spain in order that we might take possession of
Cuba. Well, suppose we had. Cuba natural
ly belongs to US. Sne belongs to us geogra-
~phically. Cuba was as much a portion Of the
right bank of the Mississippi as Algiers. He
then went into an explanation Of the course of
the currents, &C., to prove that between Cuba
and Florida was the only outlet for the mouth
of the Mississippi.
He argued that the possession Of Cuba was
absolutely necessary to the safety of the United
States. The Spanish Government had an
nounced to the world that Cuba must either
belong to them or to the slaves; in fact. they
would make another San Domingo of that love-
ly isle. The bare threat would justify us in TAX.
ing possession of Cuba at once. How would
our citizens like to see Il colony of free blac ks
on the right bank of the Mississippi? The
Spanish Government had impeded our COM
merce, driven away our citizens, and stopped
our ships, against the treaty of 1895, and we
must have Cuba if it was onlv to stop these lit
tie annoyanccs.
Judge Larue then adverted to the established
laws of nations, as set forth by Grotius. Putfen-
dorf, VatteI and others, and said he was incli-
ned to c%onstrue them according to the practice
of nations, rather than to the speculations of
philosophers in their closets. He went for the
acquisition of Cuba at once. He would buy it
if possible, to avoid the horrors of war, but if it
can't be bought we must have it anyhow. Spain
never apologize or make reparation.
has not yet recovered from her dream of
glory since the conquest of Granada and the
discovery of America. We may, therefore, have
10 fight, and if so. the flag of Spain would dis
appear from the Antilles as it had already from
every part of the American continent, Judge
Larue concluded amidst great applause.
MIR. J. +. Benjamin was the next speaker
He said he was appalled, at the sight of the
great ocean of humanity around him. He was
at the depth and intensity of emotion
in the upturned faces. The occasion
one Of great national Importance, and de-
handed the serious attention of the people. 1t
s well at times for the people to give direct ut
to their sentiments. On ordinary oc-
,asions it would do to trust to the persons they
lad placed at the mead off Tie Government bat |
1t other times it was necessary they should act
or themselves, and act in such a manner as to
give tone to the public servants.
On occasions like the present, it was eminent.
Y fitting that the people should assemble and
give utterance to their feelings. He quoted
he remark of the Grecian sage, that the best
government was that in which an injury done
o the meanest citizens was resented as prompt
y as if done to the greatest. He trusted that
he proud boast of the Roman-that in the re,
hottest corner of the earth the name of a Ro.
nan citizen was sufficient to shelter and protect
he bearer-woHld soon be realized by the
American people. He wished to see this sub
ect calmly and gravely deliberated; with no in
ane violence of language, which was not a sign
# strength, but rather the reverse.
At the commencement of our existence as a
lation, Cuba belonged to another power-she
to that power still. She does not be.
ong to US. Some of our wisest statesmen had
ec'ared, more than a quarter of a century ago,
hat no European power except Spain could
yer possess Cuba. When she changes her
~olitical relations, she must either become an in.
ependent republic, or an American State. The
resent Government of the Island is despotic,
nd the people, living almost in the shadow of
ur free institutions, had many of them become
roselytes to American ideas, and have fire.
uently struggled in vain to make an effective
demonstration for independence. In this they
ad been assisted by some of our own citizens.