Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-12-31
DEBATE IN THE U. STATES SENATE.
TRlPARTITE CUBAN CONVENTION.

TRlpARTITE CUBAN CONVENTION.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3D. 1857.
MrMASON offered the following resolution, which was
read
Resoivcd That the President of the United States com.
municatc 10 The Senate if in his opinion not ncopaoie
with the public interest," copies OF The onical n"tes leces
I'd from The Ministers of France aud England inVlln9 the
Guyerr,n nj of the United States 10 become party WIN
Great Britain and France lparc convenon 10 Vlrlnc
OF which the Powers should severay and collectively
dscnm now and for future all intention 10 obtain pos
session Island Of Cuba, and should oihd themselves
to all attempts 10 that elect on he pa OIL
every Power individual whatever; and Of the reply ee
"a on M par Of this Government referred 10 in his annual
10 the Houses OF Congress- on the bth instant
Mr. NJ MIR President, the subject IN regard 10 "h.ch
this resolution calls for information is brought ~ our notice
in The annual message Of The President 10 bolh Houses OF
Congress the OF this session. lhe RE.
silent brings 10 our the invitation which was recev-
ed from Ministers of England and France In reference
L, The Island Cuba The language OF the message IN re.
gard quoted in the resolution JUST read outl WI"
| read the sentence which follows:
rnis has been respectfully declined for
which il would occupy much space IN this
lion 10 state in detail but which led me 10 think that INC
proposed would DC vi uououu! cohsu'u"ohaJ'
| inpolltic, and unavaillng.
So much of the message is purely manufacturing 10
Congress information the fact The residue Oh Inc
puragru however, expresses Inc Judgment Vi Inc ffes'c
upon the subect-rnatter and VIII read II:
II have however in common with several OF my predc
directed the Ministers Of France and England TO be
assured that the United States entertain designs against
Cuba but that contrary, should regard lis incorpo-
ration into the Union al inc present ''he Us au''' WIN
Mr. President If any further evidence were necessary TO
satisfy This country that the eyes of the two great maritime
and commercial powers OF Europe have been directed, win
ncreaainu interest the relations borne by the continent
of North America the Island OF CUBA would De ~!
nshd by fact disclosed in the message 10 whlcn is
resolution refers The position which the Island OF Cuba
pcoe raphcay holds this continent is such, that almost
ever since became nation has been looked upon with
the deepest all statesmen Inc island OF
lie. in the gateway Gulf Of Mexico; and all OF our states
men, ocycry political complexion from The foundation oil he
Government this day. admonished hereoy lat e
vigilance Of this country must never be relaxed III eSfu 10
| the political relations OF that Island
Rn thrr is something more, apprchend, which has led
these two great European Powers TO make tu ms country
a propuson which they should have known wheh lhey
made IT, would be declined. They should have known ula
sir because whole history Of the political action OF hs
country would forbid the acceptance ot such an invitations
but they have made and are informed oy Inc ffesaeh
that il has been declined.
Sir The reasons for making it, under the circumstances
REQUIRE scers gift comprehend 1t has been
the established policy of this country, made known inc
most open frank, and undisguised manner 10 all me row
es of Europe that while the Island OF Cuba remained pro
vince dependency OF Spain, we should never interfere WIN
il: but that any ambitious or graspng pocnla'e
should attempt either by rapnc or by treaty 10 take he
Island Of Cuba from the possession OF Spain IL would Or
cms his country cost what might, nteposc and to
nrevcnti IT, Every country in Europe knows shat What
then has led TO this invitation jointly extended by The ~o
urcai puwcrfu maritime nations OF Europe at this Time
Mr. President trace ii TO but one cause-a oeel on t
mart of those Governments that there IS tendency 10 m
Pouin' :d 9 this country to take Con ana Inc
land were in alliance to preve",ir
air am l
section Of the country deeply interested IN the rem
lions of Cuba 10 this continent as any ohcr 10 my
senator from the SOUTH and upon my responsibility as
man of America am content Cuba shaii remain IN '
...aon of Spau unless il be acquired from her BY
voluntary her part ar unless the people OF Cu
bv their own ACT shall all political c0nncxloh WIZ
their European mother and voluntarily propose annexation
Sir the honor the dignity the good name oil America 10
nil time 10 come demands al the hands OF the American PEG
Pile only that they should not sympatse WIN OF en-
sunpre, any attempts by violence in any orm 10 wires
rom Span any part OF her posscssons-whe'her they b
BY political ambition or by spirit OF speculative
rnnraudinp on the part of those who engage in il.
The pocy Of this country, have sald has been an
nounced 10 all Europe. Spain is weak power, ana II Il
fortunate for us and r peaceful relations with Inc con
tjnent OF Europe she Cuba is he: property as iuy
exclusively, and entirely her property as oregon or ne"
Mexico is ours and any attempt whether made oY ina'n
ais in violation Of the laws Of their country or nanc o n
Government lis polite capacity TO dismemoer Cuo'
from SPAIN would tarnsh, for ever arnsh our nanona
fame. 80, 49,
national rights the rights of tho States IN their soVe
reign capacity than uniform aud scrupulous regard
the rights of Others But, MI PRESIDENT me n"'an "u
given by hose TWO Powers acting jointly proposns ~
their par parc convention of The three Governments
10 discs and forever hereafter any purpose OF &C
curing Cuba, by mems imports more enlarged mean
ins than ITS language would convey.
shon!i read its meaning thus France and England De
eye that the possession Of Cuba by the United States wou
be trau nj consequences injurious TO ihem ana mere
fore thv live Understand, by this form OF c"inunca
ton :.ey ia league 10 prevent H. NOV" SIT 'e'
inc III have this 10 say we nave already nuea'eu w
policy H. let aonr ana sacredly TO regard The Shs
Suuin Ne know that The uncss OF lime the frut WI
ncu fall from the parent s!em When that Time sna
come lis poltca coalition with this continent Is inerab,
BY nations may hasten this event. bu IN
combined power of Europe cannot prevent It,
This sir is FULL and think ineligible. reply 10 an
question Of European interference with The political como
ton of Cuba. ;,
Sir, who can doubt that the acquisition OF Cuba B
the United question OF lime oniy-puey que:
ton OF time? In The progress OF empires In the iohao
of nations they grow from infancy 10 YOUTH and so 10 man
hood Great ard powerful country is II Is YET IN
youth; and IL is Of little moment TO whether we acQnr
Cuba this generation or in the next: but come II VIII u:
as certainly that the world reyolves upon its axis
hlr President regretted deeply regretted 10 see, Jus
before we assembled here the present session. ina
the President, The United States had thought it prope
upon general call for the correspondence by The ONE
House 10 dvugc all communications which had passed 81
tween this Government, and Spain The subject oil Cno
from lis first commencement. do not to questo
the motives of President in doing, but do euesto
his Judgment Whatever it was intended TO effect one cor
sequence must be the result the postponemen OF the acqu
s,ion Of the Island distant period than the co
respondence mad been divulged; and apPehend that
moi very unusual in the diplomatic intercourse OF nauor