The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-02

sell or the oecretAry OF TINS Legauon. nc o
he had no suspicion of anything OF that KIND,
but supposed it trick Of the newspaper edit
ors, or of some one, for the purpose of mischief;
that it was somewhat annoying as it was cal
culated to produce a bad effect in their colo
MES | assured him had taken steps to have
the matter set right at home, and to IND out,
if | could, the author of the letter he ex-
pressed himself satisfied and the matter drop
ped. You will see, from the articles enclosed,
the spirit in which the question of the cession
is received, and the feeling of the public on
the subject. 1t is certain they regard Cuba as
their most precious gem, and nothing short OF
extreme necessity will ever induce them 70 part
with it. There are some statements IN tine
publication which feel called upon to notice.
1t is utterly untrue that have ever found it
necessary to consult any one unconnected with
the Legation, in my intercourse with the Gov
eminent. On the contrary, most OF the Secre-
taries of Foreign Affairs since my being here
have spoken English and have at no time
been embarrassed on that account, as the IN
der-Secretary is a good English scholar. 80
the statement does great injustice to Mr. saw
yer as he is a good French scholar, speaks It
well, and is fully qualified to converse in and
to translate the Spanish. regret to say these
references, with other illusions IN the letter,
have excited my suspicious as to the author.
In this may be mistaken. | deem it proper
to inform you, as the letter refers to negotia-
tons which the writer says took place during
the mission of my predecessor, felt at liberty
to write to MIR. Irving, requesting him to say 70
MIR. Bennett the statements in the letter were
false and to endeavor, if practicable, to ind
out its author. You can therefore, if you should
G.
await his answer to my letter. If my suspi-
cions as to the author of the letter shall prove
to be well-founded, he certainly deserves to
be exposed; if unfounded, then it will give me
pleasure to have them removed
have had no encouragement to renew the
subject in regard to Cuba; so far as | have
been able to collect the opinion of the public,
, it is against the cession and ! do not think
the present Ministry could or would venture on
such a STEP Both Pidal and Mon are against
it, and Narvaez says nothing.
am, sir, very respectfully,
r. NJ. SAUNDERS.
James Buchanan, Esq, Secretary Of State.
Mr. Saunders TO Mr. BuchGnaa.-[ Extract
| mo. 43. LEGATION OF THE U. STATES,
MADRID, December IA, l84S.
AS considered this favorable opportunity
to renew the subject, remarked to the Minis
ter he must excuse me for again calling his at
tenton to the matter of the cession of Cuba
that an impression had been produced in the
| United States, in consequence of some recent
publications on the subject, that Spain might
be induced to make the transfer, if terms suf
fciently liberal should be offered; and | desired
to know if he was willing to hear anything fur
ther on the question. He answered he haC
understood. from our former conversations or
the subject, that had not been instructed t.
make any direct proposition for the cession, bu
was authorized to enter into negotiations when
ever it might please her Majesty to signify bel
wish to do 3d. In the mean time, the Presiden
| was satisfied to suffer things to remain as they
were, so long as Cuba should continue under
the dominion of Spain. With this understand
| ing, my communication had been well received
and was entirely satisfactory; that, so under
standing me, he had felt authorized to give q
direct denial to the publications to which haG
referred, and had so instructed the different
| agents Of the Government that he wished the
matter thus to stand as it would enable him tc
give, in satisfactory way, any explanations
which might be demanded by the Cortes.
replied, he had correctly understood me, and
had 80 reported to my Government, and had
since received the Presidents approval of my
course; that did not now design to make any
proposition, as had received no new instruc-
tions but my object was simple inquiry, to
enable me to learn and to state whether any
terms, however liberal, would induce her Males
ty to make the cession. He answered, he fully
appreciated my motives, as he had seen the
statement in the papers, and could answer most
positively, "that it was more than any Minister
dare to entertain such proposition that he
believed such to be the feeling of the country,
that, sooner than see the island transferred to
any Po,oer, they would prefer seeing it sunk
in the ocean" | replied, | was happy to find
he understood my motives, and after his posi-
tive and candid avowal, | certainly should not
again renew the subject unless | should be
specially invited to do 80. ! was fully aware
of this being an unpleasant subject with the
| Ministry that they had been much annoyed
by the recent publications; but as had heard
from private sources that an improper impress
sion had been produced in the United States,
in consequence of the articles in the New York
Herald and that had been charged with in
efficiency, in failing to press the matter with
sufficient energy and as | was anxious to vim
dictate myself against such an imputation, and
W
President, | felt authorized to renew the con-
versation, which ended in way, as think, to
the satisfaction of the Minister had made
it my business to inquire, in private way, from
those | knew to be friendly to the annexation of
Cuba to the United States, what they thought
to be the public feeling on the subject, and
they have uniformly given the same answer
and that was, that the nation would not sane
ton the measure that the general belief was,
whatever sum might be paid for the cesson, it
would not 20 to the relief of the nation but
would be seized upon by those who might hap.
pen to be in power. And these remarks were
always made under the strictest injunctions of
secrecy, as the individuals were most anxious to
conceal the fact that they were friendly to an
nexation.
fatter myself the President will not disap-
prove of what have felt myself called upon to
do as the matter is now placed beyond all mis-
apprehension and will be fully understood in
future. / might, indeed, have manifested a
more active and Jealous Importantly; but il
would have been that pressing importantly
alike wanting in dignity and unauthorized by
usage, and which certainly was not becoming
| a question of this character. | was satisfied a
direct proposition would have been met with a
flat rejection, and might have left a bad i'm
preston whereas the communication was vel
received, and may, in the end, produce goot
effect. For the present ] am well convinced
such is the temper and feeling of the nation il
regard to the matter, that it would not hav'
been within the power of the most skilful dip
lornatist to have commanded success and it il
because of my conviction that nothing is to b.
effected on either Of these important subjects
that am most anxious to close my mission anC
to return to my own country. And, as this II
likely to be the last communication which
shall have the honor to make you on this in
terestng subject avail myself Of the occasion
to renew to the President my grateful acknowl
| adnments Cor the hiQh confidence renOsed il