Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-11-30
RICiIMONss EsQuEEsEss::
PROPOSITION TO PURCHASE CUBA.
MoRNING, NOVEMBER SO, I 8"

PROPOSITION TO PURCHASE CUBA.
We much regret ihat the accumulation OF com'nHn'ca
tons will prevent from publishing 81 !ehsh inc interest,"
ing correspondence just published in regard 10 proposes
acquisition Of Cuba Tho most striking potion OF me cor
is that of Mr. buchanan, Secretary OF Stae'
and Mr. r. NJ Saunders, Minister al Madrid, during liz
Presidency of Mir. Polk, whea proposition was made oI
our government purchase Cuba from Spain
Mr. Buchanan frs, writes Mir. Saunders on tho l7sa
June 1915 His very ab!o and powerful letter is as follows
mo oil bEpARrMsSr OF STATE,
WAsHlSoToN, JUNE IL, 1913.
SIR: By direction of Presden, now cali your atten-
ton the present condition and future prospects OF Cuba
The fate of this isInud be deeply ineres"E TO
the people the Un!.ra States We ore content mar
shall conlcuc TO be coicay Of Spain Whist IN a pos
session, have nothing apprehcnd Resides We are
bound her by the ties OF ancient friendship ana VIC SUI
cerely desire to render these perpetual
But we can never that this island shall become
colony of any other European power In the possession OF
Great Britain any strong naval power might prove u
,ona hoh m our and oreig commerce. and
endanser the Union of the States The highest and first
duty every independent nation is to provide Tor us own
safety; and acting upon This Prinept we should os con-
peed esis, acquisition OF Cuba by any po"ertG
maritime Stale, with all the means which ProTiLence mas
placed al our command :, .
Cuba is almost within sight Of the coast Of orida s
uated that State and the peninsula OF lrtatn ana
possessing Deep capacious and impregnGoy orthca
harbor of the Havana. II this island were under Inc 90
mnion of Great Britain she could command both the nes
70 the Gulf Mexico. She would thus be enabled III time
OF war effectively blockade The mouth OF the MISSISSIPPI
and 10 deprive ali the States of this .oD as well
us within The gulf ccmng they are win an inauS
lrious and en;eprisn@ pcpuaon oil lorcsn market i"'
their immense productions But This Is not Inc worst sue
could destroy commerce by sea between our ports
the gulf and Atlantic ports commerce OF nearly Us
great value as the whole vi foreign trade is there
any reason 10 believe tina, Great Britain desires TO acquire
the island of Cuba We know tina: has been her uniform
policy throughout her past history TO seze upon every val
uube commerca point throughout the world whenever cir
cumstances placed this in her power And what point
valuable as the island vi Cubd
The United States chief commercial rival Of Great
Britain; tonnage the present moment s nearly equa:
10 hers and i will be greater, within brief period if moth
ing should to ares, progress vi what vast IN.
porance would it, them be 10 her oootan the possession {"
an island from which sue could a tim: destroy very
large both of !oe and coastns trade! be-
sides she we'll knows that Cuba were in our possession
her West India islands would bs rendered comparatively
vaueless From and fertility OF this Island and
from the energy and Industry of our people, we should soon
be able to supply The markets OF the world WIN opca pro-
duciions cheaper rate than these could be raised IN any
of her possessions.
Blu, lei me presen, another OF the subject If Cuba
were annexed the United States, should not only D:
relieved from the apprehcnsions which cease
feel for safety and the security Of our commerce.
whilst shall remain in its present condition. but human
foresight anticipate the beneficial consequences
which would result to every portion OF our Union ,
This can never become local question: WIN suitable
Notifications the Torugas and in OF the strong
y fortified haroo OF Havana as naval station on the onpo
site of Cuba could command the outlet OF the Gull
Of Mexico, between the Peninsula OF Florida and tha
island THIS would afford ample security ooih 10 Inc foreign
and coasng trade Of the western and Southern States which
seek market FOR their surplus productions through the ports
on the gulf.
3 Under the government Of the United States Cuba
would become The richest and most fertile island, of the same
extent, throughout the world According 10 McUregors
Commercial Regulations his Commercial Statistics IN
1880 of the 46852S caballeras OF thrywo English acres
OF land which compose the whole territory SoIo were u
der sugar. coffee tobacco garden and fruit cultivation and
934 in grazing grounds and uneled woods belonging 10
sugar and coffee estaes II thus appears tina, in 1884, less
ran one-twelh of the whole island under cultivation
Inc pe author sayr ave have 10 accounts OF the pre-
cultivation in
unacra s. We consul. probable st f'ha
tms,el 81 COS tt2S.s and ga ono ia be ss
10 this estimate between oaecsiu ard one ninth cnIy OF
lne whole Island was under 1872. The author
yas, aro. We GsS9ga!s his extent with c
,ated and the produce which the whGs ne sun nncu.
yields scarcely be sxaggcration that Eu
rope might draw much coffee and sugar from Cuba alone
as the quantity already consumed. Mr.. lcGregor states
the aggregate population u CUo N The year ISL I" have
been only O07 CD which have just been
presented fairly Be inferred that the island is capable
of sustaining in comfort population OF ten millions OF in
habitants Were Cuba portion of the United States, it
would be difficult to estimate The amount Of beadsta rice,
cotton and other agrcuituTa well manufacturing and
mechanical productions Of lumber Of HE produce 0! our
fisheries and other articles which would find market in
that island in exchange their coffee sugar tobacco and
other productions. rts would 90 increasing with the
increase Of its population and the development OF its
sources and all portions OF the Union would be benefited
by the trade.
be TO the United States would acquire excep, by
the free will OF Spain Any acquisition not sanctioned by
such the determination OF the President, II IS supposed
that the present relations with Cuba and Spain might IN
cline the Spanish government 10 cedc the island 10 The Cn
ted States upon lie payment Of aT .nd full considera
lion. We have .cc,i" Information iI" various scnrces
both official and iell la among The Ceoes Of Cuoa
has onu !-r rooted hostility Spanish do.
mniUn The revelations which lapity succeeding
each other throughout the world are inspiring the Cn
with an a'dcnt and !iessibe desire 20 achieve Consul Of
dependence. Indeed, Informed BY IT,. 0
the United States al Havana. that "hc" a.. If ,i
probability that The ISLAND w' So'n r. now baisg mad
war lie also .;. lie, a Gig the Uncd states, and
there will be attempts TO ntn Nor md mi, H.
ments now in Mexico :" ~ ~ @ ~ 1 ~
ncrt SCARE. INFORM you tina, the government OF the
trn;,I 80. Gn7 had agency whatever in exciting the
sn;tit a.isalectioH among The Cuoans Very lar om it
.irt time received this information from our
CONSUL addressed despatch; 10 nun, Of which transmit
yon copy daic: on Ia. h lnsaU: from which you will
perceive tina, have wainti him 10 kc@p wacnI guard
hoh upon his words ard @Ct!"ns 10 avoid ~,
least suspicion tha, he had encouraged The Cubans to rise in
instruction against the Spanish government. stated also
that the relations between Spain and United States had
long been of l;n friendly character, and bo.h honor
and duty required tina! we shnn! take part in the s,rug
gle which he secmcd hia; iGpt nL:,s lafrrI
him thai would certainly hccomc the i,y govern.
eer regiments now in Mexico from violating The neutrality
of the country by joining in proposed civil of the
Cubans inst Spain Since the date OF my despatch 10
him, this duty has been performed The Secretary of War
by command .! lc President the day following, Junc
u) addressed IN order 10 oar commanding general in cx
CO. and also 10 the olce having charge OF the cEharkalon
ol our troops Al Vera Cruz, (of which YOU
copy) directing Of them ali pTopc,
couneract any plan, should be ioot and in
sucng them ITO give orders that The transports which
the troops may embark proceed directly the United States
and in no touch any place in Cuba" The Con
sui IN his despatch 10 also stated the revolution is al
tempted, and succeeds, immediate application would be
made 10 the United States Tor annexation; but he did
seem TO think that would be successful and probably
would not be undertaken without the aid Of American troops
To this portion Of the despatch replied knowing the
dent desire ol the Cuhaus To be annexed Union
that thought II would no, be difficult predict that
an unsuccessful rising woul. delay il should defeat
the annexation Of the leland the United States" and
assured hun that the aid OF could
obtained
thus You will perceive with what sCrupulous fidelity
we have performed the duties of neutrality and friendship
towards Spsn II anxious hope that rising may no,
oe attempted in Cuba; but this should unfortunately
inc government of The United States will have performed
lneif "leie duty towards friendly power.
Shoud thc government Of Spain feel disposed to part
win me isand OF Cuba the question, what should Of
Ter ior "oaia then arise. In deciding this question il
VIII 30 important 10 ascertain, first, what
yields nj the present moment the royal treasury after de-
uuc'na all the expenditure incurred on its accounts und Sc
cond what revenue would it yield to Tho government of
The United States 10 us present CuEGtlun
The first Inquiry have answering with ac.