The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-24


nent interest and power. 10
In this connection, air, desire to submit few
brief remarks concerning Cuba, that island pre-
sents Of the most difficult questions, perhaps
the most difficult. in our foreign policy. Five years
ago, in some observations submitted to the Senate
on the subject Of tho application of the Yucaanese
people for the aid OF this Government against the
overwhelming force of the Indians, / had occasion
10 explain my views in relation to Cuba, and
have since seen no cause to change them. ] then
said: 'Selt de fence ia "a incident to communities
as TO indiv iduas, and provdent forecast requires
ne TO watch any dangerous projects of domination,
and TO provide for them we can. repeat, that
nation under these circumstances must judge for
itself. Proximity of situation, the nature Of the
intercourse resulting from it, commanding posi-
tons to do injury, and other considerations ali
elements to be taken into view. In my opinion,
we owe il to ourselves TO avow distinctly to the
world that the attempt to procure the transfer Of
Cuba from Spain to any other nation, whether
peaceably or forcibly, would be resisted by the
whole power Of this country. To others ii may be
a question Of territorial aggrandizement, or Of
mercantile cupidity; but to US II 10 question of
necessity; had almost said, Of political life
death. 1t would become the gate close the great
river OF our country. The waters Of that country,
thereafter as heretofore. would reach the Gulf cut
/ its commerce would never reach the ocean"
$50 long as Cuba aud Yucatan arc held by their
! present possessors, neither we nor the commercial
world have any thing to fear from English projects,
whatever these may be.
81 trust that the intrgues OF no nation will ever
compel us to take iorcible possession of Cuba"
Such were my sentiments then, and such arc
they now. So long as Spain retains Cuba, or
should the Island become independent, truly and
honestly, we have no right to interfere with il.
And for myself. should be willing. desirous, in
deed. at any time to purchase 1t Of Spain and al
. liberal, even at an extravagant price; but no
transfer TO ano her power, either by peace
and the resistance Of such an attempt by all the
MEAN" 'phi"h God has given us. And have never
ent with these views, though have often been
charged with what Is called fliGistering projects
and that, too, by respectable journals, during the
Presidential contests by the Republic of this city
amongst others, and quite recently by the Journal
Of Commerce, of New York. No man, editor or
reader, has the right prefer such charge against
me. believe in public az we'll as in personal mo
tailty' and value the honor Of my country at too
nigh price to barter for any scheme of aggran.
dizement. And embrace this opportun to bear
| my testimony of appreciation to the recent conduct
OF the Administration in relation to Cuba. repro.
bate these repeated efforts at in the con
Germs OF another nation, and have no charity for
| the motives of the leaders engaged in them If the
people OF Cuba desire to free themselves from the
government OF Spain-and a worse one lie hardly to
be found on the face Of the earth-heir effort will
have all my sympathics and all my good wishes.
as am sure it will have those OF the American
people. And cannot doubt but that their indie
pendence would be cheerfuy recognised by the
| government the moment it could be- PROPERLY
done. But this work is their own, and not ours;
and 80 long as they acknowledge allegiance 10
Spain 1t ID our duty to respect that relation. And
| of
mat country and Of ours which may well deman nd
some torbearance on our part. Spain il weak and
remote from this almost the last of her immense
| American possessions.
! WEI powerful and near; and, besides the con
dtlon of the Island has been crtica nd upc erain
There are questions Of internal police there which
Possess paramount importance, and thew are pr,
ciseiy questions which would awaken the vigilance
! Of any people on earth. And Cuba has been in n
state oil quasi revolution, the government fea,ipp
.A'ernal collision as we'll as internal EXPLOSIONS
AND there 10 not nation which would not adopt
very strong measures for it's sec uritv under snrh
circuu,st snces We should, and persist in them
100, at all hazards This is precisely a state OF
thngs when extreme points of right should not be
unnecessarily pushed by foreign power; and
SAW with regret that effort was ma King to bring
inattere to crisis by insisting upon the ntroduc.
ton Of person supposed by the Government of tn.
lsiahd-wrongy, indeed-to be dangerous. And
cnluhena the course II our Administration ia this
alialr. One OF our citizens however, seemed to
thlnk 1t his duty to interfere, WHISTLER vuluutar
or involuntarily, almost to provoke a G., lision I
Consider his conduct equally presumptuous and
unpatrlotic. 1t could have been to him q COMPARE
lively unimpoIt ant point whether A or b was the
purser OF his ship; certainly not point worth the
consequences possible, and even probable And as
!" inc principle OF exclusion. that was a ques ion
Tor the Government, and think the Government
was right in the view it took of it. The honor of
the country, thank God was not in the keeping OF
Mr. Law II was in better hands,
Now, sir, desire the possession OF uba princi.
paiiy al military position, with a view to it's vast
importance as the true key to the Missssippi But,
as mere question of acquisition, the subject pre-
aeh's no te5r"rs TO Inc observed the President
WE'VE II differently and urges strong obi,c tons to
the measure-toth the gene' al principle, indeed OF the
extension oil our territory; and there is a striking
coincidence between some Of his suggestions and
some of the reasons ted against the purchase
OF Louisiana, when Tint question was before Con
sress lime and experience have come to nut the
seal OF appreciation upon that great IN easure and
70 reiule the anticipations Of evil confidently
q Fnat hob. .GI L
irh or decent ase as truly he'd to this Union
as any other citizens Of our country, and they have
gwen proofs OF true patriotism, under circum. |
stant es Of trial. to which few o. ctions of the Re.
puolc have been exposed. And such, in iny opin. |
ION, WOULD be the result III Cuba, well al in any
other region which 1t Ia at all probable will ever
make part ct our C"nicd"ratiun AT first indeed !
thefc might be doubts and uIhc u!tiee, but time
aud Information you'll soon remoy. them And |
the snse OF freedom. and Of a condition beyond |
the reach OF change, together with u rise in the
value OF property, VII CHI 10 to attend an in.
corporation with W. aud the increased ACTIVITY of
busnese, would ere Ion do their w0f k and convert
The population into Jealous and patriotic Aneri |
cans.
As to the general subject Of anne ation, have
no new views to disclose. II is pretty well known
that have eapacios s,cdlIoo for territory though
am free to Confess that can wait while patient
~ necessary, and spend the time in digestng
oar last acquisitions. They cit light upon the |
stomach. and promise to promote the health of the |
body polite toa degree surprising the can guine |
expectations OF those who expected most from the |
measure. Ard VIC cannot employ this interval of
waiting, better than by the adoption Of wise and |
ffhc!ent means to bind recent acquisitions 10 |
the res OF the Cpntcderacy by the ,irs of interest
as we'll as Of affection. And 1t 10 my decided con. |
vic!ion that one OF the moot important measurcs-
the most important. indeed, tor this Gov ernmcpt |
Is the construction, SO far constitutional |
authority permts, Of railroad, from some point !
upon the MiesissiPpi, to the Pacific ocean - say
some point up m the Misssaippi-for II is perfectly
indifferent to me where lie and trust the friends
of this great obje2t will not tritter away their |
strength by mere local questions of direction and |
termination. Let those mattcrs be settled by com.
nissioneTs, or in some other practical manner
bot let us bend our undivided force TO tho great |
work itself. " hen completed, as it is cure TO be- |
it will bind this great Republic together, literally
by bonds Of iron, and by the still stronger bonds |
OF confidence and interest, and San Francisco will |
be, practically, tho Of Goverme mt than
Savannah was at the adoption Of the Constitution.
Wear often askcd, by the tinid and the eau
tloue, where is annexation 10 stop. Tia, question |
will not be answered in my day, and | leave its
solution TO those upon whom may dcvovc the duty
and the responsibility Of deciding it a general
government to conduct the external relations with
foreign powers, and to rgulnte the interior rcla.
tons OF the members of the Union, and State guy.