The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-01

! w ebster, expressing the confident nope tnat the
reply of the latter will prove entirely satisfac.
tory to the Spanish Government, and have the
effect of re-cstablishng the friendly relations
mOmentarily interrupted.
Ia Letter to Nj. Calderon, by the Acting
Secretary of State, and to Mr.. Barringer, oui
Minister at Madrid from the same and from
MIR Webster soliciting lenient treatment and
pardon for the prisoners sent to Spain.
IS. Letter from Mr. Derrick, Acting Secre
tary of State, dated September Goth, to Mr.
Owen American Consul at Havana announ-
cling to him the anxious desire of the Presi.
| dent 10 receive from him fuller statement Of
his own course than he had yet given, and
! ctst;"g thq. to pr"sSar' Celt no little emhar-
!, - .. &
&c, iyso~,as.aa -ser.e-~i"~ events in CRbS
7 Which, had been confidently expected ffors
him, but had not been received.
This letter was written after the public in
dignation had been aroused against Mr.. Owen,
on account of his criminal apathy
We have next the documents relating to the
orders issued TO the French and British squad
rons, to protect Cuba against attempts at in
vasion.
| Is. Memorandum of conversation between
Mr.. Champion and Mr.. Crttenden, Acting
Secretary of State September 9th. The
British Government had heard with regret of
| the Lopez expedition did not doubt that the
| United States Government would use all posi-
BILE diligence to prevent and punish such pro-
ceedings.
But her Majesty's Government deem il
due to the frankness which ought to charac-
terize the intercourse between the two Gov
ernments. to state to that of the United States
that her Majesty's ships of war on the West
Indian station will have orders to prevent by
force any Adventures of any nation from
landing with hostile intent upon the island OF
l Cuba"
At another interview, on the 9th of October
Mr. Crittendcn said he was instructed by the
President to express his regret that such orders
| should have been deemed necessary.
$50 far as they have reference to lawless
and unauthorized expeditions against the Island
of Cuba, apprehended from citizens of the Uni
! ted States il is only necessary to say that such
expeditions are forbidden by the laws of this
Republic, and that its Government is able and
determined to execute those laws. EMISSIONS
of them may occur, in spite of the utmost
vigilance and energy; such instances are COM
mon to the laws of all countries. It is only
by stealth and by favor of rare and accidental
circumstances, that any such expeditions can
escape from our shores none of sufficient force
! or magnitude to create any serious apprehen-
sion for the safety of Cuba and certainly none
| against which Spain herself is not abundantly
| able to protect that island.
"The Government of the United States, al
! ways determined in perfect good faith, to
maintain it's neutral relations and perform all
It's national obligations, condemns as strongly
as the British Government the lawess enter
prises against which the orders in question ap-
pear to be directed, and the Government OF
the United States, equally with the British
Government desires their prevention or sup
preston.
"But. Just and desirable as that end may be
the President could not witness, without con-
Germ, any attempt to accomplish such an object
by means which might eventually lead to en-
croachments on the rights of the People OF the
United States
THE President il of opinion that so far as re-
lates to this Republic and its citizens, such an
interference as would result from the execution
those orders If admitted to be rightful in them
selves, would nevertheless be practically inju-
rious in its consequences and do more harm
than good Their execution would be the ex-
ercise Of sort of police over the seas in our
immediate vicinity, covered as they are with
our ships and our citizens; and it would involve,
al. nf ttr1o
dicton to determine what expeditions were OF
the character denounced, and who were the
guilty Adventures engaged in them.
"The President cannot but apprehend that
such orders could not be carried into effect
without leading, too probably, to abuses and
collisions that would constantly leopard, and
might seriously disturb, that peace and good
will which he sincerely desires to see cultivated
and made perpetual between the United States
and Great Britain.
"The President deems il unnecessary TO say
more at present on the subject of these orders
than TO add the expression of his hope that
there may never arise any occasion for carrying
them into execution
II. November 10 MIR. Champion enclosed
to Mr. Webster the following communication
from Lord Palmerston
"FoREIGs OFFICE, October %, 1851.
"SIR: have received your despatch, No. 29,
Of the 9th instant and | have to acquaint you
that her Majesty's Government approve the
course pursued by you in communicating to the
Government of the United States the orders
issued by her Majestys Government to the
commander-in-chief of her Majesty's ships in
the West Indies, respecting the prevention of
lawless expeditions against Cuba.
If you should have any future correspond
ence with the Secretary Of State of the United
States on this subject, you may assure him that
every care will be taken that in executing those
preventive measures against the expeditions of
persons whom the United States Government
itself has denounced as not being entitled to
the protection of any Government no interior
ence shall take place with the lawful commerce
OF any nation. | am, &c, PALMERsToN.
John F. Champion, Esq, &c"
THE British and American Governments
might take very different views of what consti-
tuted interference This note from Lord Pal
merston is very unsatisfactory
IS. Mr.. Crittenden October 22) to M Sar-
tiges, French Minister, enlarging upon the
points stated in tho communication above. Saws |
Mr. Crittenden
"The system of Government which prevails |
most generally in Europe IL adverse TO the prin-
ciples upon which thu Republic hes been |
founded, and the undersigned is well aware that
the difference between them Is calculsted TO
produce distrust Of if not aversion TO, the Gov
ernment Of the United States. Sensible Of this
the people of this country are naturally jealous
Of European interference in American affairs.
And although they would not impute to France, !