The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-15

ted States and the Island, and led TO some
acts Of which we have a right to complain.
Blu, the Captain General Of Cuba is cloth.
ed with no power to treat with foreign gov
ernments, nor is he in any degree under
tho control Of the Spanish Minister at
Washington. Any communication which
he may hold with an agent Of foreign
power is informal and a matter Of courts.
~. Anxiousto put an end to the existing
inconveniences, (Which seemed to rest on
a misconception, | directed the newly ap-
pointed Minister to Mexico, to visit Ha-
vana, on his way to Vera Cruz. He was
respectfully received by the Captain Gen.
eral, who conferred with him freely on the
recent occurrences; but no permanent ar
rangement was effected.
In the mean time, the refusal OF the
Ca plain General to allow passengers and
the mail to be landed in certain cases. for
a reason which does not furnish in the
opinion Of the Government even good
presumptive ground for such prohibition,
has been made the subject ofa serious re.
monstrance at Madrid; and have no rsa.
son to doubt that due respect will be paid
by the government Of Her Catholic Majesty
TO the representations which our Minister
has been instructed to make on the sub.
ject, ...,
| II is but justice to the Captain. General
too add, that his conduct toward the stea-
msrs employed to carry the mails OF the
United States to Havana has, with the ex.
captions above alluded to. been marked
with kindness and liberality, and indicates
no general purpose of interfering with the
commercial correspondence and inter.
course between the island and this country.
Early in the present year, official notes
we're received from the ministers OF France
and England inviting the Government OF
the United States 10 become party with
Great Britain and France 10 tripartiie
convention, in virtue of which the three
powers should severally and collectively
disclaim, now and for the future, all inten-
ton to obtain possession Of the Island OF
Cuba, and should bind themselves TO dis.
countenance all attempts 10 that effect on
the part Of any power or individual what
ever. This invitation has been respect
fully declined, for reasons which would
occupy too much space in this communi.
cation 10 state in detail, but which led me
to think that the proposed measure would
be Of doubtful constitutonality, impolitic,
and unavailing. Ihave, however. in COM
mon with several Of my predecessors, di.
rected the ministers Of France and Eng
land to be assured that the United States
entertain no designs against Cuba; but
that. on the contrary, | should regard its
incorporation into the Union, at the pre-.
sent time. as fraught with serious peril.
Were this island comparatively destitute
OF inhabitants, or occupied BY a kindred
race, I should regard it. il voluntarily
ceded by Spain, as most desirable &C.
QUESTION. But, under existing circumstan.
ces, should look upon its incorporation
into our Union as very hazardous mea'
sure. II would bring into the confederacy
l population Of a different national stock
speaking a different language, and mo-
likely TO harmonize with the other mem
bers. 1t would probably affect. in Q
preiudical manner, the industrial interests
Of the South; and it might revive those con
flicts ofopinion between the different sec
tions Of the country, which lately SHOOK
the Union TO its centre. and which have
been so happily compromised.
The rejection by the Mexican Congress
ofthe convention which had been conclu
ded between that republic and the United
States, for the protection OF transit way
across the lsthmus Of Tehauntspsc, ant
Of the interests Of those citizens Of th'
United States who had become proprie
tors Of the rights which Mexico had con
ferrsd on one of her own citizens in regart
10 that transit, has thrown serious oh
! stacle in the way Of the attainment Of
, very desirable national object. ] am still
willing to hope that the differences on th
, subisct which exist, or may hereafter aris
' between the governments. will be amicabl
! adjusted. This subject. however, has al
, ready engaged the attention Of the Senat
of the United States, and requires no fur
l ther comment in this communication.
; The settlement Of The question respect
8 ing the port Of San Juan de Nicaragua
!. and Of the controversy between the repub
Q lies Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in rs
4 gard to their boundaries. was considere'
NJ indispensable to the commencement Of tn
' ship canal between the two oceans, whic
: was The subject Of the convention betweel
Q the United States and Great Britain, Of tn
/. 10Th April. 1850, Accordingly PROPOSE
!. ton for the same purpose. addressed I
Q the two governments in that quarter. an
h to the Mosquito Indians, was agreed to /
April last by the Secretary Of State and III
Minister Her Britanic Majesty. Beside
!. the wish to aid in reconciing the differen
/. ces Of the two republics, engaged in III
. negotiation from desire to place the gres
# work Of ship canal between the tw
h oceans under one jurisdiction. and to es
\ tablsh the important port Of San Juan d
Nicaragua under the government Of
4 civilized mower, The pro oposition in ouei