The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-24
owtaut public Document. egotiations Re
lmp' spscting the Island or Cuba.

na
Tea adop,ed a resolution calling upon the Pfesi-
a,ll instructions from The Department OF State
Su d.lomac agents of the United States abroad. de-
a. or relating 10. the policy Of the government
Halted States respecting the island OF Cuba" In
o,;snee with this request. the President submitted
..ga 10 the House embracing the desired information
~, have been in possession OF this important document
lime but have declined TO give il publicity from
,;,.. soringing from our position as government
~. Without impropriely il has been presented to
r.nh,ic through another channel. and we therefore
=. !, liberty 10 publish il and 10 comment upon it,
~. sao,hsr column we publish from this document
;s, If papers unfolding the negotiations OF President
n,., administration in relation 10 the island OF CUBA
,p .;,a these papers precedence OF others OF PRIOR
=. h.eanse they are OF more immediate Importance,
"A avbb the last phase Of the negotiation. The mas
'..I .blv the perfect knowledge Of the subject, and
The high principle displayed in Secretary Buchanan de
match 10 our minister a, Madrid cannot fail TO command
he admiration aud approval OF the country. Inc acqu
son of Cuba was The aim of President Folks admins
ration. and subsequent events have uumphantly vihdi
Gated The wisdom Of the policy; Tor had success
eowned his honorable efforts to secure possession OF
Ibis erich gem" and key TO the Gull OF Mexico 'ne
a,srous and disgracefu events Of succeeding years
ro,J M, have occurred nor would country be IN
yed in lis present portenlous dlfhcuiles WIN oPaih
We saw .honorabe efforts Tor never ior one moment
fd President Polk and his able cabinet entertain any
hemes Of hostile aggression against Cuba, or seek 10
nmna,s their object by any but the highest and most
nsl;6able means The wing press would fan attach
hs odium Of filbusteyism to the democratic party but
othar ipafa the conduct OF the
democrstic administration of ls45-49 was dictated
By the noblest impulses and guided by the src'es'
rules Of public justice. The democratic party, when
in possession Of power, have ever exercised Inc
most yigant guardianship as well OF the nalional
honor as OF the national interest Well might Secretary
Buchanan say that with scrupulous fidelity we have
reformed the duties OF neutrality and friendship towards
Soaan The proposition on the part of President Polk
IL uurcbase Cuba was dictated by the belief that its
nexaon to the United States would contribute much to
promote their welfare and to consolidate their pow
er and was based upon the assumption OF disposition IN
he Spanis government to part tcih the island From the
social and political condition Of Cuba and its relations TO
The mother country well grounded apprehension pre-
vailed, that, either by domestic revolution or by imme
date foreign conquest, the dominion Of Spain would
other European power This catastrophe President
Polk resolved 10 avert thereby acting in strict &C
cordance with the uniform policy OF the country,
proclaimed by every administration since the founda-
ton OF the government. Bat nailher by word nor net,
neither directly Indirectly, did the adminstra-
lion Of President Polk contribute 10 bring about that
condition of things in the island of Cuba which
would probably result in its from the Spanish
Crown. On the contrary, the administration, "wIth
scupuloas fidelity, performed the duties oil neutrality
and inendship towards Spain" In his despatch Secre-
sy Buchanan gives expression TO the anxious hope"
hat "a rising may no, be attempted in Cuba" Again,
be says Desirable the possession OF this island may
Be 10 the United States we would not acquire it. except
by the free will OF Spain Any acquisition not sanctioned
by justice and honor would be too dearly purchased"
This is democratic diplomacy. The neutrality and good
faith Of the administration not confined TO friendly
assurances but were manifest even more emPhatcally in
s acts Here is an extract from Secretary Buchanans
despatch TO our minister at Madrid:
need scarcely inform thar the government Of tho
United States has had agency whatever In exciting the
spirit Of saecon among the Cubans Very far from IT,
short time ais-r received this Information from
our cUnsol J addressed despatch TO him, Of which l
transmit you copy, dated the 9th instant from
which you will perceive that | have warned him to
keep wachfdl guard both upon his words aud actions,
- as 10 avoid even the least suspicion that be had
encouraged The Cubans rise in instruction against the
Spanish government stated also that the relations be.
tween Spain and the United States had long been Of the
mos'endiy character, and both honor and duty required
nat we should lake no part In the struggle which he
seemed TO think was impending / informed him that 1t
would certainly become the duty OF this
proper cans to prevent any OF our volunteer reg
nov ~ Mexico ifom violating the neutrality Of the country
joining In the proposed civil OF Cubans against
Pain Since the date Of my despatch him. this duty
as been performed The Secretary Of War, by nd
q the President, the day following, Dune l0,) adj
dressed an order to commanding general in Mexico
aud also TO the officer having charge Of the embarcaon
our troops Vera Cruz (of which transmit you a copy)
directing each Of them all proper
act any such plan II should be loot, and
hs mem to give orders that the transports which the
loops may embark proceed directly the United States
aRd in no event to touch any place in Cuba"
The same spirit OF justice, honor, friendship and
good faith, which controlled the conduct OF the cabinet
o President Polk in respect TO the island OF Cuba,
was equally characteristic of the conduct OF prece
0hg democratic administrations in negotiations touch.
ng The same subject. On the 18th OF July $780, MIR
fdsylh Secretary OF State, authorized the American
minister at Madrid 10 assure the Spanish government
Na' 70 case OF any attempt, from whatever quarter TO
west Cuba from Spain, she might securely depend upon
We military and naval resources OF the United States 10
:" her ia preserving recovering H." And II is curious
2 note that in Is43 Mr. Webster, then Secretary OF
Nate, IN letter TO Mr. Irving repeated the same assn
ance 10 precisely the same language The same friendly
policy towards Spain pursued under the administrs
uon oil President Jackson the cardinal rule OF whose d.
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