Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-11-30
IMpoRTANT coRREsPoNDENCE.
Pr6posilion for Ia Purehase q 6

Certain official documents, throwing great
light on a transaction in Mr. Folks Administra-
lion much TALKED Of a, the time it occurred, have
jast been pfinted fotthe first time at Wishing
ton. On the 4fh oE February last, the Hons q
Representatives made a callon the Executive g
ali the correspondence ard documents in its pos.
SESSION relative 10 the policy Of the United States
in relation 10 the Island of Cuba. In accordance
with this resolution, the President has had print
ed a CORRESPONDENCE between Mr.. Buchanan, Sc
cretarV of State. and Mr.. Saunders, the Ameri-
can Ambassador at Madrid, from which II aP.
pears that Mr.. Folks Administration offered
Spain one hundred millions OF dollars Tor the
island, and that Spain refused 10 hear any Pro
positions whatever OF its purchase, either at that
price Orat any other.
Mr.. Buchanan says in his letter that the Uni.
ted States can never consent that Cuba shall bee
come a colony of any other European power than
Spain. He goes on 10 show the danger TO our
domestic and foreign commerce. end even TO the
Union of the States which he apprehends from
the acquisition OF Cuba by sny powerful mari-
fine State. He then EXHIBITS lis adyaniagesFo
US, il annexed 10 the Uaited States. ThepoPu-
lation in 49, is supposed TO have been only IL
COZ. 62I :.but il is believeRU be capable Of sps.
tanning Zen millions of pe Were Cu6aS
saws AIR. Buchanan, "a portion Ofthe United
States, il would be difiicultto estimate the amount
Of breadstufs, rice, cotton, and other agricultural
as we'll as manufacturing and mechanical pro.
d%nCtions; o i.lumber, of the produce of our tish-
cries, aud Of other articles which would fnd a
market in that Island, in exchange for their coli
fee, sugar, tobacco, and other prodpcdoHs FMS
would go on increasing with the of4s
population and the development o oasfess
and all portions ofthe Union wonld4
by the trade"
The letters of Dir. Saunders give a 6isoyof
his efforts to carry ont the purposes OF ourgov-
eminent and state that his Propositions were very
courleously but very decidedly declined. The
feeling of the country was represented to hlm3to
he such q that, sooner Than see the Island trans:
ferred to any Porer, they would prefer seeing II
sunk in the ocean"
Mr.. Saunders account shows a pretty desper'
ale state 0fthe finances and public debtof Spain.
The foreign debt is estimated at four hundred
millions OF dollars. Of which The Agenkg The En-.
ItiSh creditors claim fur hundred and .GGy mt
lions ! The domestic debt is stated al three hun
bred millions. The average receipts for the last
tour or five years preceding the date Of MIR. SaCn.
ders' letter were sixty five millions of dollars, and
The expenditures seventy millions. The army is
computed at 5 1000 in the Peninsula, Is or 20,-
900 for Cuba, and Is, 900 for the other colo.
uies. The Spanish government place a much
higher estimate on the revenues of Cuba than
Mr.. Buchanan's calculations. They place it
at twelve millions Of dollars and, and after de.
Quoting the expenses of the civil and military,
claim for the treasury six millions. Besides this,
The orders or rents on the treasury, pay to the
navy. aud employment to persons who would be
entitled 10 retiring pensions at home, together
with the profits from the flour monopoly make,
according to the estimate here, some fifteen or
twenty millions annually"
1t is pretty evident from these that
Spain, Great Britain and the United States have
a very deep interest in Cuba, and that it is not
likely to change hands very soon, with the con.
SEM Of lis nresent owner or Of Great Brilain.