Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-12-18
P4AQUEMINE PARISH IBERVII.LE La, DECEMBER Is

representations WliCll our Minister ilS Decl
instructed 10 make on The subject.
1t is but justice to the Captain General to
add, that his conduct towards the steamers
employed to carry the mails of the United
States to Havana has, with the exceptions
above alluded to, been marked with kindness
and lberaIity, and indicates no general purpose
of interfering with the commercial cnrrcspon-
dence and intercourse between the island and
| thi, country.
Early in the present year official notes were
received from the Ministers of France and Eng
land, inviting the Government of the United
States 20 become party with Great Britain
and France TO tripartne Convention, in vi.tue
! o.; which the three powers should severaliv and
i collectively discam, now and for the future,
all intention to obtain possession of the Island
oi Cuba, and should bind themselves 10 dis
counienancc all attempts to that effect on the
! part Of any power or individual Mha ever. This
| invitation has been respectfully declined, for
reasons which it would occupy too much space
! in this communication TO state in detail, but
which led me to thnk that the proposed meas
ure would be doubtful consitutiOnaiy, impoli-
tic, and unayaiIing. I have, however, in com
mon with several Of my prede, essors, directed
the Ministers OF France and England 10 be as
sured that the Uni,ed States entertain no de-
sign against Cuba; but that, on the contrary, l
should regard its incorporation into The Union
! at the present time as faught with serious
peril.
Were this island comparatively destitute of
! inhabitants, or occupied by a kindred race,
should regard it. if voluntarily ceded by Spain,
as most desirable acquisition. But, under eX-
| listing circumstances, should look upon its in
corporation into our Union as 4 very hazardous
| measure. 1t would bring into the Confederacy
q population Of a different national stock, speak,
ing different language, and not likely to har-
monze with tIie other members. 1t would pro-
baby affect in prejudcial manner the indus,
trial interests Of the South: and it might revive
those conflicts Of opinion between The different
sections of the country which lately shook the
Union to its centre, and which have been SO
happily compromised.
The rejection by the Mexican congress of the
Convention which had been concluded between
that Republic and the United States, for the
protection of a transit way across the isthmus
of Tchuantcpec, and Of The interests Of those
citizens of the United States who had become
propriciors of the rights which Mexico had
conferred on one Of her own citizens in regard
to that transit, has thrown q serious obstacle
in The way of tIe attainment of very desira-
that the differences on The subject which exist,
or may hereafter arise, between the govern
ments will be amicablv adjusted. This subject
however, has already engaged the attention of
the Senate of the Uni,ed States, and requires no
further comment in this communication.
The settlement of the question respecting the
port of San Juan de Nicaragua, and of The con-
troversy between the republics of Costa Rica
and Nicaragua in regard TO their boundaries,
was considered indispensable to he commence
ment of The ship canal between the two oceans,
which was the subject of the Convention be-
tween the United States and Great Britain of
the 10Th of April, 1850. Accordingly propo-
sition for the same purposes addressed to the
two governments in that quarter, and TO the
Mosquito Indians, was agreed to in April last
by the Secretary Of State and the Minister of
her Britannia Majesty Besides the wish to aid
in reconciiing the differences of the two repub-
lies, | engaged in the negotiation from desire
to place the great wok of a ship canal between
the two oceans under one jurisdiction, and to
establish the import of San Juan de Nicaragua
under the government ola civilized power. The
proposition in question was assented TO by
Costa Rica and the Mosquito Indians. 1t has
not proded equally acceptable to Nicaragua,
but it is to be hoped that the further negoia-
lions on the subject which are in train will be
carried on in chat spirit of Cancellation and COM
promise which ought always TO prevail on such
occasions, and thai they will lead 10 satisfac-
tory result.
| have the satisfaction to Inform you that the
executive government of Venezuela has ac>
knowlcdged some claims of citizens of the Uni
ted States, which have for many years past
been urged by our charge d'atfairs At Caracas.
1t is hoped that the same sense Of justice will
actuate the Congress of that Republic in pro-
viling the means for their payment.
The recent revolution in Bucnos Ayres and
confedera'cd States, having opened the pros
pect of an improved state of things in that
quarter, the Governments of Great Britain and
France determined to negotiate with the chief
of the new confederacy, for the free access of
their commerce to the extensive countries wa
tered bv the tributaries of the La Plata; and they
gave friendly noice of this purpose TO til Uni
ted States, that we might, if we thought proper,
pursue The same course In compliance with
this invitation, our Minister at Rio Janei' and
our Charge dAff;lires at Duenos Ayrcs have
been fully authorized to conclude treaties with
tic newly organized Confederation Or the States
composing it. The delays which have taken
place in the formation Of the new Government,
have as vet prevented he execution of those in
structions; but there is every reason to hope
that these vast countries will be eventually
opened to our commerce.
A treaty of commerce has been concluded De-
tween the United States and the Oriental Re-
public of Uruguay, which will be laid before
the Senate. Should this Convention 60 into
operaton,it will open to the commercial enter
prise of our ciiizens country of great extent,
and unsurpassed ia natural resources, but from
which foreign nations have been hitherto almost
wholly excluded.
The correspondence of the late Secretary of
State with the Peruvian charge daffaires rela-
tive to the Lobos Islands was communicated to
Congress toward the close of the last session.
Since that time, on further investigation of the