Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1852-12-08

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his Excellency, had induced me to make it known
him. " He said in reply, .sThas be received the ii
formation with much pleasure; that whilst he shoul
consider as confidential. it might be best that til
Minister OF State should be madeacquainted with it
that he enjoyed his full confidence, and might i'm
Pllcitly confded in.' i rejoined: did not dout
on that scorer but had thought from the nature of III
subject, as the mister of State was Just about Il
enter upon the duties Of his office, it was most prop
er to make the communication to his Exceilency.''
Here our conference ended. AS you will see,
was somewhat guarded in the latter part of my ex
pressions, and that the Minister was not very explic
1t In his reply. He evidently was pleased with III.
communication. He was not only courteous and re
spectfnl, but manifested the greatest attention anc
interest during the whole of the conversation.
deemed 1t most prudent not to the word s.cession
and an not exactly certain that he understood me as
being authorized to Treat for the cession, or merely
tor the sectfity of Cuba. At all events, / did moi
think it Potic at this stage of the business, to be
more explicit or to press the matter further. have
opened the subject, ,apprized him of my authority
and can hereafter advert TO the subject as crcumstan.
ces may justify. I am well satisfied nothing will
induce the Spanish Government to part with Cuba
but The apprehension of successful revolution in the
island, or the fear of its seizure by England. The
national pride and character Of these people would
not induce them readily to give up the first point.
have reason 10 know the Government are not with.
out their fears the latter point. AS learn pri
that Lord Palmerston is disposed to give them troubles
and that the bondhoders pressing that something
decisive should be done in their behalf 1t the Gov
eminent shall entertain any serious fears in regard
the matter. they would likely open the subject, and
thus enable me to bring forward formal proposition
to treat for ceeson. deem it, therefore, The bet
ter policy to suffer the thing as is for the
present. The court will remain here for some weeks,
when shall have the opportunity of meeting the
Ministers in aninformal way,.without attracting that
attention which our Official visits in Madrid would
likely excite. Besides, can, at my discretion, as
the matter now stands, renew the subject with the
new Secretary which shall certainly do should
discover the least ground to suspect that they
laborlng under any misapprehension as my con-
versation with General Narvaez. =
Mr. Pidal belongs to the French party, is strongly
prejudiced against the English, and will warmly
second Gen. Narvaez on that point. Fle was Secre-
ary Of War at the time of the Queens marriage; is
the brother-n-:aw of Mon, who was the Minister of
Finance at the time, and the great coaborer of Count
Bresson in support of the Montpensier marriage.
Still he is strongly Spanish in his feelings and char
acer and not likely to join in promoting act cal
cultaed to shock the national pride. On the other
hand, he is bold, rough, independent man, ard
would fearessly carry out any he might uE-
dersake. or the Queen mother l have already spo-
ken, so that you have pretty accurate idea of the
persons with whom have to deal. and Of the proba-
bility of success You will naturally inquire if the
state of the finances is to have no effect on the ques
ton. With an empty treasury, and the expenses
daily increasing with the credit OF the Government
SO far reduced to be driven to the necessity of re-
sorting to forced loan to raise the small sum of five
millions. one would suppose such state of things
as this would be the first consideration with those
charged with the administration of the Government.
But, unfortunately, such is the desperate state of the
nances and Of the public debt, that all seem to des.
pair OF correcting them The foreign debt is estima-
ted at four hundred pilons Of dollars of which the
agent of the English creditors claims two hundred
and fifty millions. Of the DOMESTIC debt, hat is the
amount no one seems to know: tits said even the
Government keeps no account of it; or, if it does,
will not let 1t be known. 1t is stated three hnn-
dred millions three per cent? exchangeable for certain
Kinds of public property. Mr.. Henderson is still at
Madrid, acting as agent of the bondhclders, and
boasts. of occasionally receiving note Of PROMISE
from General Narvaez. The fact is, expect he is
merely kept there for appearances do not see how
they can we'll meet the heavy demands the treas
ury, even if so disposed Certainly they cannot,
without that radical reform which Ministry has
the resolution TO undertake. The average receipts,
for the last four or fve years have been sixty five
millions of dollars. and the expenditures seventy mill
lions. The army is computed at one hundred and
fifty thousand in the Peninsula. fifteen twenty
thousand for Cuba, and fifteen thousand for the other
colonies. As matters now stand, when the country
governed by the bay yonet, there is little prespec,
of reduction. 49,! - 1a1@>
The Government places much higher estimate on
the revenue OF Cuba than you seem to calculate.
They place attwelve millions of dollars) and. af
ter deducting the expenses OF the civil and military,
claim for the treasury six millions, Besides this.
the orders rents the treasury. pay to the navy,
and employment, to persons who would be entitled 10
retiring pensions at home, together with the profits
from the flour monopoly, make according to the esti-
mate here. fifteen twenty millions annually.
doubt. therefore, if we have any thing calculate
on from financial view Of the question. Hence my
conclusion that nothing short Of necessity, arising
from their fears as to the consequences, will force
them TO act.
Allow me now 10 present the view i ventured to
hint short time since. In Mr.. Forsyth's in
structions to Mr. Vail, 18th July, 1910, No. 2,
be found the following very strong language: . You
authorized to assure the Spanish Government that
in case OF any attempt. from whatever quarter, to
wrest from her this portion of her territory, {Cuba
she may securely depend upon the military and naval
resources of the United States to aid her preserv
ing or recovering t.'' This assurance was accord.
ingly given by Mr.. Vail and again repeated by Mr..
Irving, under his instructions from Mr.. Webster.
With this guaranty for the safety of the isand, the
Al the time Of Mr.. Bnlwer's dismissal, when the
public apprehended rupture England, it
common remark al thcaPdess del Sol-the great the.
atre for political dise1ssion that the United States
would aid .us sis the protection of Cuba.'' Now
whilstI would not formally withdraw this assurance
suggest the propriety OF changing our tone, by say
ing, Is In war between Spain and England the Uni
Ted States might feel greatly embarrassed, from bel
friendly relations with Engand that she is only
our ally, with whom we are at peace but with whom
at present we have the most intimate commercial re
Iations that whatever may think of her colonia
policy in the extension of her commerce and for h
advancement of her manufactures, the United State
would feel great reluctance in an open rupture viii
her at this tike besides, she might claim from u
the same neutrality 10 a war with Spain as she hal
observed in cur late contest with Mexico 1'hi
language might do good; and. as think, could d
Us no harm. And whatever might be our secret res
olption-tha: under circumstances conld we alio,
Cuba to come under the coqtrol Of Engand-stil:
might be we'll for Us to keep This resolution to ou
selves.
In my interviews hereafter with the Minister
shall venture to present thia view of the suhecl