Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-08

( No Record. ID .i9
d R 1t seems by the following article,
which we copy from the New York
Times, an able and influential Wing pa
per, that the course of the present admit
nistration in regard to the Cuban affairs,
is not approved by its own party 1
Our Cuban acknowledgements De-
FeIopments.
We publish this week, a very iuteres-
ting document, relating to the efforts of
the United States to purchase the Island
of Cuba from Spain. 1t seems that this
subject has engaged the attention of our
government at different intervals, for the
last thirty years; and that among the Of
fetal papers recently transmitted to Con-
rress upon the subject, are letters from
Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Webster, and other dis
tinguished men. Those which we give,
however. relate exclusively to the negoti-
atoms attempted during the administra-
ton of President Polk. 1t will be seen
that Mr.. Buchanan, in very able let
ter, which is here given as the first of the
series. instructed Mr.. Saunders, then our
minister at Madrid, to open negotiations,
directly, but cautiously with the Spanish
government, for the transfer of Cuba to-
the United States; that he was authorized
to give the most positive assurances that
the United States would never permit the
transfer of the Island to England, or any
other European power, and that the sum
of $500, 600 900 was further rendered to
Spain in exchange for Cuba. The de-
tails of the various conversations had up
on this subject as given by NJ. Saunders,
will be read with interest. The Spanish
government not only declined to listen to
the proposition, but declared it would
sooner see Cuba sunk into the ocean than
consent to its transfer TO any other power.
This was, probably in the main verbal
flourish, but it indicates the great unwil-
lingness which Spain unquestionably feels
to regard the alienation OF Cuba as Il pos
Sibte event.
So far as any progress in the direct ne
gotiation is concerned, these papers show
no important result But they are of the
very highest interest, as throwing light
upon the probable policy of the Admins
tration which will come into power on the
4th of March next. The National Intel
ligencer announced a day or two since, by
authority, that no proposition for the pur-
chase of Cuba had been made by the pre-
sent Administration, and we presume that
none will be made during the remainder
a of its term. But we hazard little in pre-
dictiua that, unless war, or civil revolu-
ton in Cuba shall intervene to settle the
question in another shape, the very first
act of the administration of Gen. Pierce
will be to rene1C the negotiations uPO'a this
subject, and to press them forward with all
possible vigor to successful termination
And in this endeayor, the President will
have the cordial, earnest, and almost
unanimous support of the American peo-
pie. For our own part, we should be
glad to see the present Administration sig
naIize its close of power by an act of
such transcendant Importance to the Uni
ted States, and so essential to the preser-
walton of the public peace. In our opin-
ion nothing but an amicable arrangement
for the transfer of Cuba by purchase to
the United States-an arrangement at
once honorable and beneficial to both par
ties, and conducive in the highest degree
to the preservation of peace, not only
with Spain, but with all the other powers
of Europe, We can prevent the accom-
plishment of the same end by bloody
war, in which both countries will suffer
largely, but which will prove utterly ru-
nous to the power of Spain.
We are aware that different views
seem to govern the Councils of President
Fillmore. His first and final object
seems to be the preservation of peace I'M
der all circumstances and at every cost.
But he will find this the worst way in the
world to accomplish that object. Every
new concession which he makes for its
attainment, spurs the Cuban authorities
to fresh insolence, and arouses n feeling
of profound dissatisfaction throughout the
United States And this cannot go on
much longer without kindling flame of
excited indignation, which will inevitably
plunge the two countries into a war IN
spite of the utmost efforts of the Govern
ment Public sentiment will fully sustain
the Administration in the strict enforce
ment of our laws-in all proper measures
for preventing wanton aggresssions of Gu
ba from our shores-and in concediug to
the Cuban authorities everything just in
itself, and necessary to their own defense.
But beyond thir limit it will not go. 1t
will not tolerate any undue concessions to
Cuban policy, and still less to Cuban in
science; and it will visit with swift and
sweeping penalties every Indication of pu-
siianimity, everything that looks like tame
submission to outrage and insult from
fear of war.
We are amazed at the extent to which
our Government seems inclined to go in
this direction. 1t has already conceded
the right of the Cuban Captain General
to exclude Purser Smith, innocent of any
offence, from the Island of Cuba. 1t has
given assurances to the Spanish Minister
that he would not again go on the Ores
..,, IT., 10 Havana -althourh If com