New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-24
TIE PURCHASE OF CUBA.

UONeluuenJ III ItlhltOu W thc 1Slauu VI Ouo"
and the policy of the United States concern
ing the same. In July last President Fillmore
answered the requisition with copies of dOcu-
ments beginning in November, 1922, and COM
ing down TO December, lS45. By sOm2 slnga-
lar chance they have not been smoked OUT by
journalists until yesterday, when The National
Lnteihgeneer printed page of the letters ex-
changed during the Administration of Mr.. Polk
between Mr. Secretary Buchanan and Ro;nulus
NJ. Saunders then American Ambassador at
Madrid. These letters contain the whole
story of the offer to buy and the refusal Of the
Spanish Government to sell the island. The
first is by Mr. Buchanan, and reads as follows; :
NO. 81 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ,.,a
WASHINGTON. June IL, 1sfS.
SIR: By direction OF the President, cad your
attention the present condition and future prospects
OF Cuba The fate Of this island must ever be deeply
Interesting the people Of the United States We are
content that il shall continue To be Colony OF SPAN
While in her possession we have nothing to appreh nd
Be,ides we are bound to her by the ties OF ancient
friendship, and sincerely desire TO render those per-
pctus.
a COLONY II any other European power In the posses
n,ht prove ruinOus both 10 our domestic and foreign
commerce and even encangcr the union Of the States
The highest and rst duty Of every Independent nation
10 provide tor 10 safety and, acting upon this
principle should be compelled :. resist the acqus
ZION Of Cuba by any powerful maritime State with all
the means which Providence has placed at nant
Cuba il almOst within sight OF the coast OF Florida,
stuaed between that State and the peninsula OF Yucca
tan and possessing the deep capacous and impre ynlby
fortified h rbor Of the Havana. II this island were under
tie dominion OF Great Britain, she could command bOth
IL Al. 81 harr
sbled in time OF war effectively to block le the mouth
of the Mississippi and TO deprive all the Western States
of this Unor well those within the guilt teeulng
e. they are with industrious and enterprisig popula
ton Of foreign market for their immense productions
But this Is not the she could al-o destroy the
merce by between ports on the gull and our At
lantc poTts, commerce OF nearly great value rs
the whole of foreign trade l. there any 20
believe that Great Britain desires 20 acquire the island OF
Cuba We know that il has been her uniform policy
throughout her past history to seize upon every valuable
commercial point throughout the world whenever cir
cumsiances have placed this in her power And what
point 20 valuable a. the island OF Cubai
The United States are the chief commercial rival Of
Great Britain; our tunnage at the present moment is
nearly equal herr and will be greater within brief
period il nothing should occur % arrest our ress Of
what importance would IT, then be TO her to obtain
the possession OF an and from which she could nc any
time destroy very large portion both Of foreign and
cOasting traiei Beside she well knows that If Cuba were
in our possession her West Inda Islands would be rca
dered comparatively yaueess From the extent and fer
nlty on tnle klhl0 ana from and industry
our people should soon be able supply the markets
Of tie void with tn peal productions ot cheaper rate
than these could be raised IL any Of her posse 'sons
But let me present enother view of the subject Ii
Cuha annexed TO the United States should not
only be relieved from the apprehensiOns which
10 feel Tor safety and the security
OF commerce. while II snail remain in ts present
condition, bu. humln foresight cannot anticipate the
beneficial consequences which would result to every
portion OF our Union
Thi. can never become a>lOcal question With suts.
be forfc alton at tie TOrugas and IN possession OF the
strongly fortified hnrbor Of Havana naval station
the opposite coast of Cuba could command the out
L.; OF the Gulf of Mexico, between the peninsula Of
Florida and thnt ISLAND. This would afford ample 80
cuIily beth 10 the foreign and cOasng trade Of the
Western end Southern States which seek market Tor
their plus productions through the ports on the il
. Under the Government OF the United States, Cuba
would becuaethe richest and most f,rrlc isan Oftie
same extent throughout the world According TO Nc
GrccCr6 {. numerical Regulation aul hls Commercial
Statistic, In 1890 of the 40 3 cabalsras OF thirty
two English II land wlcn compose the whole
nioTy, S.16 under sugar coffee tobacco garden
and iru cultivation, and 734 grazing grounds and
In uIfeled woods belonging sugar and coffee esta,e
thus appears that IN 1890 less than ouC-welth Of the
whole ISLAND was under Cutlyati The same author
says: I'VE have accounts OF the present extent of
cultivation IN Cuba hut by comparing the value OF ex-
portable produce IN l-O with that OF 542 and by va
nous estimate consider 1t probable that the lands
under sugar coffee tobacco and gardens may fairly be
estimated 81 1900 calalleTas, L72-O0O acres" Ac-
cOrd.ng % tis estimate between one-eighh and one
ninth only OF the whole island was under cul.yt IN in
+ 1872 The 1uth0E proceeds:
III we compare his extent with the remaining vast
area u TIE fertile sells Of Cuba which are sill uncut.
Ntte0 nnd he produce which the whole island 10 pres
yields II scarcely be an exagera,ion 10 saw tat
Europe might draw a. much coffee and strar from e be
sone g. The quantity already consumed" Mr. McGre-or
states The aggregate population OF Cuba in the year
e. have been only 1907 62i; but from the data which
have just been presented mry fry be- inerrei that
tine bland capable Of sustaining comfort poDuls.
tcn Of 100000 OF inhabitants Were Cuba r portion
Of tie Umied State, would be dhcult to e-tnate me
amount OF breadstuns nee, cotton and other srrlcu
tur IS well az acturng and mechanical produc-
irons; Of lumber, Of The produce Of our .here and of
ether artlel which would md market in that ISLAND
IN exchange for Their coffee sugar tobacco az other
productions. This would 20 incre sing with the in
crease Of IL population AMI the developm NJ OF H. 70
source and all portions OF the Union woud De benefited
hv the trade
Dcsirahle however the possession Of this island
may Be 10 the United state we yyould mn. occr -. -
ctpt ~ tie ;Eee sal o. SPAN. Any ACQUISITION not s,ne
toned by utce snd honor would be 700 fearlv mr..
Chased Wlne sucn - the determination OF TIE Pref.
dent, Il : uppCsed that the present reafoas bafse
Cubs snd SPAN might incline the span Al C;ov-,, "a,
o. cede the sand 10 the United Srsres unop re ~
meni Of lair ard iull consdcrton We have rac iyd
lniolmaI'n non source both odicil and unoii .a
tat lc NJ tie Crelles VI Cuba there las long 2 III
ccefTceted hostility 70 Spanish dominion aersvc-
ut.ons which are rapidly su-ccofr each
out The world have inspired the Cu6ans with ao sr,
81. - ~''0 - achlefe uleir independence.
Indeed, We are iniurrled by the Consul of tae Uoed
States - Hsyans that there apnears everv Trobo-
habhiy thst the isllni vii soon be Ia st,fa q il
var. lie also siates that efforts are now being mail
q rase money for that purpose IN TIE United rrS sn5
there vi De- attempts % induce few q the voln3-s-
n. imei Q now L. Mexico t. obtain der n
JON the revolution" - '
Ineed scarcely norin yen thst the Government Of rho
United states has AID no agency wha,ever in eyrfny
the spirit Of disafec;aon among the Cuba-. vs g.
IRON II. short time eiser we received tt. m 80, 80
from cur Consul addressed dispatch 70 inn Of vyc
lrsnsHlf you copy dated on IT, 9l nt from which
you vii perceive that have warned hial - kear =
"senin guard ooin upon his words AMI actos 50 as "a
avoid even the least suspicion that he had enro,-i
the Cubans 70 rtse IN insurec1n against the snsTi5
Government stated also thai the relations nstvrs.n
spain snd the United Suites had long been al ,he ne,
friendly character, and both honor az dfrv r.r,r-.9
tat should take part in the srru,-o' v-..t b
seemed to iA-1A Was lnseadH. .a.o.ae5 ~ ,ha, /,