Washington telegraph., 1852-12-22

ments, nor is he in any degree degree under
the control of the Spanish Minister at Wash
ington Any communication which he may
hold with an agent of foreign power is in
formal and matter Of courtesy. Anxious
to put an end to the existing inconvenience,
which seemed to rest on misconception,
directed the newly appointed Minister to
Mexico to visit Havana on his route to
Vera Cruz. He was respectfully received
by the Captain General, who conversed with
him freely on the recent occurrences, but no
permanent arrangement was affected.
In the meantime, the refusal of the Cap
tain General to allow passengers and the
mail to be landed in certain cases. for
reason which does not furnish, in the opin-
ion of this Government, even good pre-
sumptive ground for such prohibition, has
been made the subject of a serious remon-
STRANGE at Madrid, and I have no reason to
doubt that due respect will be paid by the
Government of her Catholic Majesty to the
representations which our minister has been
instructed to make on the subject 1t is but
justice to the Captain-General to add that
his conduct toward the steamers employed
to carry the mails of the United States to
Havana has, with the exceptions alluded to
been marked with kindness and liberality,
and indicates no general purpose of interfer-
ing with the commercial correspondence and
intercourse between the Island and this
country.
Early in the present year, official notes
were received from the Ministers of France
! a. q
the United States to become a party with
Great Britain and France to a tripartite
| convention. in virtue of which the three
powers should severally and collectively dis
claim, now and for the future, all intention
to obtain possession of the Island of Cuba,
and should bind themselves to discountc.
nance all attempts to that effect On the part
of any power or individual whatever This
invitation has been respectfully declined, for
reasons which it would occupy too much
space in this communication to state in de-
tail, which led me to think that the proposed
measure would be of doubtful constitution
ality, impolitic and unavailing. have how
ever, in common with several of my prede-
cessors, directed the Ministers of France
and England to be assured that the United
States entertained no design against Cuba,
but that Oh the contrary, I should regard
its incorporation into the Union, at the pre-.
sent time, as fraught with serious peril.
Were this Island comparatively destitute
OF inhabitants, or occupied by a kindred
race, should regard it, if voluntrily ceded
by Spain, as a most desirable acquisition.
But, under existing circumstances, l should
look upon its Incorporation into our Union
as very hazardous measure 1t would
bring into the confederacy population Of a
different national stock. speaking different
language, and not likely to harmonza with
the other members 1t would probably ef-
feet, in prejudcal manner, the industrial
interest of the South, and it might revive
these conflicts of opinion between the diff
ferent 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 conclu-
ded between that Republic and the United
States, for the protection of transit way
across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and of
the interests Of the citizens of the United
States who had become proprietors of the
rights which Mexico had conferred on one
of her own citizens in regard to that transit,
has thrown serious obstacle in the way Of
the attainment of very desirable national
object am still willing to hope that the
differences on the subject which exist, or
may hereafter arise between the Govern
ments, will be amicably adjusted, This sub
ject however. has already engaged the atten-
tion of the Senate Of the United States and
requires no further comment in this commu-
nicatlon.
The settlement of the question respecting
the port of San Juan de Nicaragua, and of
the controversy between the Republics of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in regard to
their boundaries, is considered indispensa-
BILE to the commencement Of the Ship Ca
nal between the two oceans, which was the
subject of the conventions between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain, of April 1850.
Accordingly proposition for the same pur-
poses addressed to the two Governments in
that quarter, and to the Musqaito Indians.
was agreed to in April last by the Secretary
of State and Minister of Her Brittanic Ma
jesty.
Besides the wish to aid in reconciling the
differences between the two Republics, l
engaged in the negotiation from desire to
place the great work of ship canal between
the two oceans under one jurisdiction, and
to establish the important port of San Juan
de Nicaragua under the government of
civilized power. The proposition in ques-
ton was assented to by Co sa Rica and the
Musquito Indians. 1t has not proved equal
ly acceptable to Nicaragua, but it is to be
hoped that the further negotiations on the
subject, which are in train will be carried
on in that spirit of Cancellation and compro-