Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-09-09

quainted with the laundering dictationS of royal
authority, which, when ushered from the lips OF
the Kings and Priests cause breathless stiffness
to sit upon every tongue and mental tremor to
pervade the human frame, is owing to our po-
litical, moral, and religious knowledge, and
nothing else. 7. BENTON NJ.
The Tripasfite Treaty.-In reply to Mr.. Eve
retts letter declining the proposals from France
and Great Britain to form tripartite treaty
with respect to the Island of Cuba, Lerl. .johsl
Russell addressed the following diplomatic let
ter to Mr.. Champion, the British Minister at
Washington. 1t will be read with much inter
est.
LORD JOHN Russell TO Mr.. CHAMPION.
FOREIGN OFFICE FEB. l6, lS53.-Sir:-Lord
Malmesbury received, just before leaving office,
the note addressed to you by Mr.. Everett, and
left it for the consideration of his su ccessor
The absence from London of the Ambassa-
dor~of France has hitherto prevented that com.
munication between the two governments which
the circumstances of the proposals made Jointly
required
| have now to inform you of the view which
reply to our overture.
1t is doubtless perfecly within the competence
of the American government to reject the pro-
posal that was made by Lord Mamesbury and
NJ. Turgot in reference to Cuba. Each gov
ernment will then remain as free as it was be-
fore to take that course which its sense Of duty
and a regard for the interests of its people may
prescribe.
Ishould have satisfied my obligations as Sec
retary of State by this obvious remark had not
Mr.. Everett entered at large into arguments
which the simple nature of the question before
him hardly seemed to require.
The governments of Great Britain and France,
when they made this proposal to that Of the
United States, were fully aware of the growth
of power and extension of territory which have
marked the progress of the United States since
their independence. The absorption or annex
alton of Louisiana in 1903, of Florida in 1919,
of Taxes in l845, and of California in l848,
had not escaped them; still less did they require
to be remainded of the events of the seven years,
war or of the American war.
1t occures to her ma jesty's government there
fore, to ask for what purpose are these argu-
ments introduced with so much preparation,
and urged with so much ability?
1t would appear that the purpose, not fully
avowed, but hardly concealed, is to procure the
admission of doctrine that the United States
have an interests in Cuba, to which Great Bri-
taiD and France cannot pretend. In order to
meet this pretention- oasSary to sat forth
the character of the two powers who made the
offer in question, and the nature of that offer,
Mr. Everett declares, in the outset of his des-
patch, that ''the United States would not see
with indifference the island of Capa fall into the
possession of any other European government
than SPAIN &c.
The two powers most likely to possess them
selves of Cuba, and most formidable to the
United States, are Great Britain and France.
Great Britain is in possession by treaty, of
the isandof Trinidad, which, in the last century
was colony of Spain; France was in possession
at the commencement of this century, of Lou,
isiana, by voluntary cession from SPAIN
These two powers by their naval resources are
IN fact the only powers who could be rivals
with the United States for the possession of
Cuba. Well, these two powers are ready vol
UNFAIRLY to "declare, severally, and collectively,
that they will not obtain or maintain for them
selves, or for any onesaf themselves, any exclu-
sive control over the said island (of Cuba,) nor
assume nor exercise any dominion over the
same"
Thus, if the object of the United States were
to bar the question of Cuba by any European
State, this convention would secure that object
But if it is intended, on the part of the Uni
ted States, to maintain that Great Britain and
France have no interests in the maintenance
of the present status quo in Cuba and that the
United States have alone right to voice in
that matter, her majesty's government at once
refuse to admit such a claim. Her maiestys
possessions in the West Indies alone, without
insisting on the Importance to Mexico and 9TH
er friendly states of the present distribution of
power, give her majesty an interest in this ques-
ton which she cannot forego.
The possessions of France in the American
seas give similar interest to France, which,
no doubt, will be put forward by her government.
Nor is this right at all invalidated by the arru-
ment of Mr.. Everett, that Cuba is to the United
States as an island at the mouth of the Thames
or the Seine would be to England or France.
The distance of Cuba from the nearest part
of the territory of the United States, viz from
southernnost part of Florida is | 10 miles.
An island at an equal distance from the
mouth of of the Thames would be placed about
ten miles north Of Antwerp, in Belgium; while
island at the same distance from ,Jamica
would be placed at Mansanilla, a town in Gu
ba.
Thus there are no grounds for saying that the
possession of Caba by Great Britain or France,
would be menacing to the United States would
not be so to Great Britain.
There is one argument of the United States
Secretary Of State which appears to her Mages-
ty's government not only unlounded but dis
quieting.
Lord Malmesbury and NJ. de Turgot pnt for
ward, as a reason for entering in.o the proposed
compact, "the attacks which have lately been
made on the island of Cuba by lawless bands
of adventures from the United States and with
the avowed design of taking possession of that
Island" To this reason Mr.. Everett replies in
these terms: "The President is convinced that
the conclusion of such treaty instead of put
ting stop to these lawless proceedings; would
give new and powerful impulse to them.'
The government of Great Britain acknowl-
edges with respect the conduct of the President
in disavowing and diScouraging the lawless at
tempts, here referred. The character of those
attemps, indeed, was such as to excite the rep
rotation of every civilized state. The specta-
Gle of bands of men collected together in reck
less disregard of treaties for the purpose of ma
king from the ports of the United States, a
piratical attack on the territory of power in
amity with their own state; and when there
endevoring by armed invasion to excite the obc
dient to revolt, and the tranquil to disturbance,
was a sight shocking, no doubt, to the just AMI