The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-23

Letter from Hon. Edward Everett to Lord
W John Russell.
The following letter. in reply the despatch OF Lord
John Russell. which appeared in the papers weeks
ago. has been handed to us for publication;
BosTos. September II, 1858.
MY LORD Your despatch of the 10Th Of February last
to Mr. Champion has lately appeared IN public pa
peJs As il is IN reality, II not Ia lorna reply my let
ter OF the LIST OF December 1852 on the subject OF Cuba
regret that was not prepared and sent before my
tremenl from tho Department oil State But, though l
must do ii az private Individual, feel ii ii
TO some extent my duty 10 answer IT, shall endclvor
10 do in manner consistent with my sincere respect
for your public character, and lively recollection OF
S s"a personal 1ina's'' during my residence in Eng
Before remarkng on the contents OF your letter will
observe that though contains some courteous expires
sions Its tone IS. upon the whole, not quite concilia
tory as might have been expected considering that my
letter OF the LIST OF December altogether respect
full and friendly toward the two powers, both in form and
in substance. have heard thai, in presenting this
castle remarks but have not seen any report of them
Your despatch ID not free from a shade Of sarcasm in one
or two sentences. This shall cndeavor to avoid in
ply, not that it would be difficult to follow you into that
field but because canro think that encounter OF wits
between US would be an edying spectacle one which
would promote any desirable national object
| You say that in my letter of the LIST OF December
entered INTO arguments not required by the simple
OF the question before y and the length OF my
letter has been complained OF in other quarters The
question propounded 10 us was certainly one sense
simple, as every question is that be answered
yes" or " no." But how various complicated and
important the interests and relations involved ia il Be-
sides the organ OF every government must be the only
Judge OF the proper length and relevancy of his replies
the communications of foreign powers The proposal 10
which was returning an answer, jointly made by two
OF the leading powers OF Europe, related TO the most
por ant subject in the circle Of foreign relations
thought that lew paragraphs were well employed in
folding The views OF the President on this subject and
the reasons why he declined entering into compact
purportg TO bind the three governments for all coming
time TO certain line OF policy, in case Of much i'm
| poTtance.
You will recolec that the members OF our executive
government do not sit in Congress. Those expostions
speeches not unfrequenty Of two and ihiee sometimes
four and five, hours in lenghmust be made in this cou
Try IN presidential message arely alluded TO by your
press without sneer al its engh) executive re-
port despatch My letter OF the list OF December would
make speech of about hour which does not seem to
me immoderate for such a subject However, little
pected to come before the public lis be confessed
IN harmony with the character OF our government, and
is generally INDUCED iD
You observe that the absorption or annexation Of
Louisiana in 1903, OF Florida in 1872 of Texas in 1885,
and OF California in 1s4S had escaped the two pow
ers; still less did they require be reminded OF the
events OF the sevenyears of the American war"
But facts may be mentioned for illustration argument
as well as information Most certainly the important and
notorious events named by youleadng incidents of the
history OF the United States and OF the world-canno be
supposed 10 have escaped the OF England
and France, who were parties TO some OF the i'm
portant OF the transactions IN question. had thought
OF reminding" your governments of the events of the
seven war and OF the American revolution, az
matters OF historical fact OF which they ignorant ;
though really doubt and beg to say without offence
whether there are many individuals in the government OF
either country possessed oil and precise knowl-
edge of the facts hastily sksched by That SKETCH
however, OF the territorial changes which bays taken
place on this continent during the last century,
tended as illustration OF the proposioR that our entire
history shows il 10 be chimercal to attempt in reference
70 specific measures 10 bind up, for all future me the
DISCRETION OF government established in part of the
world OF which SO much is still lying in state Of
ure. as-t0
had another motive. The public opinion OF Christ
endom created in good degree by The press has be-
come an element OF great and increasing influence in
the conduct OF International affairs Now, il is very
much the habit oil consider able portion Of the Europe
press speak Of the steady and rapid extension OF the
territory OF the United States as the indication Of grasp
ing spirit on the part of their government and people
The subject is rarely alluded to. by one school of trans.
atlantic public writer's, Tor any other purpose. Thus
the public mind OF the civilized world is poisoned against
There is only manifested on the par, OF these
writer's an entire nsensby to the beauty and grandeur
OF me work that IS going onmoIe benehcen, possible
10 Europe than 10 in the relief 1T is afoding her
but 1--WE are actually held up at times nation OF land.
piraes) was partly my object 10 couneract this dispo
sllion-to show that our growth had been natural
growth that our most important accessions OF territory
had taken place by great national transactions 10 which
England, France. and Spain had been parties, and 10
other cases by the operation OF caases which necessarily
influence the occupation and settlement OF country
in strict conformity with the laws of nations and not
in violation OF them.
You say that "it occurs TO her Maiesys government
to ask for what purpose these arguments introduced
with so much preparation and urged with much abili
ty, and you answer the question in the following
ner at would appear that the purpose. not y apoicsd
but hardly concealed is 10 procure the admission OF doc
time that the United States have interest in Cuba 10
which Great Britain and France cannot pretend"
Here little uninentona injustice is done my let
ter, in which 10 distinctly stated more than once for
reasons set forth al length and very partially conove
ed by YOU that the government OF the United States con-
sdeIed the condition OF Cuba as mainly an American
question:, in which they had very deep interest and
you very limited one. Not only was attempt what
ever made TO conceal this doctrine, but it was fully
avowed and reasoned out in my letter of the 1st of De-
cember, 1851.
To meet OF The chief grounds on which the United
States rest this claimtha OF geographical proximity
after some local illusions OF which do not perceive the
exact bearing, yos observe, in effect that Cuba is some
what nearer TO Jamaica than is TO the nearest part OF
the United States and you CONSIDER this showing that
we cannot have greater interest in the island than you
have.
Now, if Jamaica bore the same relation to Great Brit
ain which our States and near the Gulf Of Mexico
bear to the rest of the American Unon your reply my
argument would be good But the direct is the
case. Jamaica il distant colony whose entire popula
lion (of which not than one.tenth is OF European
orign does moi exceed that OF English city OF the
second class is as perceive from your speech OF the
4ih OF August, burden on the imperial treasury. Ii
must, in its present sate stand high the list of the
colonies which las appears from Lord Greys recent
work the colonial policy OF your ADMINISTRATOR are
regarded by more Than one active and Influential party IN
England incumbrances OF which she ought 10 get rid,
il she could do with credit How different, in all
spects. the with the States lying the Gulf OF
Mexcol In extent OF seacoast, in the amount OF val
liable products furnished TO the worlds commerce, in The
command OF rivers which penetrate the heart of The
tneat, they most important they an integral
portion OF the Union They are numerically all but