The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-05
The Celebrated Cuban Correspondence-its
Effe ct in England.

We have read with interest," not unmingled with sur
Prise, the very pollx correspondence published oy me
Journals OF the United States with reference 10 The pocy
OF the American government towards Spain IN relation to
Cuba. These documents have been produced IN COM
pance with a resolution OF the House OF Representa-
lives OF the 4lh OF February last aud although II Is not
for us 10 judge whether such publications are or are not
compatible with the Interests OF foreign country, we
must be allowed 10 express without reserve our opinion
Of lhe unounded and grautous aperSlons thrown on,
IN the OF this correspondence the motives OF
other parties. The transactions 10 which these papers
relate extend period OF no less than twenty seven
years and our readers will learn, with astonshmen'
equal TO own, that during the whos OF this period
the language OF the ministers and agents oil The Unted
States is 10 be believed the exerlons OF American dpo-
macy have been objected 10 the preservation oil me just
rights OF Spain The island OF Cuba against The rapa
cous and aggressive designs oil other countries and es-
pecally OF Great Britain II seems incredible that so pre-
poserous deuson should ever have been seriously en
terained by the cabinet OF Washington but this CORE
spondence demonstrates that il has been not only enter
laned but acted upon during long series OF years. ana
is now published as the principal ground OF The pocy
pursued by the United States in relation TO Cuba II may
be remembered that the project for the seizure OF Texas
was justified by General Jackson on similar pre'ences
The origin OF this absurd story appears TO be that ~
June 1897 the Spanish ambassador in London reported
to his government that he had Just been informed by the
Duke OF Wellington (of all men , that irigate had
been sent out by the British some lime before
for the express purpose OF revoutonzng The Canary
islands and Cuba to the end that the inhabitants might
be brought declare themselves independent and to
ic the protection Of the British" On this report, which
President OF that day took The alarm, and immediately de-
cared that il settled principle OF the United States
that the island of Cuba must in event and under no
preex pass into the possession or under the protection OF
any European power other than Spain" He drew strong
contrast between the proceedings lmpnedt Great Britain
and those of the United States in this quarter and urged
States, whose wish and policy il is TO sustain the Kings
rights and the existing stale OF things IN the island Tins
language carried Tor twenty years England was
always represented as the rapacous ally eager TO Obtain
al nd Mt ,Ip
OF this coveted island and the United States ways
ready from the most dsnterested motives to renew their
offers Of protection, and even to assure Spain that an
OF any attempt from whatever quarter 10 wrest from
her this portion OF her territory, she may securely rely
upon the military and naval resources of the United States
TO aid her in preserving and recovering it." Such are The
words OF Mr. Forsyths instructions Mr. Vail, in 1910
1t is scarcely necessary, in this country at east5 TO re-
mark that not one atom OF tangible evidence is produced
in support OF the intentions thus loosely and we must
add dishonesty, imputed to Great Britain II not
but the United States whose attention had been
thus acutey directed to the naval and military advantages
OF the possession OF the Havana; and when American
statesmen talked OF their seepess vigilance in watch
ing over the tights OF Spain in that quarter owing to the
supposed designs OF another power, not one OF them
could be ignorant that the only designs from which Spain
had anything to fear those OF American citizens
The date OF these renders the absurdy Of
the charge papaby evident, for it will hardly be
believed that England would choose the very, moment
when che assisting TO place Queen Isabella II
the throne 10 rob her OF her brhrgh that just alter
had shaken of the burden OF slavery at expense
OF twenty millions, and emancipa,ed our own negroes,
should covet the acquisition OF an island containing
six hundred thousand slaves II the American govern
ment ever credited such intentions as these was gross
y imposed upon But il Is still more difficult to ac-
count for the publication this distance Of time of base
less suspicious, which experience as well as reason
ought 10 have dspelled and of motives which it is be-
meath the government OF one great and friendly nation to
mpute 10 another. sr
AS late as the year ls4s however this language was
sill held by The government OF the United States, though
lis real purpose was now allowed more clearly to trans
pire In the summer Of that year Mi. Saunders the
American minister at Madrid was instructed by Mr..
Buchanan then Secretary oil State. 10 open formal
gotiaton for the purchase Of the island He was 10 pro-
coed by way OF a confidential conversation with the
Spanish ministers, and carefully TO AVOID Writing (Which
might embarrass us hereafter" says Mr. Buchanan, IN
the acquisition OF the island He was 10 suggest that
Cuba might be wrested from Spain by Great Britain in
consequence Of the dismissal OF Sir Henry Bulwer from
Madrid that II might be seized security for the debt
due 10 the Brush holders OF Spanish bonds; and having
prepared the way by these honorable insinuntohs he
gently TO hint that the President OF the United States
ready TO relieve Spain of all these difficulties and
OF the island ITSELF by purchasing il outright for the sum
OF one hundred millions OF dollars. General Narvaez
and NJ Pda, TO whom these propositions were actually
made appear at first TO have misconceived the object
Mr.. Saunders driving at for they took in very good
part the professions OF the United States tending to pro-
iec the island from the aggressive designs OF any for
eign power but as the negotiation proceeded and they
found that the motive OF this zeal on the part OF the
Americans was their anxiety 10 secure the prize Tor
themselves, the cabinet oil Madrid baughhly replied that
lit more than any minister could dare TO entertain
such proposition and that sooner than see the island
transferred to any other power, they would prefer that
il should be sunk in the ocean" e tH##
We shall leave readers 10 draw their infer
from this singular negotiations but in eyes the
stranges part of the whole Transaction is the publication
Of it. Did 1t occur 10 the American government
that every of the arguments they have employed
against the OF Cuba by any strong naval power
may be turned with equal force against their own al
empls acquire and ihain avowing the motives they
have for possessing il, they render ils remaining in the
hands of Spain of increased importance to the
resi- of the world They intimate, indeed throughout
these dispatches, that they content that the island
should continue colony OF Spain IL that declaration
be sincere nothing easy than 10 insure H. Great
Britain France. and all the maritime States ready to
concur in any pledge that will preserve IL from moest-
alton but they must concur With the United States, and
there, but there aone lies the difficulty Mr.. Buchanan
has though, fit TO assert of this country, in official
despatch, that sit has been her uniform policy through
out her past history TO seize upon every valuable com
mercal point throughout the world whenever circum-
stances have placed this in her power" "And what
point" be adds. valuable Cuba" We sorry
that Mr.. Buchanan has formed so low estimate OF
British and British history but cannot
call instance in which pratcal expedition against the
possessions OF friendly power prepared under
The avered eyes of English government or in which
have attempted falsely to lay to the charge OF for
egn State the cupdily that actuaed our own proceed
ings We regret the publication OF this correspondence,
for nothing than for the unworthy and ignorant
pcions which il proves American ministers 10 have
expressed against This country and they absurdy
unconscious that the suspicious which they urge, with
out particle OF evidence against u.s. la with the
weigh, of charges proved by their showing, upon
themselves. tA.@
The publication OF this evidence has ys, another effect
10 which we cannot be Indifferent II must render any
difficult If altogether impraclicabe Every Spanish
minister and Queen Isabella herself would think II dis