The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-28


far above all political lrammel or bias
la my Judgment have arrived a, period when our
policy with reference 10 The island OF Cuba should be
bic and determined and when should longer be left
hobby in The hands OF political aspranis for power TO
be used at their pleasure but that the powers of Eu
rope should be made distinctly understand that what.
ever political party may rule the destines OF this coun
Try ouf policy with reference 10 Cuba is fixed and firm
We have heard on two occasions from the honorable
from the honorable senator from New York. attempt
ed parallel between the political Importance OF Canada
and Cuba TO this country cannot help saying that IN
my Judgment, those honorable senators bad examined
the STATISTICS OF the country, aud well weighed the geo
graphical positions OF those two possessions compared to
us, that parallel would not have been attempted Why.
sir look at the geographical position OF Cuba Look az
il with reference only the trade OF those rich and
wealthy States bordering upon the Gull. which VIII
soon become populous-not only with reference 10 the
commercial States OF Texas. Louisiana and FloIdaout
look at ii with reference to that vast empire OF the West
the wealth OF which seeks outlet through the Mssis
spp and It's tributaries
Why if the statistics of the country do not deceive US,
the wealth which in this year 1858 Will be upon mat
will not fall short OF four hundred millions OF dol
lars and this separate and apart from that vast ana M
sTeasns wealth WHICH mast come owe. .e n smus %
purposes, much closed sea as the De-
cause, although a passage may at particular seasons
Of the year be made through the Yucatan pass out into
the Caribbean sea- and thence through the Mona pass
age 10 the Windward islands, still such voyages are
always considered tedious, aud are rarely attempted:
And voyages around the Gull on the south side OF
Cuba are nearly npraccable from January to April.
This is the season when the vast wealth to which
have alluded is threading its way through the Flor.
ida pass, with the Florida Keys upon one side, and
the island of Cuba upon the other. This pass has
but sixty miles OF available navigation and SIX steam
will bridge il across, and speak each other every
fifteen minutes Look at it. and show me upon the face
OF the broad earth a commerce circumscrbed within
narrower limits The north bank OF Cuba IS emphati-
cally the right bank Of the Mssiss'ppi and its eil
senator send bail Of cotton or stick OF his
timber down the Mississippi, and he will hnd in point
of fact, the mouth of the Mississippi IS between
the north bank OF Cuba and the Florida Keys That
mouth the Florida straits containing but sixty miles
wide of available navigation, through which at present
pass four hundred millions OF commerce, and through
which, in twenty years. the entire commerce OF ASIA IN
the value of which time is component part, such as
teas and Silks will pass through it.
Show me the parallel in pom, OF trade between Cana
commerce. and it's people look down upon as from SEN
lry-boxes, glance at the map will show that every
feature which have thus hastily ske,ched ID correct
This position OF Cuba with reference not merely 10 the
southern States, but to the entire Union derives great
consequences from the positions which the maritime
States OF Europe not only have recently assumed but IN
reference 10 those positions which Great Britain already
occupies upon the continent. Look at hem-and have
not heard tham even adyered to in the debate-frem
Yucaan TO the Oronoco river the Bahamas and the
distant Bermudas; whenever she has motive for
val establishment she has seized upon every salient and
important point upon which you can plant gun or rear
standard
From these numerous points on the Caribbean sea
through the Yucatan pass, the Mona passage, the BAHIA
islands. and the Bemudas she looks upon this srug
Cling commerce OF $500 OO0, 900 threading its devious
way through the Florida straits; and we now asked
why should the island oil Cuba become an important e!e-
ment in our foreign reations' Why should 1t II no
other answer could be given il is this That our vast
trade in the Gulf exceeding that of any similar upon
the face of the eah offers greater temptation than any
other position earth, and II Great Britain. IN addition
TO the positions she now occupies, could and should lay
her hands upon any site in the island OF Cuba upon any
maritime position or harbor the north bank of Cuba,
the outlet OF the Mississippi aad OF the vast trade to
which have alluded, would be as efecually sealed up
CONFUSION OF Nature had reared continent in
front OF
BY these resolutions and by these discussions, the
country has been awakened TO The conviction that the
public mind is 10 way dwelling upon the probab
ty or necessity of acquiring the island Of Cuba, which
has been brought about by the private judgments OF dis
and by speeches the floors OF Congress. For one,
coming from the State that do feeling deep interest IN
for years past do not wish 10 hear or see the acqu
son of the island OF Cuba discussed in Congress IL
necessary discuss il 10 create public sentiment
upon the subject The mind OF the country is made up
upon IL and whenever that !" overriding necessity"
comes which has been referred to in the letter OF our
Secretary OF State, no power earth, no party IN the
Country preclude from awaiting ourselves OF the
island OF Cuba
That overriding necessity will certainly come, when
ever shall be engaged in strife with any maritime
nation Of The eanhnot particularly with Britain, Spain,
or France but with any maritime country The reason
obvious because the channel through which the trade
to which have alluded must pass will afford tempia
ton TO maritime nation beyond any other on the lace OF
the earth and III we were at war win any maTitme
power today, the ports upon the north side OF Cuba
would be open TO them they would be to US Neutral
Spain would have perfect right to open her ports to
both belhgerens And while the opening OF those ports
would furnish retreat, provisions and wafer and every
thing that a maritime enemy OF ours might want they
would not be of the slightest use to us. We would
then find Cuba occupying the position which Florida did
on former occasion, and should find that that over
ruling necessity had then arrived and statesman IN
this country could sustain has reputation Tor an hour who
would oppose the taking OF the island
ip n, tr sh In see IL M utgfU L
do desire iparily because II is not essential TO
up the public mind upon that question Any change
in the condition OF this country from peace brings with IT,
in my Judgment, inevitably the island OF Cuba
In connexion with this subject we frequently hear the
suggestion thrown out OF acquiring Cuba by purchase
oiherwiseas If the acquisition OF this colony
question OF dollars and cenis In my judgment, the
dsabuse the public mind OF this question OF
purchase the better Ii is uneDable idea-a false
that has not position in a single fact Cuba not for
sale. There has been time since 1926 when il could
have been purchased II be purchased so long
stable government is at the head OF the Spanish
ton, and the affairs of Europe maintain anything like
their present position. In of anarchy, OF revo
luton OF fusion, with second Prince OF Peace
al the bead of the Spanish naton government de deio
might be induced se bot under the present condition
OF things, proposition in the Spanish Cortes 10 cell the
ever faithful island OF Cuba would drive every in
the province OF Catalonia alone TO revolution IL would
drive any ministry from power, and might destroy the
dynasty itself
Blu, though we cannot purchase Cuba, and never will
purchase IT, IL is evident us. 1t is TO Europe, that
Cuba is daily becoming Amercanized, that the voices
of free millions finding their echoes in her hills
and valleys that the principles oil Tree Institutions
with thai centrifugal force which they have always ex.