Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22

region, in years to come is subject vast for cacu
aton Its extent fertility saubrity, of nterna
navigation and the character of the people who wilt in
habit it, battle all efforts to estimate its productivensss
the tribute which its industry will pay to the wants Of
the world and the supplies which the comfort and habits
of its people may require
During the palmy days Of Napoean it is said that
of his projects to convert the Mediterranean into
French lake England has nearly done what defed the
power and ambition of the Great Conqueror. She has
almost converted 1t into English lake in time of
Gibraltar commands its entrance, Malta the channel be-
tween Sicily and Africa and the Ionan islands the waters
Ut the Levant There good for believing,
short time since that England was seeking obtain
cession of the island Of Crete the ancient kingdom Of
Mnos, which would give her the port Of Canea, that
found one OF the most magnificent harbors in the world
equally capacous and secure. Engand in the pursuit
Of the system, should acquire similar commanding
positions the Gulf of Mexico that great reservoir
would become clausum, and no keel would plough
It nor canvass whten il in time OF but by her per-
mission Now, sir looking to the extent of coast in
that direction to the productions which must pass there
to seek market the Of population and to
the effect upon all these which permanent naval supe
roty would produce, where is the American who is not
isas stAS Sf thses Whe - faif - - - n~ss. of
the prsdatory wAs8srs which Engsn world ~ ~
all times OF hoses, from her various positions, which
would encrcle the Gulf from the BaIAias to Cuba and
to Yucatan? And who also, fail TO that in
time of peace her many habors would become places Of
refuge for certain class of ourpopulaten and that
two countries?
The Gulf of Mexico sir must be practically Ameri
can lake. for the great purpose of security not to exclude
other nations from its enjoyment but to prevent do
trolling its navigation. It becomes to look diff
cues in the face Nothing gained by blinking great
question. Prudent statesmen should survey it, and, as
far as may be- provide for it. We have indeed Mount
CARMEL like that of Judea prophet to ascend and
to warn against coming storm But the home of
every citizen is Mount Carmel for us, whence
survey the approaching cloud when bigger than
man hand which threatens to overspread the political
atmosphere, and to burst in danger upon his country
So long as Cuba is held by its present possessors,
neither the commercial world have any thing to
fear from the projects of England France for the lat
ter country also has its schemes OF territorial and mercan
tile aggrandzement as is apparent from the consIdera
tions have already presented to the Senate Spain is
not in condition, and in all human probability
never be, seriously to annoy even she had the
disposition and may well rely upon our want OF pow
and her want OF will and rest satisfied that her most
precious dependency the Queen of the Antilles will not
be hazarded by converting it into military and naval
arsenal for nerrupting and seizng our commerce and
But let the dominion be trans
ferred to England France, and where are WEI Yhe
mouth of great river might be Theoretically closed
and the most disastrous injuries inflicted upon US.
need not pursue these further for ne who
ncreduous to their force would not be driven from his
by any effort Of mine.
Such being the intimate relations between this island
fortress and safety and prosperity there such in
dcations of danger to call upon provident nation to
decide upon its course promptly and to pursue mnex
bly,? The signs upon this subject are neither few nor
doubtful / am not going to review them. But no man
of ordinary sagaciy looking to the acknowledged policy
of France and England question the desire OF both
of them to acquire this commanding position And
characteristic incident occurred long since in the
House of Commons, which shows the views OF British
statesmen upon this subject Lord George Bentinck one
Of the distinguished public men of England and
then the Tory leader in the Commons, in discussion
which took place there, said
He had read in the Times an extract from United
paper in which it stated that the United States did
herself Of Cuba Great Britain would and that Eng
land had greater claim by hundredfod to Cuba than the
United States had to Mexico because Of 600
due to British subjects and Cuba was hypothecated for
the debt &C. He wond therefore let them the
BRITISH take possession Of Cuba and settle the question alto
gethcr Let them dsran II for the just debt dueand
too long in vain-from the Spanish Government"
And then comes the true key to the English heart:
"Then depend upon it," continued the speaker, when
Britain possessed the Havana she did in 1852
when she held it for about year and then exchanged for
the Foda and when she could the trade of America in
boasts would be heard Of what the United States
could do" &c.
The Importance Of Cuba to interest seems to be
pretty well appreciated in the halls Of British legislation
This last candid avowal of design and desire to cut
twain the along southern coasts would
find its proper place in precious article published some
years since in Backwoods Edinburgh Magazine, entitled
"a War with the United States Blessing to Mankind =
filled with Of the codblooded suggestions that
ever marked even that notorious receptacle Of vile SIAN
ders against this country The present security OF Cuba
from European interference independent Of position,
is be found in the jealousy Of France and England
And could this be removed by any scheme Of partition
the mortgage would be forecosed for France also has
similar en and the property transferred as the
process could be completed And we reminded, in
the recent correspondence between Mr. Everett and the
Ministers of France and England the subject OF the
proposed trpare treaty, suggestively significantly
may be- that the hypothecaton is yet in full force
British and French subjects well as the French Gov
ernment are, different accounts, creditors of Spain
for large Of money" How the creditors may
dstraf in the language Of Lord George Bentnck may
depend upon am satisfied they will resort
such remedy, should keep Mr.. Canning line
OF political knowledge, and say, If you touch the island
that act will be declaration Of against the United
States.
Besides, look the aspect Of Europe with
feeling assured that from day day, collisions may
arise between nations and internal commissions may shake
the very frame Of society And may thus break out
extending their effects through the globe. The Spanish
monarchyi 1T may be, is incapable Of ksuvenston do
know how that may be, and leay to awser or to
rasher man than am to speak confidently But cer-
tanly that kingdom is marked with the signs OF some a
preaching catastrophe. II the French empire iol-
lows the traditions as it inherits the and nstitu
tons of the Old which and fell with its founder the
greatest in my opinion in modern If not In ancient
European history il will make itself felt In the He's
peran peninsula and become the arbter OF Its fate 10
rely as profess do upon the security which the
present Of things in Europe gives to the Spanish
dominion in Cuba is to neglect the most obvious dictates
policy aud abandon object Of vast Importance to
the mere chance OF events
The correspondence to which have just alluded gives
rise to some serious reflections Before adverting
these however desire 10 express my warm appreciation
Of the letter Of Mr. Everett II is worthy Of his charac
ter and it is marked by lofty patriotic American feeling
have seldom document more conclusive in its
pument or more beautiful in its style illustrations If
il had announced openly that desire to purchase
Cubaand that declaration would have been appropriate