The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-01-18


could not see with ind ference the Island Of Gu
ba fall into the possession Of any other. power.
than Spain, pondee to IN the same terms by
Z Great Britain aud France, and the desire express
scd to place the matter or such footing shall
preclude all hazard of collision either of
the three Powers in The event Of the aggression
on Giha being repeated: "a project ofthe con-.
ycntien is l6tT WITH tie as.lsl ~
hHiHaries Snakes parties seyeraly and col-.
{ { lectigely diselsio both now and for hereafter,
all intention to obtain possession Of the Island Of
Cuba: and tlfey res pectiyely bind themselves to
discounte all such atfefnpss TO that effect
on the part of an Poweror individual II llaieyef.
Each pledges sclf not to Obtain OF tain any
exclusive cont rol over said island, nor asse nor
exercise any floniiliout over the same.
On the 29th 1852, Mr.. Webster adj
dressed the Count dc ii 10 asiinii=.
1ar proposition made by him, uu8eg instructions
Z from ID. de Turgot, the French Minister of For
eign Affairs Mr.. Webster intilnates that The:
United States have no design upon Cuba them
selves, and that if Spain should refrain from a
voluntary cessiou Of the Island to any other Eu-
ro2eau power, she might rely upon the counte-
nance and friendship of the United States to as
sist her in the defence and preservation Of that
Island AT the same time it has always been
declared to Spain that the government of the
United States could not beexpected to acquiesce
: in the cession Of Cuba to a European power.
Mr.. Webster adyerts to that policy which has
induced the United States to avoid as far as pos
s!bie, alliance or agreements with other States,
except such as affect the interests Of the United
States themselves. But adds. how far it may
be necessary to make this case Of Cuba an ex-
ception viii be matnrely considered.
The principal communication is that Of Mr..
Everett, bearing date of December /, 1852, which
meets the issue and declines the proposition. 1t
opens with areference to the death of Mr.. Web
ster as the clause of delay in responding to the
proposal. The terms of the convention are then
quoted. Mr. Everett then proceeds to say. that
the President fully concurs with his predecessors
that the u. s. could not see with indifference the
Island of Cuba fall into theshards of any other
European government than Spain Not that
he should be disappointed with the natural in
crease Of territory and power, by England or
France. And in this connection, the acquisi-
lions made BY the United States are adverted
to, and the fact stated that they have been fol-
lowed also bya great increase Of mutually bene-
fetal commercial intercourse between the United
States and Europe. s
The difference in reference TO the transfer of
Cuba from Spain to any other European Pow
er is then referred to- and illustrated by the light
in which France and England would view the
acquisition Of some important island in the Me-
diterranean by the United States.
Mr. Everett remarks that the proposed con-:
vention assumes the United States to have no
other or greater interest in the question than
England or France; whereas it is necessary only
to cast ones eye upon the map tosee how re-
mote are the relations Of Europe, and how init
mate those Of the United States with this island.
The objections of the President TO become q
party to the proposed compact are then set forth.
First, he is of opinion that it would not be view
ed With favor by the Senate. And its certain
rejection by that body would leave the question
Of Cuba in more unsettled position than i IS
now. Further, the convention would be OF no
service unless it were lasting, and hence the
terms in which it is proposed. But it is doubt
cd whether the Constitution of the United States
would allow the treaty making power to impose
permanent, disability on the American Gov
ernment, for all coming time, and prevent it,
under any future change of circumstances, from
doing what has been SO often done in times
PAST.
A further objection consists in the proverbial
hostility Of the people to 'entanging alliances"
with other powers But a graver aobjection is
found in the fact that the compact, though equal
in its terms, would be very unequal in substance.
1t is contendcd that England and France would
simply disable themselves from obtaining pos
1,,1 Il,c,r of
government, and to which they can have no ma
tural tight under any circumstances; While the
United States, on the other hand, would disable
Themselves from making an acquisition which
mi cht take place without any disturbance of cX-
i>tiny foreign relations, and i'll the natural order
ofihints. The island Of Cuba lies at our doors,
SAYS Nr. Everett and if such an island belong
in.s 20 the Spanish crown, guarded the entrance
of the Thames and the Seine, and the United
States should propose a convention like this to
England ard France, those powers would assur-
.,ily feel tIat the disability assumed by our
selves ua, far less serious than that Which we
asked ;hcm to ASSUME.
\ general and proper alIaSion is made to the
sincerity and efficiency with which the President
has used the Whole force of his constitutional
uowcr against all illegal attacks upon the island.
While the course Of the Captain General of
Cuba, in excluding passengers and mails of the
United States, Is advcrtcd to rs very cXtraorg
dinarv mode Of animadverting upon supposed
abuse Of the liberty Of the press, by the subject
(ciiiz"n) Of foreign government in his native
country. in this connection the sentiments Of
L,e Ua.tcl S.a:cs government are specifically
oJ,mc,d ard directly agree with those hereto,
T.. al. r