The weekly Placer herald., 1853-01-15

communication which he may hold with
an agent of foreign power is informal
and matter of courtesy. Anxious to put
an end to the existing Inconvenience,
(Which seemed to rest on misconceptions }
directed the'newly appointed minister to
Mexico to visit Havana, on his way to
Vera Cruz. He was respectfully received
by the Captain General, who conferred
with him freely on the recent occurrences;
but no permanent arrangement was eff:
fected.
In the meantime, the refusal of the
Captain General to allow passengers and
the mail to he landed in certain cases for
a reason which does not furnish, in the
opinion of this Government, even a coed
presumptve ground for such prOhib-
iton, has been made the subject Of Sc
rohs remonstratice at Madrid, and have
no reason to doubt that due respect will
be paid by the government of Her Cath
ollc Majesty to the representations which
our Minister has been instructed to make
on this subject.
1t is but justice to the Captain General.
10 aud, tnaI his conduct toward the steam
ers employed to carry the mails of the
United States to Havana has, with the
exceptions above alluded to. been marked
with Kindness and Iiberalty, and indicates
no general purpose of interfering with the
commercial correspondence and inter-
course between the Island and this coun-
try.
Early in the present year, official notes
were received from the Ministers of
France and England, inviting the Gov
ernment of the United States to become
party with Great Britain and France to
trlpartlte convention, In virtue of which
the three powers should severally and
collectively disclam, now and for the fu-
tnre, all intention to obtain possession of
the Island of Cuba, and should bind them
selves to dlscountenance all attempts to
that effect on the part Of any power or
individual whatever. The invitation has
been respectfully declined, for reasons
which it would occupy too much space in
this communication TO state in detail, but
which led me to think that the proposed
measure would be of doubtful consttu-
tiohality, irnpolitic, and unavailing. |
have, however, in common with several
of my predecessors, directed the Minis
ters of France and England to be assured
that the United States entertain no design
against Cuba; but that, on the contrary,
should regard its Incorporation at the
present time as fraught with serious peril.
Were this island comparatively dest-
tute of inhabitants, or occupied by kin
dred race, should regard it, if volunta-
rliy ceded by spain, as rIuot ,Ior,;rublv
acquisition. But, under existing circum-
stances, should look upon its incorpcr-
alton into our Union, as a very hazardous
measure. 1t would bring into the Con
federacy population of different ma
tional stock, speaking different language
and not likely to harmonize with the other
members 1t would probab y affect in
preludcial manner the industrial interests
of the South; and it might revive those
conflicts of opinion between the different
sections of the country, which lately shook
the Unlen to its center, and which have
been so happily compromised.
The rejection hy the Mexican Congress
Of the Convention which has been con
Icluded between that Republic and the
United States, for the protection of a
transit way across the lsthlnus of Te-
huantepec and of the interests of those
citizens of the United States who had be-
come proprietors of the rights which
citizens in regard to that transit, has
thrown a serious obstacle in the way Of
the attainment Of very desirable object.
| am still willing to hope that the differ
ences on the subject which exist, or may
hereafter arise. between the two govern
ments will be amicably adjusted. The
subject, however, has already engaged the
attention of the Senate of the United
States, and requires no further comment
in this communication.
Our settlements on the shores Of the
Pacific have already given given a great
extension, and in some respects a new di-
recton to our commerce in that ocean,
A direct and rapidly increasing inter
course has sprung up with eastern Asia
The waters Of the northern Pacific, even
into the Artic sea, have of late years been
frequented by our whaIemen. The APP
pIication Of steam to the general purpo-
ses of navigation is becoming daily more
common, and makes it desirab e to obtain
fueI and other necessary supplies at con-
venent points on the route between Asia
and our Pacific shores. Our unfortunate
Icountrymen who from time to time suffer
shipwreck on the coasts of the eastern
seas are entitled to projections. Besides
these specific objects, the general prosper
ity of our states on the Pacific requires
that an attempt should be made to open
the opposite regions of Asia to mutual
ly beneficial intercourse. 1t is obvious
| 4