The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-23

qare it, the interference, spprehend would have been
regarded as worse than gratuitous. l cannot why
we have no, as good right TO obtain, il from
Spain, the voluntary cession OF Caba you had
cept the compulsory cesson OF Trinidad, which is by
position and strength the Cuba of the southeastern An.
TILES
France was, you say, at the beginning of this Gen.
tury in possession OF louisiana by the voluntary cesson
OF Spain This possession however. nominal al best
did not take place I'LL months alter France had
sold Louisiana 10 the United States for eighty millions OF
frances aud IL lasted only from The 30th of November
the goth OF December, 1903. The object OF France IN
acquiring Louisiana TO establish herself in the
terror OF this couny-an object, need FAY.
acing your North American possessions 10 the Uni
ted States Il possible sou can think such
of Louisiana Tor such purpose sufficient ground
the part OF France for interfering with relations with
Cuba May she, European power, without consult
ing u.s. obtain from Spain IN 1900 cesson of half the
habitabe portion of North America cession which
threw her tor fifteen hundred miles western from
tier, and not only shut us out from the Pacific, but
bed her to close The Mlssssppi and is il so very IN
reasonable In US TO decline her invitation to bind our
selves for all lime TO accept the of an island
which lies within hiry-ye leagues OF our coast! Does
with Cuba in 1853 from her wen,ydays possession OF
Louisiana in 1903 !! What be clearer than that.
whatever right accrued to her from that three weeks
posse ssion (Which was mere ceremonial affair 10 give
form TO the transfer OF the province to the United States
must have passed 10 by that transfer, followed by
actual possession and occupation for half century!
You observe that ''Lord Malmesbury and NJ Turgo,
put forward reason for entering into the proposed
compact the attacks which had been made the island
Of Cuba by awess bands of adventures from the United
States and with the avowed design OF taking
Of thai sand, and to This reason you add. Mr Ever
EFT replies ia these !" ..The President is convinced
that the conclusion OF such treaty, instead OF putting
and powerful impulse 10 lhem." and this argument you
call mot only unfounded but dsquieting"
After acknowledges rather coldy think, the con-
duct of the late President in disavowng and dscouragng
the lawless enterprises referred TO, you reproachiuy
pronounce my remark Just cited "a melancholy avowal
tor the chief OF free olae and you to intimate,
of the people Of the United States an insensibty ..o
the value Of The eternal laws of right aud wrong. Of
peace and friendship and OF duty neghbor, which
ought guide every Christian nation" You also take
OCCASION in reference TO The same remark. 10 impress
upon the people OF the United States 'he utility of those
rules for The observance OF international relations, which
for centuries have been known 10 Europe by the
OF the law OF nations Among the commentators that
law (you conlnue) some OF the most distinguished
American citizens have earned enviable reputat on,
and il is difficult to suppose the United States would sci
the example of abrogang its most sacred provisions"
suppose no one in Europe or America will think the
intended force OF this rebnke mtgated by the diplomatic
reservation contained in the last lines Let as then,
inquire for moment if it is well deserved.
The expeditions TO which you allude calculated to
excite The "reprobation Of every civilized State" were
dscounenanced by the President in every constitutional
and legal way. The utmos, vigilance was a, all times
employed, but unhappy Tor the adventures themselves.
without effect In this there is matter neither for
der rcproach The territory of the United States is
but little less than the whole of Europe, while their pop
uation is moi quite equal to that OF the United Kingdom,
and their standing military force small and scattered
an immensely extensive frontier. Our government, like
that OF England, is Of law and there is great sim
ary between the laws OF the countries which pro-
hbit military expeditions against the possessions of
friendly powers In fact, your foreign enlistment act OF
1919 was admitted by Mr.. Canning 10 have been found.
ed, in part, on our neutrality law OF the preceding
year. OF the two, believe our laws the strin
gent but il is what difficult to enforce them in both
countries. A4a
These expeditions got up in the United States by
Spanish general, ard supposed TO indicate awless dis
position the part OF The American people, comprised
very small nunber OF persons, some OF whom were for
eigners enjoying the freedom OF action in the Uni
ted States that refugees from every part OF the continent
enjoy in Eng land. The same Teproach which is cast
upon for these expeditions this upon
England BY the continental powers Events which have
occurred in London since your despatch was written
sttuions governments, OF preventing abuses OF that hos
palty which is the privilege and boast OF such gov
ernmenls to extend 10 all who seek it.
There is doubt widely prevalent In this country
feeling that the people of Cuba justly dsafected 10
the government OF Spain. recent impartial French
traveller, M Ampere confirms this impression. All the
ordinary political rights enjoyed in free countries de-
MED 10 The people OF that island The government is, in
principle, The wors, form OF desponsm, absolute
thor,y delegated to military viceroy and supported by
an army from abroad speak Of the nature of the gov
ernment and not OF the individuals by whom it is adj
minislered-lor have Termed very favorable opinion
OF The personal character OF The present captain general
as OF one or two Of his predecessors OF the bad faith
and The utter disregard of treaties with which this bad
government is your committees the slave
trade have spoken plainly enough al the late session OF
Parliament Such being The state OF things in Cuba, il
does not seem TO me very extraordinary or Ieproachu
that, throughout the United States, handful OF mis-
guided young should be found. ready join party
OF foreigners headed by Spanish general who was able
to persuade them, not you view IT, by armed inva
sion to excite the obeden TO revolt and The tranquil 10
disturbance but, as they were led to believe TO aid an
oppressed people in their struggles for freedom There
s no reason to doubt that there al this moment az
many persons. foreigners well natives England,
who entertain these feelings and opinions, as in the
United States and il Great Britain lay al distance OF
i've hundred you might not, with all your repressive
force, lind easy to prevent small steamer. disguised a.
trading vessel, from slipping of from outpor in the
night, on an unlawful enterprise. The expedition OF
General ToTrjos, in 1884, far illegally is concerned,
is the parallel Of that OF General Lopez 1t was fitted
meni, and though It then fell under The grasp OF the
police its members succeeded in escaping to Spain, where
Tor some time they found shelter al Gibraltar. de-
cared in the last number Of the Quarterly Review TO be
notorious that associations have been formed AT Lon
don for the subveson OF dynases with which Eng land
proposed that central commees issUe orders from
England. and that Messrs MaZzin and Kossuth have
established and preside boards OF regency Tor the
Roman States and Hungary and Tor the promotion oil rev
a list, purrorng 10 be taken from Prussian police ga
zee, OF fifteen associations OF continental refugees or
ganized in London and in action for the above
mentioned purposes.
When these things considered the fact that, in the
OF four five years. two nconsderabc and abor
though deeply TO be amenied and sernly TO be condemn
ed violation of municipal and international law
does not appear 10 shocking il seems 10 be
thought by you. II does not, my Judgment, furnish
any ground for the eproaches which u has drawn upon
the government and people OF the United States. Nor
does the remark in m letter of Of December.