The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13

hemisphere. The United States, meantime.
were by the arts of peace and the healtbful
progress of things rapidly enlarging their do
minOns and consolidating their power The
great march of events still went on. Some OF
the new Republics, from the effect of mixture
of races or the want of training in liberal in
stitutions, showed themselves incapable of self
government. The province of Texas revolted
from Mexico by the same right by which Mex
leo revolted from Spain. At the memorable
battle OF San Jacinto, in 1896 she passed the
great ordeal Of nascent States. and her indie
pendence was recognised by this Government,
by England, by France, and other European
Powers. Mainly peopled from the United
States, she sought naturally to be Incorporated
into the Union. The offer was repeatedly re-
jected by Presidents jackson and Van Buren,.
to avoid collision with Mexico. At last the
annexation took place AS a domestic aues-
ton, it is no fit subject for comment in com
munication to a foreign minister. As cues
ton of public law, there never was an extern
sion OF territory more naturally or iustifably
made. 1t produced a disturbed relation with
the Government of Mexico War ensued, aud
in its results other extensive territories were
for large pecuniary compensation. on the
part OF the United States added to the Union
Without advertng to the divisions of opinion
which arose in reference to this war. AZ must
always happen in free countries in reference 10
great measures, no person surveying these
events with the eye OF a comprehensive states
manship, can fail to trace in the main result
the undoubted operation of the law of our po-
iltcal existence The consequences are before
the world. Vast provinces, which had lam
gulshed for three centuries under the leaden
sway OF stationary system, are coming under
the influences of an active civilization freedom
OF speech and the press, the trial by jury, rel.
glous equality, and representative government
have been carried by the Constitution of the
United States INTO extensive regions in which
they were unknown before. By the settlement
oil California, the great circuit of intelligence
round the globe is completed The discovery
on the gold OF that region, leading as it did to
the same discovery in Australia, touched
the nerves OF industry throughout the world
Every addition to the territory of the Amer-
can Union has given homes to European desti-
tuition, and gardens to European want. From
every part Of the United Kingdom, from France
from Switzerland, and Germany, and from the
EXTREMIST north Of Europe, q march OF immi-
grafton has been taken up, such as the world
has never seen before. Into the United States,
grown to their present extent in the manner
described, but little less than half million of
the population of the old world is annually
pouring to be Immediately incorporated into
an industrious and prosperous oommnnitv in
the bosom which they find political and reli-
glous liberty, social position, employment, and
bread. 1t is fact which would defy belief
were 1t not the result of official inquiry, that
! the emigrants to the United States from Ire.
land alone, besides having subsisted themselves
have sent back to their kindred for the last
three years nearly five millions Of dollars an
nnally, thus doubling in three years tho pur-
chase money of Louisiana. Such is the terri.
toral development of the United States in the
past century. Is it possible that Europe can
contemplate it with an untriendly or Jealous
eye! What would have been her condition in
these trying years but for the outlet we have
furnished for her starving millionsl Spain
meantime, has retained of her extensive domn
ions on this hemisphere but the two islands O
Cuba aud Porto Rico Respectful sympathy
with the fortunes of an ancient ally and gallan
people, with whom the United States have eve
maintained the most friendly relations, would
if no other reason existed, make it our duty t
leave her in the undisturbed possession of Thu
little remnant of her mighty transatlantic EN-
pire.
The President desires to do 10; no word OF
deed of his will ever question her title or shak,
her possession. But can it be expected to las
very longs Can it resist this mighty curren
in the fortunes of the world Is it desirable
that it should do so? Can il be for the interes
of Spain to cling to a possession that can oni,
be maintained by garrison of twenty-five
or thirty thousand troops, powerful nava
force, and an annual expenditure for both arm
of the service of at least twelve millions of dol
larsi Cuha at this momont costs more to SPAR
7 than the entire naval and military establish
ments of the United States cost the Fedora
Government So far from being really iniure
by the loss of this island there is no doub
that were it peacefully transferred to the I'm
ted States prosperous commerce hetwee
Cuba and Spain, resulting from ancient assc
citation and common language and tastes, woul
be far more productive than the best contrive
system of colonial taxation. Such nOt0riousl
has been the result to Great Britain of the es
Enlistment of the independence of the United
States The decline of Spain from the position
which she held in the time OF Charles the Fiftl
is coeyal with the foundation of her colonial
system; while within twenty-five years and
since the loss Of most of her colonies, she has
entered upon course OF rapid improvement
unknown since the abdcation of that Em-
peror.
| will but allude 10 an evil of the first mag
nitude-I mean the African slave trade-in
the suppression OF which England and France
! take a lively interest--an evil which still forms
great reproach upon the civilization OF
Chrlstendom, and perpctuatcs the barbarism OF
Africa, but for which it is to be feared there ID
no hope of a complete remedy while Cuba re-
mains a Spanish colony
| But whatever may be thought of these last
suggestions, it would seem impossible for any
one, who reflects upon the events glanced at in
| this note, TO mistake the law of American
| growth and progress or think il can DO ulti-
mately arrested by a convention like that pro-
posed In the judgment Of the President, it
would be as easy to throw Ia dam from Cape
Florida to Cuba, in the hope of stopping the
flow OF the guilt stream, as TO attempt by a COM
pact like this 10 fix the fortunes OF Cuba snow
and forever hereafter J" or, a. expressed in the
French text Of the convention, for the present
as for the future, (pour lie present CONNIE pour
Payenir,) that is, for all coming time The his
tory of the past of the recent past, affords no
assurance that twenty years hence England or
France will even wish that Spain should retain
Cuba and century hence, judging of what
will be from what has been, the pages which
record this proposition will, like the record of
the family compact between France and Spain.
have no interest mt for the antiquary
Even now the President cannot doubt that
both France and England would prefer any
change in the condition of Cuba to that which
is most to be apprehended viz: an internal
conyulsion which should renew the horrors and
fate of San Domingo
will intimate & final objection to the pro-
posed convention Lord Malmsbury and NJ.
dc Turgot put forward as the reason for enter
ing into such a compact, the attacks which
have lately been made on the island of Cuba
by lawless bands Of adventurers from the Uni
ted States, with the avowed design Of taking
possession Of that island" The President is