The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-02
AFFAIRS in WASHINGTON.
ahe CcmPietaon OF the Presidents Message
Ine Ostend congrssS--Thc Indian Report
The TsriG &c. &c.


The Completion OF the Presidents Message
The Ostend Congrsss--Thc Indian Report
The TsriH &c. &c.
our WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
e. WASHINGTON, Nov 10. 1854.
The Resuk Of the Ostsnd Conjsrsace-Ho Hoso the I'D
siaisratior Regard it-Csba and the Presiden
fiai Race IN ls5s--sfocp fear Aibsny--7A
Sardicrch Islands.
Among the politicians who have just arrived Il
town is the Hon. Lynn Boyd. the Speaker Of th'
House Of Representatives. These are busy time
among the clerks In all the departments preparing
statistics and facts for the various reports. Thu
public printer is already at work upon soma Of these
-aocunenss.
The elest question Of tne coming session will be
Cuba or nots" It is the policy Of the ad niuistrs
zion to make the Queen Of the Antilles the craa,
ouebesr, upon which the session shall spend its en-
tire force. say bugbear, because it is not the d.
sire OF the administration tina. any definite action
should be had upon this subject but that 1t shall be
agitaed, debated and talked about so as 70 raise an
excitement throughout the Union, which shall las.
till aftsI the next Presidential contest. The Con.
ference AZ Osend was tire first step for sccompsh-
ing this object. The result Of this conference has
been laid before the President, WHO has re ,uyned
reply 70 those who composed it. The propositions
ard recommendations Of these bslligerent American
Ministers were, as learn, aa folio VS.
LIST. That Cuha, from locality, naturally belongs
TO the United States, and csssity demands that
she should possess it.
I'd. That the United States makes an offer to
Spain to purchase Cuba-offsring liberal sum
which, In tie eyes Of the whole world, shall appear
q just ard fair equivalent.
Sd. Spain viii refuse. The United sAtes sh all
then make this refusel a matter Of inquiry, aud de.
nand Of Spain the reason of her non acceptance of
our offer.
4th. II she puts her refusal upon the ground that
ale wants Cuba for commercial purposes, to reject
this statement a. false and hypocritical 10 asmuch
- Spain is not q commsrsial power, and cannot
need Cuba for its commercial advantages. Then. TO
assume that the real object in retaining Cuba Ia
that England, France and Spain may enjoy It a.
maritime fortifcation against the commerce of the
United States In the event of successful te nina
tion Of the war in the East, and that national ne
cassty demands that we should have it, to th Yart
any such combination agains. our interests in the
gulf.
TIE above was the tone and substa OF the
communication to the President, the whole pro-
gramme coming from the brain OF Mr. Soale and
by him ard Mr. Daniel forced through the Ostend
meeting. This, moreover, is-the key explanatory
ofths acsion Of the French COVE, nment toward Mr..
Soul6, placing him in the position of an enemy to
their interests and their State. It is the purse and
sword policy, which they hoped would receive the
ssncsien Of their. government. The administration,
Il is pretty well understood; replied to the Ostend
warriors; but the nature Of is reply is yes conjec
ture. understand from sources which at lea 4 are
entttd to much consideration, that the Ostend pro-
iglanme vas only In part adopted. It was con.
ceded as proper to make Spain the liberal offer re.
commended, and In case Of her refusal, then to de-
man6 most peremptorily. indemnity in the Black
Warrior affair; to back this demand with the word,
and II in this way 1t may used to unsheath It at the
demand Of Congress. It is believed that the visit Of
Mr.. Piatt the Secretary Of legation 1t Paris s
upon tris ztter and that he brings the final deci.
don Of Spain, whether or not she will dispose Of
Cuba .. sDy price. II was probably awaiting this
visit of Mr. Piatt that the President has left till so
late day the portion Of his message relating to
foreign affairs, sugg stion strengthened by the
fact that he commenced 90 industriously, as soon
~ this gentleman arrived, to hunt no oil cores
poncence and law ss ting these relations, for put
tirg the final touch to the message. This matter,
then, Of Cuba havirg bsen so pret.ly conducted
that II is now fairly before the administration che
President it i thought, win talk firmly Of it in his
I messsge-not advising immediate and decisive 90
tion, for that would spoil his game, but to speak
Of to give 1t an important position before the
coming Congress- and leave it for them to spout and
battle upon till their adjournment in March next
This, they reason, viii enwrap the whole nation in
a war excikment- the question Of "Cubs or not, :
IN NJ. hr.e eI~o onS q.
sues in the shade, ard the war party carry the
present administration again to victory, amid tn;
clangor Of war trumpets and the clashiDg of arms
This gives different dire tons to the desires of The
-Ost nd Congress and the administration. The retu
gees at Ostend were probably sincere In their desire
to plunge this country in war at all hazards, tc
seize Cuba, plundering Spaia and humbling France
With Mr.. Soule such contamination would bt
balm to his personal hatred to that country. fol
reasons which date back to his early life, and which
hatred probably now more shapes his action in this
matter thon his love TO American interests, regard
less Of private and personal wrongs. What is solo
of Mr. Soule can be said Of most, II not sll, who
composed the Ostend Congress. Were they su
preme in their authority, war to the hilt would nt
doubt be given Us at once. Beyond this, 1t Is bu
fair to suppose they have 10 aim or desire. Bu
with the administration II Is different. The coa
test of 1855 alone interests them, with which II
importance all Cuba is insignificant and worthless
So far from really cariog for the annexation
Of Cuba, they would dis-annex Texas, or any othe
Sta'e, II this course of action would give then
victory IN 1856. So long, then, as Caba can b
held - the ace Of truups in the next President'a
game, 20 long It wfl be cherished and held back, Il
sweep the board at thelast. So long as the Con
gTsss at Ostend he pc to shuttle the pack that thi
special trump shall turn up, 30 long will all th
members OF that Congress be encouraged IA tibet
course % the best assistsnts Of he admust -aton.
lhave not heard to day Of any despstch autnens
csdrg what ! SPOKE Of yesterday from Norfolk 4
regard to the sloop Of war Albany.
From present appearances there win be quoru1
OF members present at the opeoing Of the sesso
ON Monday next and the YAxiQua renorta win b