, 1854-10-28
Prom the Washington Union.
The Administration and the
Cuba Question.


attacks made upon the administration in
connexion with the Cuba question The
extreme opponents Of the acquisition of
the island, as well as the out-and-Out fill
busters, unite in censnring the administra-
tion, but upon grounds wholly contradic-
tory. The former insist that the President
is o regular illibuSter in his feelings ana
that his late proclamation was mere
blind, behind which he is prosecuting his
schemes of acquisition. They say there is
q secret understanding between him and
the leaders Of the Cuban junta, according
to which they are to regard the proclama-
ton as q mere bratum fulnen, and are TO
push forward their arrangements for a
grand descent upon Cuba with all possible
vigor and dispatch. This is the view OF
one extreme; whilst those who occupy the
other extreme-the undisguised fllibusers
-assail the administration with equally
as much violence, and insist that the late
proclamation was not only uncalled for,
but ill-timed, and indicative of spirit that
is hostile to the early accomplishment OF
their great aim. As it is morally certain
that both of these grounds OF objection
cannot be true, it is not improbable that a
discriminating public will infer that neither
class of assailants understands the true po-
sition of the administration, and hence that
both are dealing in unjust censures.
1t is scarcely possible that President
Pierce can sympathize in sentiment with
either class of assailants. The one cherish
the old federal idea that all acquisitions Of
territory are dangerous, or indulges the
abolition feeling against annexation be-
cause the area Of slave territory may be
enlarged. That President Pierce is in the
least degree influenced by either sentiment
cannot be supposed for an instant without
imputing to him an abandonment Of all his
democratic and national antecedents. 1t
is not less certain that he is incapable OF
countenancing any scheme Of territorial
acquisition which involves breach of our
treaty obligations or violation of law
As we understand fillibusterism, President
Pierce is as far from being obnoxious to
that charge as he is to federalism or aboli-
tionism in his views as to territorial annex
alton. Misunderstanding his real senti-
ments, as his assialants manifestly do, it is
not surprising that they should equally
misunderstood his policy in regard to Cuba,
The assailants of the administration have
an advantage on this question which ought
not to be overlooked by those disposed to
judge of its policy They have the choice
of positions to which they assign the Presi-
dent, and for which they hold him respon-
sible and yet, such is the nature of the
question involved, and such the necessity
for adopting and prosecuting measures for
its solution through channels in which pru-
dence suggests the Importance of keeping
his own counsels, that the misrepresenta-
tions to which his course is subjected can
not be exposed, and his policy indicated,
until either success or failure has developed
the truth. When the anti-annexationists
charge the President with winkmg at fill
clustering expeditions, we can do no more
(and that is certainly enough) than appeal
to the vigilance displayed by the officers
OF the federal government in obeying the
injunctions Of the proclamation, and TO the
violent censures TO which he is subjected
from the very leaders of expeditions which
he is charged with encouraging. What
the administration is doing for the purpose
Of preventing the violation of the laws, by
unlawful expeditions against Cuba, is pub
lie, and hence tits easily vindicated against
the charga Of winking at 6llibustersm-
On the other hand, however, when the fill
busters charge the President with ineffi-
cheney and lack Of energy in advancing
their object, the charge cannot be so
80 promptly met and refuted by pointing
to the acts and doings Of the administra-
ton in the premises. Considerations Of
prudence require that the negotiations 60
ing on should be withheld from the public
for the time being, and hence it is grossly
unjust to cepsure the administration for
want Of energy or decision in its policy
when the real character of its policy is not
yet developed
But whilst the administration unavoida.
bly, labors under this disadvantage on the
Cuba question, those who are not disposed
to be captions and illiberal will see the in
justice done to it, and will be prepared to
await such developments as shall enable
the whole country TO judge understandingly
VI L'0 NuSou POhSJs WIN Tue IacIS dl-
ready developed, itwould be exceedingly
unreasonably to suppose that our relations
with Spain were not engaging the utmost
vigilance and energy on the part of the
executive branch of the government
Without assuming to speak authoritatively
on the subject, we hazard nothing in say
ing that there is no just foundation either
for the charge that the President is dis
posed to wink at 6llibusterism, or that he
is not doing all that would be consistent
with our national honor to bring our diff
cultes with Spain to q satisfactory and
speedy adjustment, including in such ad-
justment the fullest indemnity for past inju-
ries by the Cuban authorities and the
surest guarantee against similar injuries in
future. II this adjustment can be effected
peaceably and amicably, we are bound by
every consideration of national honor to-
attain to it that way. Surely this must be