Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-30
From the New Orleans P;eayunr.
REi,AvJONS WITH SPAIN.

Oh thu nature ailh lcGhl ELECTS "i inc repeal q! t!ht
neutrality Inv, insists TINT such Il movement could
only have Tor III object the invasion and conquest o
Cuba, and that il in dissrucciul 10 the United States
to seek the conqucstof the islnnd hy means RI direct.
" uf the nature Of piracy.
We have not satisfied ourselves, md therefore have
not undertaken To argue III favor OF Il repeal Of the
neutrality law rs exactly the measure for the crisis
But We recognize II crisis of pcrilous Importance and
urgency. Prompt action If necessary, and we have
considered the repeal Of the neutrality law ns one
which is under consideration ut Washington, and
lIave attempted to divcst il OF some Of the miScOnccp-
tiuns with which il lius been surrounded. We have
attempted to show, and think we have succeeded in
showing that il hs none ui the characteristics of pi-
racv, und authorizes 10 acts OF pirncy, in any scnsr;
that il discharges none Vi the rights OF Spain, or OF
the obligations of the United States towards Spain
created by tho public law, and releases no American
from full responsibility, within Spanish jurisdiction or
on the high seas, for crimes against Spanish territory
ur property.
I}u, i, is contendcd TINT the effect Of such n measure
would be- the conquest of the island, and urged that
if we want the island, tha only honorable, straight
forward course is 10 90 10 war, if We cannot purchase
il, and have n good ground inr declaring war.
Lee; MS discriminate here q little. We do not admit
that the intent TO Mcguire Cubn, either by conquest,
purchase or annexation, is The p%rrdominuting motive
ior the adoption Of any preventive or aggressive met
slre towards Spain N this time. These may be rxpc'
dient means or inscparable consequences, i'll III" ass'r
ton of a higher principle Of selt-prolectl"n but they
uIt WIN ' dI'l WV hhtA' " t'''' 'fr 49,"
ton is that OF self protection against dcndl? assaults.
The whole system und administration i'll Cubn have
been for Il long time sources of llrltntln!l AMI INJURY
10 the United States, and there arc abundant rr'ISuli-
why We should desire to have n change there which
would secure lis Il safe ncighborhood md courteous
treatment. But, besides these old and lnriirablr
canses Of complaint, III which we might long since
have found unsuitable cau-r- for war, II new and fear
FIJI mischief threatens us in thai quarter. n frenzy
of ,lrsp0tism ar nf hate If, beyond ull dnui't, prcIar-
inn. Il social state on the lslnnd nI Cuba which viii,
unless checked in time. and the time Is pressing, de-
liver il over 10 utter Disqualification, and spread It's
most dclrfcrinl- consequences all over this region 0i
| the United States. To prevent this is the first duty ot
srlf-dcfrncc, aud the frat motive, for immediate and
prompt nrtOn. IL conquest TX necessary, WHY then
resort must be- bud 10 conquest. bur, nj Ill events, The
scheme for planting MI African STATE, under w'lhtSo-
ever denomination, III the mouth Of The Ali+SiaSlPli' ~
10 be defeated by some means, md Mt NIL hazards. IL
il from this portcntous and deadly PLOT TINT NC ar: tn
saye ourselves and We confess that We nr unable
to appreciate that sort of ovcrs!rain'sl pllrctilln winch
| would deprive ourselves nt Legitimate and elective,
and lawful weapons, bccau-e they might bc construed
into disrourtray to n nation with whom il IL plain We
are GhOai 10 enter on II struggle involving uir exist
rmcc, ur AT irasi the Tnluc and security III wha; wc in
The Sunth hold c-arntinl 10 our pr"p"r;% nnd peace.
Believing in the fixed mMlirr Of the p'irlnsr, iid
the deadly immincncy nf the peril, "E GGr not To al
low ~scruplcs Of fantastic drlirnry towards n power
which If at rcmorseless r.lrnity with us, to rrttrain Ill.
from urging any means permitted by national la% ana
| lltlulul tutn, WHICH WtHll UtJrl ~ ilNl W.
nlIv parnlyzc the blow before it desrcnds upon us
The preparations for h%urrying Oh tli- scheme are cyi-
dent 10 our SENSES, and only murkin2!y denied. Inc
fucts nrr avowrd, without dlsgrisc-tlir effect not Ills
pulsi-only tho intent inintly disrlail!'"d. 1t Is I'M
noscd mon n reluctant people, by the force oi IN au-
ihority, which, in spite Vi their reluctance, Is still SUI
pr.nG, and however alien and lyrannirnl its uct1, they
irc still the acts of Il submitting and rill a;lcoite7t.'i
authority. We are not disposed to enter mo MI the
uucstions which this view of the ease suggests. III re-
ltnrd Ia the effect Of ANY dccrccs which the Spanish
Government may issue and Register, While liz sway Is
unIistnrbcd, by any competing Government Of tn"
pcoulr themselves; or what degree ui stability a com
netting Government must have, to give II the right IN
nnnni tho acts, or nulliiy the power TO act, OF the de-
structiye dynasty and lis mlnions. An cXtcl1nl war,
which would prccipitatc the fatal decree, would al
ford IN solution Of this difficulty. W" suggest t!lIr
train Of Consequences and rc-nlin Ia the reelection al
those who 1. dirpOscd to carry 1t out. nnd apply ls
lessons to The consideration Of our broad elective
policy Of relf-protectiun. They may posaibly reach
the conclusion tlut the removal of IL Government
armed witt, such tremendous puwersi"r mischief, ana
disposed To usr them 90 rrIuorscly Tor the oppression
and ruin Of the white racrs on The lslulld, ana inc
substitution of n Government mt ilnrmnny with their
m,crsts, which are also not lrrs clearly ours, Is the
main nnl first necessity for the salvation al 1hr
Island from the dreadful doom. Considerations "t
its future disposal may come hlt'rShr"s--'h"! "'
secondary and immatcrlal.
But Whatever iuirly, and without brrncIl oil any
pledged faith, may BE- done 10 accelerate surh Il con
Observation-Disclosures removes II restraint OF IN uD-
starlr, imposed in mere %c0uricsv, from u sense "i IN
trrun,ioull .roud will, which il met on the other SIDE
bv runtumelv, and bitter hatred AMI lnccfSalit attack
lis lawful policy, to be hound hy IN oi9cr discretion
thun TINT tic mcnns are honorable and IRE likely Ia
be effective.
1t is only, therefore, from dls!rtlst ri "nr judgment
in matter. III such deep import aud vast consequence
Tint we hr.ita,c IL advocate the suspension ot the
neutrality law, that the people Of Cuba lnay have IN
open field on which to test tho %rieltti;i clclnl to the
supreme authority in the lalald, una 10 Keep tue "c-
.tructivr measure. contemplated nEnlnst Them III
allowance. ri lrust until that question is SOLVED. 1t il
not hcrnusr we believe tllnt my concession on grounds
Of mcr. comfy is due to the Spanish tinvrriihIrht' "r
wnull have tho effect oI restraining. n"r PnrW,rn-
while it might weaken our mems OF "'i''hr. INC
end of defeating this ncfarinrs scheme If wlihl VIC
MIN at, and Whit should engage lie ze"!"ils STUDY nl
every American citizen. We rejoice that inc ptillr
mind has been nj last fixed upon inc SUBJECT WIN IL
rcnsc uf its infinite Importance aud urgency anu We
frrvrmtly hope that out of MI tlr stlggrs!tch means
for thai object, the genius of the American people
will lr enabled, by the mercy Of ir"'la'Nce' '"""'h
out t'r Themselves n means ni shicIy.
ARKANSAS.
On the Is, instant, n congressional convention OF
the democracy OF the 5h district in Arkansas was held
ut I.utcsyinr, for the purpose of nominating Il chnli-
lulc for the ensuing Congress. y. Is. etrr",%ood.
ESP, the present member, was feiio'nilia''" u. "
unanimous vote. \ scrics.oi RESOLUTIONS was "na'H'
lDlSl ulnnIGil, w tnKc lItlI I'u nv ''N.'''
''W'hcrcas the democratic party hath ever been III
the habit Of hunging the principles by when IhsF
are governed upon the 'outcr VALE, trusting W me
good scnrc OF The people for the maintenance ID tne
doctrines which characterize them, ana IRE therefor"
willing to intrus: all with them and whereas II l. DOH
right bv the spirir OF o,r Institutions, ami nlso III ac'
%cnrlanre with democratic usage, to boldly and frank
IL declare these Therefore,
"Rcsolvcd, That wa ~rrlt1rntc inc doctrines "i .h'
resolutions nj Virginia and Kentucky oil ~ ana ''n
the shlhboieth of or faith on the silijo'lS lh'reiu
treated of, and rcnfiirm them.
"ltcsolvcd, Tint the platform adopted by inc lasl
Baltimore Convention il that on winch we stinH, ana
that We recognise in the resolutions then passed the
true principles Of tho democratic party nor Will wf
acknowledge my one M n democrat who fails 10 srs'
tain them.
..Rcsolved, That Franklin Pierce has administered
the government; with ability and fidelity: and that The
course pursued by him sinrr hs inaugural demands
md receives our unqualified approval, and is such n
li- nntcc,-lrnts led ia IN anticipate, and consequently
tlIut we have the highest confidence in him and Tho
distinguished citizens who compose his cabinet.
"Rcsplveal, That we decidedly approve the cotrrst
of Senator Stephen a. Douglus. Of Illinois, upon the
Nebraska question:. and agree WIN hs view OF 1he el
fccta Of the principles decided by tho compromise
measures 1850 upon the subject OF the power I"
Congress over tho subject Of slavery.
'Rcsolve1, That the known, support gwen INC
above measures hy President Pierce ought to s,'ence
forever The clamors of those who have charged HIN
with a disposition 10 advance The purposes "i irc'
snilcra and nbolitionisis."
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.-Mr. olds, to-day, in
troduccd into the House q substitute for the Postage
hill not long since reported by him from the pos'
Office Committee. Its most important feature propo'
SEES to abolish tie ranking privilege, making the post
nSe on Ill letters now going free III the mails chnrse'
able to the Treasury 1.-THE United States. 1t iurthe:
provides, that the postage Oh letters sent under 3,Ol
miles shall continue to 6e three cents, prepaid, as al
present; the committees bill providing that it shall be
FIVE cents. it will be recollected.- Tash'nEto" Star'