Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-05
Washington Sentinel.


The Position OF Spain.
The kingdom of Spain possesses innumera.
BILE seaPorts upon the Atlantic ocean, the Med
iterranean sea, and the Indian ocean. Within
four hundred miles Of these seas every wear the
following amount of inward and outward for
e'gn maritime commerce is compelled to pass
Belonging 70 Great Britain. 1880. 500 600, 0o0
10 rance. ............. 0OO,Ooo,ooI
do United States OF America. ,00t
Whenever any sufficient aggression is com
mitted against the national rights Of Spain sh'
possesses the right TO declare war; Six months
ailer that event she could put to sea not less
than one thousand armed vessels of every size
and description. Every year such vessels
could capture not less than one-third Of the
commerce OF the nations above named.
As an illustration Of the constant zeal ofthe
Spanish government TO continue at peace, we
see her refusal TO make cause of war with the
United States the outrages committed on two
separate occasions under the flag of that Con-
federation, from her seaport of New Orleans
10y the two invading expeditions of Lopez
against the Island of Cuba, in the years 1850
and 1851, causing damage Of three millions
Of dollars to the treasury Of that island and to
its population, for which spoliation no indem-
nifty has yet been proposed on the part of the
government OF the United States. 1t is seen
that whenever this maritime power compels a
war with Spain, its pecuniary gain TO Spain
may be thus estimated, concluding that such
demonstrations will continue for the next one
hundred years, unless the aggressor shall first
make ample and satisfactory remuneration,
with the restoration of every inch Of soil there
by alienated from Spain.
II would be a low figure to say that yearly
the armed vessels Of Spain could capture not
less than one hundred million dollars worth Of
property under the Federal flag, and that for
one hundred years. Ten thousand millions
property would be gained to the treasury of
Spain, when the sixteen maritime States would
withdraw from the Confederation, establish q
new Union Of such States, with the same speci-
hc agricultural systems Of cultivation Of the
soil, with free wages laborers, contracting to
make, indemnify, and secure the restoration OF
Cuba to Spain. As the wages class Of the six
teen free States have for many years refused to
pay direct tax to maintain the Federal Union
that institution has been supported by q tax
upon the consumption Of foreign merchandise,
first imported into the seaports of the maritime
States. Such secret tax now confscates from
the wages of the laboring classes sixty million
dollars per year. This sum is discussed to sup
port the Federal army, navy, civil and diplo
matte corps 1t is certain that the aggression
OF this Federal Government upon Spain, If pro-
ducing war, would be followed by the capture
annually on the part of Spain of not less than
fifty per cent. of the articles imported into the
United States; Of the basis the income of the
Federal Treasury would thereby annually lose
thirty millions which sum it would have TO sup.
ply and replace by direct tax upon the wages
class Of the free States, already bitterly hostile
to the proprietors of slaves in the fifteen slave
States, supporting the no wages system Of com
pensation for the laborer Is il the actual or
assumed agents of these proprietors Of slaves
IN the fifteen slave States represented in the
Congress of the Federal Government probably
not exceeding thirty Of its ninety members from
said slave States) who have exhibited their
mania to bring on this eternal war with Spain,
by uttering the insulting challenge represented
by the words, "the annexation of Cuba?r Who
has ever heard any Spanish statesman, legis-
lator, or planter, follow this absurd programme,
by utterng the duplicate sentiment of the an
nexation of Louisiana or Florida to Spain?
But who can tell whether the reign of some
faction of 1oung America may not invite
the protection of Spain to restore order and dis.
cipline to their decomposing masses? Who
does not know that she will continue to refuse
such thankless protectorate?
1t appears that in the year l848 the Presi-
dent of the United States, Mr.. Polk, directed
his agent at Madrid to intimate to the Spanish
government that he would give one hundred
millions for the transfer Of the nationality Of
Spain over the Island of Cuba TO the Federal
government. This may be set down as the
value which this public officer fixed upon that
ancient and faithful colony Of Spain. As
Spain refused the said proposal, it has been
the business Of the said agents Of the proprie.
tors Of slaves in the United States to get up a
pretext to take from Spain this island by force
of arms stratagem, stealth, fllibusterism, or
by exciting the subjects of Spain in Cuba 10
rebellion. Should their efforts succeed, here is
statement Of the benefits that Spain will re-
ceive after that event shall occur; considering
also, as the case now stands, that the Treasury
Of Spain receives no income or pecuniary bene-
Ct from her nationality over Cuba:
lst The armed vessels Of Spain could cap.
ture nearly one hundred millions of the prop.
erty upon the sea of the maritime classes Of
the States, increasing the wealth Of Spain that
sum yearly, without any cost Of production,
besides stimulating and improving her popula-
ton in the art Of ship-building, and congregat.
ing for their use under the Spanish Gag l00,.
900 mariners to conduct them upon the ocean.
I'd. The treasury Of Spain would yearly re.
ceire from said captures an increase Of cash
funds of not less than twenty millions. This
sum would enable her to assume potent posi-
ton with the powers Of Europe, who for the
last thirty years have made such constant
efforts to effect the abolition Of the millions Of
slaves, (yet held by their proprietors upon the
continent Of America,) without providing them
one dollar Of indemnity.
Sd. Within two years from the declaration
Of war by Spain against the Federal Power or
Confederation the maritime States would with.
draw from the Union because of its destruction
TO the local interests Of their masses; and il is
admitted by all practical citizens of the United
States that the first result produced therehom
would be to compel the proprietors Of the
100000 negro slaves Of the fifteen slave
States TO emancipate them, or TO receive the
punishment inflicted by them upon the pro
prietors Of slaves in st. Domingo during the
revolution in France, commencing in 1876.
4th. The free States, for il is plain that the
100000 slaves, after their emancipation
would devastate the other fifteen States, whether