The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-09


the Know Nothings aud the anti-slavery socie-
ties. No such thing exists. The league is on
the other side-between Seward in the North
and the administration in the South, against
this new American party. We await the final
issue with pleasure.
Revolution In the Foreign Policy or the Adj
mlnistration- abandonment Of Cuba-Re-
slgnatl0n or SOule.
As all inquiry into the Ostend conference, on
the part of the House Of Representatives. has
been practically defeated by the reference Of
the resolution of inquiry to the Committee on
Foreign Relations, it is due to the public that a
brief, comprehensive aud reliable narrative of
all the transactions which led to the calling Of
the conference in question, as well as the
events which have subsequently, taken place,
should be given We propose to fill up the
hiatus which now exists by plain statement,
free from bias, and with as little comment as
practicable.
When Mr.. Soule was appointed Minister to
Spain, he accepted the position with the dis
tinct understanding that the acquisition of Caba
was leading policy of the administration, and
that to that end all his energies were to be d.
rected. From the first moment of his arrival at
Madrid this idea was the key note to his whole
conduct When he was charged with demanding
reparation FOR the Black Warrior outrage, it
was deemed fitting opportunity to review all
the various outrsges which had been committed
by the authorities of Cuba upon our citizens
and commerce for o long series of years; and
accordingly Mr.. Soule did not con6ne himself
to a mere monetary claim for damages, out
also demanded a suitable apology.
The result of the negotiations which followed
was the distinct refusal ofthe Spanish govern
ment to make any apology. Upon this, Mr..
Soule closed the negotiations and reported the
facts to the government a. Washington. 10
doing so, he took occasion to give his views at
length as to the condition Of affairs in Spain,
and express his convictions tina. if the United
States adopted a vigorous aud decided policy
Cuba in less than six months would be ours
But as he did not desire that his mere ipse DIRT
should be taken, he suggested conference
might be held with Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.
Mason, where he would fully explain his views,
and joint report could be forwarded here of
the result
A special messenger was despatched with
this important communication and it at once
met with favorable response a. the hands Of
enthusiastic than Mr.. Marcy. Armed with this
authority the messenger returned, and the con-
ference at Ostend was held,
As soon "a the three Ministers had decided up 10
concert Of action, joint despatch was writ
ten, and Mr.. McCrae, United States Consul at
Paris, was sent to Washington, the bearer Of
the result. he arrived here in the s.eamsh p
Arabia November I'd, and in the HERALD Of
November 7th full statement was given Of the
contents Of the despatch. 1t was there stated
that the conference had been held to consider
but one subject-the condition of our relations
with Spain and their connection with the Cubaa
question. Messrs. Buchanan, Mason and Soule
united in recommending that the government
of the United States should declare, il effect,
that il was useless to prolong negotiations
fnrsher-that SO long as Cuba remained de-
p ndence Of the Spanish crown it would con-
tinue to be a source Of annoyance and injury
TO us, and that both our hono- and interest rs-
quired we should either purchase or take Cuba
at once. They further expressed the opinion
that England and France would offer but little
if any opposition TO the transfer by purchase
Of the island to the United States
Since this publication different versions of
the conference have appeared; but the above
contained the whole substance Of the despatch,
and any statements contradcting it are erro-
neols. Aud in this connection il is pregnant
fact, that whilst the organs OF the ADMINISTERS
ton have freely Contradicted other versions Of
the result. Of the conference, which have been
publisht d, the HERALD article OF the 7th Of
November has never been cootr adicted or i'm
peached.
We now come to the period when, for the
first time. a change was determined upon by
the President and Cabinet in their Cuba policy
II vas found that the passage Of the Nebraska
bill had stirred up an excite nent throughout
the country upon sectional grounds, second
perhaps, not even to the agitation in 1850
The sbo,itionists were sweeping the North, aud
the administration was carried away and almost
annihilatea by the food. Mr.. Marcy, who had
been ta-dy and IN willing convert to the neces-
sity or expedisaay of that measure, suddenly
mo convinced that ba ~, u,oo