The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-07
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
Second InStalment Of the Ostend
Conference Papers.
Secretary Marcy and our Relations
with Spain.
The Administration and the Black Warrior
Affair.
MR. SOULE,S LETTER OF RESIGNATION,
&C., &C., &c.
Mr.. mnrcy's Reply 20 the Anne rican Ministers
MR MARCY TO MR.. soULE.


NIB. MARCY TO MR. s0ULE.
DEPARTMENT OF SrArR. /
WASHINGTON Nov. 13 1854 (
SIR-The comm ication OF the 18th ult embodying
the views Of yourself, Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Mason
upon embarrassing relations with SPAIN has been
received and submitted to the President He has given
TO that the deliberate consideration due alike
to the Importance Of the subject therein discussed and
to the experience. wisdom, and ability OF those whose
opinions and suggestions it contains. When he first
entered upon the duties of his present station he found
our intercourse with Spain much disturbed by the
Spanish authorities CT Cuba. II has been bis anxious
desire and the object OF his strenuous efforts preserve
peace and cordial coed will between that country
and the United States.
The source OF past difficulties with Spain, and of
appIehensions of future danger disclosed In the
report of yourself and associates The therein
presented-the purchase of Cuba-is probably the only
which would with certainty place the relations of
the two countries the basis of enduring friendship
While the island Of Cuba remains dependency of Spain,
and the character Of her rule Is not changed
land change for the better hardly be ancipstej)
annoy trade, and difficulties between our c-
and the local authorities, will be OF fire.
quent occurrence; and 1t is scarcely reasonable
to expect that peace thus rendered precarious
will remain long unbroken. Conceivng that the
transfer of Cuba to the United States the honorable
conditions you have been instructed to oer would
important to her as to them. II hoped that you
would find her Catholic Majsstys government disposed
to receive and discuss proposition for that purpose
The President desires you to keep this important object
of your mission in view and TO enter upon negotiations
in reat to it whenever favorable opportunity
II is longer, believe, secret Spain that the
United States wish to obtain the cesson aud that you
have authority to treat the subject The knowledge
of these facts will be likely to elicit opinions regard
,Iat,, tbau Mini. ~
lie Msjesy's government, but from other influential
individuals OF the nation The Cortes will soon
assemble, and that subject will undoubtedly be
discussed by the members of that body in their
social circles, IL II does not become subject Of
public delberaton. BY free and friendly in
tercourse among official and influential men, you will
be enabled to determine the proper TO be pur
sued In regard TO opening nesoato for the acquis
ton OF Cuba. Should you find persons OF position or
influence disposed to the subject the cons
siasratons in favor Of a cession are many and
strong that those who be brought to listen would
be very Lely 10 become verts to the Bot
should you baye to believe that the ia
power averse to entertaining such proposition
that the offer Of IL would be offensive to the national
pride OF Spain and that II would find favor Ia any
considerable class Of the peope then 1t will be too evil
dent that the time for opening or attempting TO open
such nego oation has not arrived. II appears TO the
PTesiden. that nothing could be gained and nethny
might be lost, by attempt to push negotiations
against such general resistance. This view OF the
is taken the suppositon that you should be-
come convinced that such proposition Tor the cession
OF Cuba would certainly be rejected.
1he language OF part Of the report might, per-
baps be construed to sustain the iniervn;e that
you and your associates In the conference Of opn
ion tht the ropositon should b. made, though there
stould be chance OF its being entertained and
II should be accomplished with the open declaration
significant suggestion that the United States de-
termlned TO nave The island, and would obtain 1t by
other means IL their present advances, so advan.
tsg'ous, be refused BY spaln-but other parts OF
that document that If spain should refuse these
proposals Of the United States, the question win arise
WI at ought TO be the Of the American govern
nent under such crcumsi iancesy clearly shows that
II intended by yourself aad colleagues to recommend
10 the President to offer Spain the native OF ces
sion seizure. The concl,pion that the members OF
the conference against such alternative propo
ston il also drawn from the following
shall have offered spain price for Cuba far beyond
its pre,ent value, and this shall have been refused
Il will then be time 10 consider the question: Does
Cuba, in the possession Of Spain, seriously
danger internal peace, and the existence
OF our cherished Unionr' The President concurs
in this view OF the subject but TO conclude that
rejection OF proposition to cede seizure should ensue,
would be 70 tnat self preservation necessates
the acquisition Of Cuba BY the United StAtestbat spain
has refused and will persist ia refusing reclamaons
for uries and inieeo and that she will make
no arrangement Tor our future security against the re
currence Of similar and As TO the first
cons derations Will only remark, that the acquisition
Of Cuba BY the United States, would bo prs.emi-
nently advantageous in itself, and Of the highest
importance as a precautionar, measure OF securi-
y. However much might regret the want OF
success in efforts to obtain tn. cessioa Of H.,
that failure would not, without n material change
in the condition Of the island involve Imminent peril
the existence government but should the contn
gsncy suggested in your report arise. there
10 doubt that the viii be promptly met by
the ceterate Judgment and decisive action OF
rcan people. In relation 10 outrages and Injuries thus
government have good grouncs 70 OF the
hitherto pursued BY Spain, and should that b.
persisted would he justified in resorng TO coercivs
TO obtain redress but the aspect OF prancn
OF the subject has, no sever lately somewhat chsngs
the PRESENT cabinet Of spain having iDdicsted mors
favorable disposition regard TO dema nds for satiaa
ton and indemnity, than that which preceded IT, do
attach much importance TO the oer on the
part OF Spain 10 institute commission settle all
istDg claims, such as now exist between the United
states and Great Britain because OF these claims
are OF tueh character as self respect would per.
init to submit 10 srbltrament in any form
lou are, therefore instructed 10 decline that oaor
But 10 the most aggravated well the
Of outrage and Iniurythat OF the Black Warrior
the door Of adjustment can hardly be considered a.
closed Although the late Minister Of Foreign Relations
rejected In that case the present minister
has clearly Indicated willingness 70 recsds from the
portion o. o.. prsoeeessof; ne asked Tor our views 10
10 our demands and accompanied his request with an
sssursnce that he would take IL Into the
consceraon and act upon H. Alter refusal comply
with that request, this government would not be IN Z
situation 10 MAINTAIN that spain peists in denying ali
satisfacton In the Of the Black Warrior With hi,
prssent lights upon the subject, Ae President.
opinion ~ 10 the e1pediency Of presenting 70 the
s!spaeh % ip' TO ,s~ Of the sss q ''1s~d juan
answer TO that reply remain unchanged. u doe,
appear 70 him that IN. tnowiedge Of th.s ys-s eau
In way inurously affect the negotiations es..on
Cuba. But, on the contrary, that ~ show TO
spsn the difficulties she viii be exposed % By con
nupg 70 maintain the prese ut state Of thing. In that
island and ought TO be strong induernent for her 70
yield 10 the change proposed TO be made. Thsrs is
point In regard 20 the Of the Black Warrior
alluded 10 in your conversation with Her Catholic
MaJestys Minister ot Foreign Relations tn. 2gth of
August last upon which the President directs mo q, er
press his Impressions. should the spanish government
propose settle the Of the Black Warrior he vou
not nsder the removal 81 Gen Pezues and the other
Spanish officers who acted in that affair pres~nn.
invineble obstacle In the way Of adjusting din
Guilty.
When be directed me TO eonmunicat. With you on
the subject IN March last he that The rpxrh