The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-04-21

CUBA AND THE FEDERAL UYroS.-Thirtv
years ago, John Quincy Adams, as Secreta.
ry Of State, uuder Mr.. Manroe addressed
an official letter to Mr.. Nelson, oar Miuis.
ter to Spain, in regard to the Importance
OF the acquisition Of Cuba, which ought to
be carefully read at the present time by
every American citizen. 1t contains re-
markable prediction, which seems likely TO
be on the eve Of fulfilment. He said, that
in looking forward to the probable course
OF events for the short period ofhalf CEN
tury,. it is scarcely possible to resist the
conviction that the annexation cf Cuba to
our Federal Republic will be indispensable
to the integrity and continuance of the
Union ITSELF" Under existing circumstan-
ces, we can not perform 1. more valuable
service than to reproduce the following full
and interesting extract from Mr.. Adams
letter:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, April 20, 1923.
In the war between France and Spain,
now commencing, other interests, peculiar.
ly ours, will in oil probability be deeply in
volved. Whatever may be the issue of this
war, as between these two European pow.
ers. it may be taken as granted, that the
dominion of Spain upon the American con.
tinenl, north and south, is irrecoycrably
gone. But the islands of Cuba and Porto
Rico still remain nominally, and so far
really, dependent upon her, that she yet
possesses the power Of transferring her
own dominion over them, together with her
own possession Of them to others. 7Htse
islands, from Meir local position and natural
appendages to the NORTH .qmtriton tontin, nj.
and one Of Mem, Cula, almost in siigAt cf cur
shores, from a multitude Of ccnsid, raticns, kos
become an object Of transundant inheritance
TO the commercial and political intensis of ur
cnaom. Its commanding position with re-
ference to the Gulf of Mexico and the
West India seas; the 81 aractcr of its poru-
latlon; its situation midway between our
southern coast and the island OF st. Domin-
go; Its safe and capacious harl or of the Ha-
vana, fronting long line Of our shores dcs-
tltute OF the same advantage; the nature
OF Its productions and of its wants, furnish
ing the supplies and needing the returns of
a commerce immensely profitable and mu-
tually bcncffcial, SiirlH an in.po, aa,e IN Me
sum Of our national interests nth uhich hat
ef no other foreign hrritory can be umpa,qd,
AND LITTLE INFERIOR TO THAT WHICH BINDS
THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THIS UNION
TOGETHER.
Such indeed, are between the interests of
mat Island and of this country, the geo.
graphical, commercial, moral and poiticol
relations, formed by nature, gathering, in
Tile process OF time, and even now yerpinp
TO maturity, that, in looking forward to the
probable course Of events, for the short pc
nod oil half century, it is scarcely posi-
Ole to resist the conviction that tile anntra-
',on Of Cuba to our tideral republic uiN be in
i,spensabe TO the continuance and intfgyitv of
ne Union itsey 1t is obvious, however,
mat Tor this event we are not yet prepared
Numerous and formidable objections to the
extension of our territorial dominions be.
iond sea, present themselves to the first con-
compilations of the subject; obstacles to the
ystem of policy by which alone that result
IAN be compassed and maintained, are to be
oreseen and surmounted, both at home and
lbroad; bM Mtne are lars Of politoal as u1N
IS physical graritation; and if an apple sew
red by the tempest from its native tree.
'nnot choo @ but fall to the ground, Cuba
orcibly disjoincd from its own unnatural
connection with Spain, and incapable of
elf-support. can gravitatc only towards the
Worth American Union, which by the same
aw OF nature cannot cast her off from its
'osom."