The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-25


these bes ever looks the track Of history mark the
events which accompanied the agitation and discus
sion Of this Cuban question for the last forty years Have
the men who conduct Journals forgotten this history
II they have the people still cherish remembrance
OF it, And every day adds the immineney and the
Of the troubles which shoulder in the suppressed
trembling volcano of Cuban excements every day in
creases our inevitable complications with that island every
day adds to the danger of its situation to its inhabitants
and to its relations with Spain without stopping to ask
why this is sowheher these alarms the result OF
potic expressions European nrguss republican sym
pathes or all combinedwe PROPOSE for the information
Of the North American recalling few historical facts
its recollection.
One Of the first acts of General Taylors administration
was to put stop Illegal expedition fitting in
this country against the island of Cuba viii the North
American tell who fomented that expedition What
progressive 1locoocosp led the aforayr What 6bus-
terag democrats engendered 1t? 1t originated doubtless
as other troubles have originated the forty years
from far beyond the control Of this government
And as to show the peculiar things in the
island hardly had Cen Taylor taken ectual steps put
an end this expedition before "a foreigner claiming
protection was forciby carried Off vessel from New
Orleans the island of Cuba The person thus abducted
promptly restored" upon demand; and General
Taylor did hesitate say that his action in this
was prompted by determination to "endcate The honor
Of e country andM right Of euoy person seeking asylum
soil 10 The protection Of laes" For acting upon
this very principle the of Kosza the National In
tgncer and other whg papers have publicly charged
the present administration with anxiety to plunge
into a war with Austria
Not long after this the celebrated Lopez expedi
ton fitted out and in spite of the efforts Of President
Fillmore it effected landing The result of that too fatal
enterprise is we'll known. Unfortunately for the North
American able lay that catastrophe at the door
Of the Washington Union the democratic party; and
most unfortunately for the country, strong American
force was not hand these gallant and misguided
men from the fate that bee them But the difficulty thus
begun did stop here On the contraryand this fact
will show the North American and its associates that
the allied powers Of England and France have taken
every OCCASION matter how unwarrantable, to inter-
fere in the affairs of the United States and also that
the Cuban question seized upon by them as early
as 1851 as preext for such
after the events alluded to, says Mr. Fillmore in his
second annual message the of Great Britain
and issued orders to their naval commanders
the West India station to prevent by force necessary
the landing Of adventures from any nation on the island
Of Cuba with hostile intent President Fillmore then de-
cared such nterpositon If carried into effect might
lead to abuses derogaon of the maritime rights Of the
United States What the principle here sought to be
asserted and of which the Lopez expedition made the
preext Nothing less than the right of search
for said President Fillmore The principle which this
government has heretofore soemnly announced still adj
heres to- and will maintain under all circumstances and
all hazards That principle that in every regularly doc
mented merchant the who navigate and those
on board o will find their protection in the flag which is
over them No american ship be aloced to be rised
or searched for the purpose Of asceraning the character Of
naipiduais board there Be ailored any wach
by The yes.els Of any foreign nation american vessels
the coasts Of the United States The adjacent ereto1
1t must be borne in mind that a this direct
sequence from Of things nearly similar, though not
nearly SO dangerous and omnous of evil the of
things which exists in and about the island of Cuba
solemn protest was the consequence of this proered
AngoFrench intervention and both Mr. Crttendcn who
for brief period Acting Secretary of State and Mr.
Webster himself who returned his department and
eved Mr.. G., united in repeng in strong and decided
terms the attempt make troubles with Cuba peex
for European interpretation 1t is true cool reflection led
France and England to disavow their purpose that tme
but has it not been Extensively renewed within thu last
year. and il there now sane who does not believe
that Spain relies upon these two powers sustain her in
case her authorities at Cuba should precpitate war
We cannot forbear giving in this place the following
tracts from the able letter of Mr. Crenden dated Wash
ngton October 22 1851 while he Acting Secretary
of State addressed Mr. Sartges the French minister:
alt is with this view that the President much desires
the cultivation of friendly feelings between the two
with much that
lead to produce collision alienation. He believes that h
Cuban Intervention - such cause.
There is another point Of view in which this inerven
ton on the part England and France cannot be viewed
with indifference by the President The geographical posi-
ton of the island Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico lying at
great distance the mouth of the river Mississippi and
in the line of the greatest of the of the
United States would become in the hands Of any powerful
European nation object Of just Jealousy and apprehension
to the people of this country due regard to their
safety and interest must therefore, make it matter of inn
them who shall and hold dominion
Cuba The of France and those Of other Eu
ropean nations long since officially apprized by this
that the United States could not without
concern that island transferred by Spain to any other Eu
ropcan State President Fillmore fully in that sent
ment,' &c.
Then follows able argument in support of the Pres
dent in opposition the right Of visitation search
AS evidence the Of feeling excited in all parts
of the United States by the execution of portion Of the Lo
peg expedition the public indignation against Mr. Owen
the American consul Mt Havana who derelct in his
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